What Are They Thinking?
Often I’ve asked the hypothetical question, “If we lived alone on a desert island would we hate how body looks like as much as we do?” In other words is what we think they're thinking about us impacting us more than what we think?
Not long ago the depth of concern I have about what other people might think really hit me. Sometimes I get a little uptight when I’m driving, mostly because of the other drivers. One day I noticed I was getting more and more tense and stressed while I was driving on a back road near the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. I was unfamiliar with the uphill switchbacks and winding road so I drove extra cautiously.
So why would I be nervous and uptight? Because I was guessing what the driver in the car behind me might thinking and I was just sure they probably wanted to go faster than me and couldn't get around. Now I've got hills and switchbacks to navigate and the stress of the frustrated driver behind me, who never at any point, did anything to suggest frustration or road rage.
My stress and anxiety were all in my head.
What? I know right?
My only concern should be driving safely and confidently without any concern for how fast someone behind me wants to drive. The same is true with my body. My only concern is what I think. No need to guess what other's might be thinking and use that to increase my own thought drama.
My job, and your job, isn’t to make sure everyone else is comfortable.
Our job is to focus on ourselves and our thoughts and choose those that best serve us, whether it’s driving, size, or anything else.
Where are you focusing on what other people think and letting it cause unpleasant feelings?
Check out Day 28 video on Youtube. It's part of the series, "30 Simple Step to Start Your Intuitive Eating & Body Positive Journey" where I talk a little bit about choosing thoughts that serve us. https://youtu.be/Toc5XNQ3S2A
What can you do to shift your thoughts so you have less stress and more peaceful feelings? What can I do to help you?