I spent years believing I was lazy. Not because I was, but because someone important in my life—my father—told me I was. He saw me struggling to start my own business, working odd hours, fighting through anxiety, and instead of recognizing the effort, he only saw what wasn’t there: a traditional 9-to-5 job.
It stuck with me. Every time I hit a roadblock, every time I needed a break, I heard his voice in my head: “You’re not working hard enough.” And I believed it.
The Weight of Other People’s Opinions
We’re taught from a young age to care about what others think—especially those closest to us. Parents, teachers, friends, society… Their expectations shape us, whether we like it or not. And when those expectations don’t align with our reality, the weight of their judgment can feel suffocating.
For me, that weight turned into self-doubt. If my father thought I wasn’t working hard enough, maybe he was right. Maybe I was failing. Maybe I was lazy. It didn’t matter that I was building something from scratch, juggling responsibilities, battling anxiety. In his eyes, it wasn’t enough. And for a long time, I let that define me.
The Moment I Stopped Caring
Letting go of external validation doesn’t happen overnight. But one day, I realized something: no matter how much I proved myself, my father’s idea of “real work” would never change. And I had a choice—spend my life trying to meet his expectations, or accept that my path was mine to define.
So, I stopped explaining myself. I stopped looking for approval. I stopped waiting for him to say, “I’m proud of you.” Because at the end of the day, I knew I was working hard. I knew my business was growing. I knew I wasn’t lazy.
And that was enough.
What Happens When You Let Go?
The moment you stop living for other people’s approval, you gain something even better—freedom. Freedom to fail, to succeed, to try again. Freedom to build a life that makes you happy, not one that checks someone else’s boxes.
It’s not easy. The voice of doubt doesn’t disappear overnight. But every time I make a decision based on what I want, rather than what someone else expects of me, I feel lighter. Stronger. More me.
And honestly? I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Your Turn: What’s Holding You Back?
We all have that one opinion that lingers, that one voice we can’t quite shake. Maybe it’s a parent, a boss, a friend. Maybe it’s society telling you what success should look like. But here’s the question: what would you do differently if you stopped caring what they thought?
Drop a comment and let’s talk about it. Because at the end of the day, your life is yours to live. 💡✨
