What a relief to finally realize it is my decision to like others and their feelings towards me belong to them. My anxiety has always made entering a room full of people a terrifying experience, but now I can (usually) keep that inward focus at bay. I need to choose the people who fit into my life instead of waiting for them to approve of me. I know my story and what I am no longer willing to tolerate. There is no reason for me to be anxious.
Awesome Sara! You can be the real you. 🙂
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Love it!
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I always had severe social anxiety too until I learnt to just let it be.. sounds easier than it was.. took a lot of enduring to break out of my shell.. but here I am. 🙂
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Learning to let it be is a huge accomplishment. Congrats!
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Darling, I know not who you are but we share something special.
New knowledge.
Empowering knowledge which releases us from the ‘expectations’ of others. Last year over a few weeks, I learnt, (slowly as I didn’t believe my counsellor 🙈🙄) that I was ok. I was me and my past had shaped that, but that I was responsible for how to chose to be in life from this point onwards.
I beg you to read a book by Sarah Knight … she has 3 in a series .. but the first is called “The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k”.
As embarrassed as the title leads you to feel you might be, I assure you Sarah is like a modern day Buddha and her aim to lift the myth of our learned behaviour about that misplaced need to please others…. xx
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You are a sweetheart. The “new knowledge” is incredibly empowering. I will look into the book recommendation. It sounds wonderful.
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“their feelings towards me belong to them” — love this!
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Like you I now focus more on whether I like them.
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Very important to be discerning about people we meet even being judgemental can often protect us. Too many wear a false mask as you say and I agree. Sit back and watch the unveiling sometimes it takes time to see the truth.
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