Acceptance and Choice

it is human to care about what other people think about you! It would be so disconnecting to not care. The reality is we do effect other people and other people effect us. As a therapist I often hear people say “I want to be less effected, I want to care less” usually because of the anxiety and overwhelm that can come along. But I like to sometimes offer what does that show about you? One story is of insecurity, another of thoughtfulness, another of beautiful sensitivity; there’s a bunch of different stories you could tell yourself and you get to pick the one you want to believe. What do you want to chose?

If caring about how other people see you is an important value you to you that’s ok! But if it’s taking too much space it can be helpful to move towards what MORE you want. Rather than what LESS. What else would you like to care about? What actions, people and places can you add to your life that pull you toward those other things you would prefer to care about? Are there some areas of caring you’re cool with and other areas of caring that you’d like to change?