We are influenced by the opinions of others because we seek acceptance and want to avoid conflict. We let others shape our behavior and emotions, adjusting what we feel and how we act to fit in. The opinions of others matter because, in a way, they act as a mirror reflecting us, since we live in society. The challenge is that even though it matters, you continue to act according to what you truly want and behave as you really wish. If we don’t learn to balance this, it limits our lives and keeps us from being who we really are.

The day we understand that we owe no one an explanation, our mind changes. We start acting according to what we want, not what others expect. Letting others have their opinions while doing what we need to do is true mental evolution. Living this way allows us to be authentic, make our own decisions, and look back with regret for the years we were someone else just to please others.