Living a life swayed by the words of others is like a small boat placed in the midst of rough waves. Constantly crashing waves (the gaze and evaluation of others) can cause you to lose your center and sway, making it easy to lose your way.
Just drifting without knowing which direction to go consumes enormous energy. What we need is to create our own navigation map, but often we don't even have the leisure to do so because of the noise around us.
We all know that ignoring remarks that have no influence on us is the answer. But there is a huge gap between knowing something in our heads and putting it into practice in our hearts.
As human beings, we instinctively want to be recognized by others and feel a sense of belonging. Is it because we are destined to live within social networks? Sometimes, a carelessly thrown word can become a deep wound that torments us for a long time. Completely ignoring them may be impossible. But we need at least a minimum defense mechanism not to collapse completely.
The saying that humans are social animals is never wrong.
We have grown through interaction with each other, formed communities, and developed. However, if we try to force ourselves into the framework of society, we may lose our essential 'self'. Sometimes, it takes courage to step back from society and create our own small island. That island is a safe haven made up of only our own rules and values. There, we can escape the gaze of others and truly face ourselves. It will be a time to reflect on what we like, dislike, and what makes us happy.
Ultimately, the right choice for maintaining mental health is to listen to the words of others without being completely consumed by them. We don't have to embrace all the words in the world. The important thing is to learn how to take only the necessary drops into the vessel of our hearts. Breaking free from a life dependent on the evaluation of others, respecting and loving ourselves, and moving forward at our own pace. That is the path to escaping a tiring life and finding true happiness.
