This is an increasingly common phrase that seeks to help people who feel insecure or have low self esteem. But I don’t understand how it applies at all. A large proportion of what we do is aligned with the societal paradigm for our own survival. What others think of us is of upmost importance because if they think of us in a certain way, it may lead them to destructive actions against us. What other people think of me is important for my very survival. Can someone help me understand this phrase in the way it’s meant to be understood? Thanks!
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I think this phrase is meant to be understood as referring only to superficial things.
Don’t worry about your shirt not looking cool enough to impress people. That’s superficial. Don’t worry about judgement from others about your hobbies or what music you like to listen to. It’s superficial. And if someone insults you and calls you dumb because they don’t like something you said? Don’t change yourself just to please their superficial opinions.
But for more serious things, this no longer applies. You should care what your teacher thinks of you academically because you are being graded. You should care what your close friends think of you or find new friends if they don’t respect and value you.
So yeah I think this phrase is misleading overall. It’s nice when it can be used to soothe someone’s anxiety about an embarrassing situation they were in. But it doesn’t really work in all scenarios. Only superficial ones.
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