Whenever you see someone who is NOT moving forward in life, someone who is not trying to improve his circumstances – it is almost always fear that is holding him back.
Fear of what?
Fear of failure – yes. Fear of success – sure. Fear of injury – uh huh. Yes, these fears are common to many.
But fear of criticism is one of the biggest – yet it is also the least acknowledged.
Many people fear the looks and reactions they will receive from others when they begin to make changes in how they do things. It’s far easier to sit on the couch or before a computer getting fatter and fatter than it is to go for a walk or begin doing pushups and squats.
People generally don’t make fun of how fat you are when you’re plopped on a sofa or before a monitor. They might laugh behind your back, but rarely to your face. But once you walk outdoors with sweats on, you THINK everyone is looking at you – and you’re afraid they’re going to laugh out loud.
But the truth is this: Most people are so busy doing what they’re doing that they don’t even see you. And the others, if they’re laughing, they’re doing so silently.
Regardless of how others react to YOU – here’s the most important concept you must understand: What other people think about you is NONE of your business. If someone thinks you’re fat, it’s not your business. If someone thinks the way you’re training is strange – none of your business.
If you don’t care what others think – what the others think is of no concern to you. So it won’t matter whether you have fear of criticism or not. You simply acknowledge when you catch yourself being concerned about someone else’s opinion of you. And when you note how you’re breathing shallow and adding stress to your upper neck and shoulders with the thought of pleasing others – you drop the notion and say to yourself, ‘To hell with them. This is MY life. I’m going to get fit. I’m going to get healthy – and if someone else has a problem with that, THEY have the problem, not ME.’
What I have just covered isn’t some lofty platitude I am proposing but don’t use myself. Each and every day I receive criticism from someone. Some don’t like the fact that I advocate eating healthy meat. Some don’t like the way I look. Others don’t like the way I write. Others don’t want me to write about anything other than health and fitness – and so on.
‘Good idea – for someone else,’ I think. ‘But not for me.’
I don’t limit myself because of someone else’s opinion. Neither should YOU.
If you want to attain better health, if you want an improved physique or figure, if you want to go for a walk, start running hills or doing the Royal Court – this is YOUR goal. Don’t ever let anyone distract you from your vision. You are the one who decides. No one else.
Remain strong. Stay the course. Stay determined.
Make your burning desire for self-improvement stronger than the fault-finding of others. When your desire burns brighter than the sting of criticism, nothing can or will stop you.
Best,
Matt Furey
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