not responsible for other people's reactions

I saw this quote today, and it hit me in the feels:

“Sometimes you second guess yourself because you were taught that it was your job to be responsible for how others would react to your choices.” – Yasmine Cheyenne

How much of life do I go through worrying about what other people think of my life choices?

And not just that … but feeling responsible for their opinion. Like it’s my duty to control how someone else reacts to what I do.

It’s not.

We have free will, and I don’t have the job of convincing anyone else that what I want to do is right for them. It only has to be right for me.

Now, of course, I’m not talking about being anti-social or ignoring true responsibilities/caring for others/being conscientious. We, of course, can be polite and caring.

And, of course, what we do does affect other people, no doubt about it.

But I am talking about letting go of the idea that I have to restrain my (legal) behavior because someone else doesn’t like it. Or that somehow I have an obligation to make other people feel better about my choices.

I simply don’t. And neither do you.

Because they aren’t living my life, and they don’t have to live with my choices. I do.

(Also, if you haven’t noticed, no one really pays that much attention. So, you might as well do as you please.)

All I’m saying is I need to stop thinking I can control anyone else’s reactions. I can’t.

And I might as well enjoy the freedom that brings.