Pursue Passions & Disregard Opinions
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Just as blinders help a racehorse focus on the track ahead, learning to block out the opinions of others can be the key to pursuing your own path. It's crucial to constantly seek new experiences to discover your true passions, but this process is often held back by the fear of external judgment. This fear can influence our choices and prevent us from pursuing what we genuinely desire.
Recently, I challenged myself with live streaming. It's a raw and unfiltered form of expression, unlike my usual edited YouTube videos. Initially daunting, I pushed through the discomfort. To my surprise, I found it incredibly exciting and rewarding. If you’re interested in watching me stream you can follow my channel here.
This experience reinforced the importance of pursuing your interests, regardless of potential judgment. Within a week, I was really enjoying streaming. I wouldn't have discovered this passion if I'd let others' opinions dictate my actions.
Don’t overvalue others' opinions. Why would you trust the opinions of others more than your own? Focus on those opinions who truly matter - those you can probably count on one hand. If you constantly seek everyone's approval, you'll never follow your own path. Remember, "Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
Often, the best things in life come from disregarding others' negativity. Take YouTube, for example. It was intimidating at first, but I gradually eased in, starting with faceless videos and eventually showing my face. Seven years later, I'm still creating content. This wouldn't have happened if I'd worried about what others thought.
It's common to face initial judgment when trying something new. But as you succeed, those same people often change their tune. Everyone thinks you're an idiot until it works, and then you're a genius. This highlights how people's opinions can shift once they see your success.
High school is a prime example of how much people care about fitting in. People often prioritize what's "cool" or "acceptable" to the crowd. However, as you mature, you realize those opinions hold little weight.
Do the things you’re interested in. Pursue your passions and disregard the opinions of 99.9% of other people.
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I like how you called out that you should still have a small group that you do listen to and care about their opinions. I think everyone needs to have a close group that can call each other out on certain behaviors and provide valuable feedback and insights into some of your own blind spots.