Vanessa Lowery asked this insightful question in LinkedIn. Have you done work or other deeds because you felt it was the right thing to do, even if others didn’t appreciate or approve of it? What was the result? Check out her blog post for other people’s stories (http://vanessalowry.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/addicted-to-approval/). Here’s mine:
Everyday I experience opportunities to do work that matters whether or not I’m approved of. As an intuitive coach I give information based upon what I see clairvoyantly and then coach people to break through barriers and take their next steps. If I were to worry about what people think I may be swayed from saying what I See – from telling the truth. I have to trust my insights. Sometimes people don’t recognize what I’m saying as truth. I have to stand behind what I See.
One client said, “80% of what you say I see as true for me immediately. I see that the other 20% is true in 2-4 months.” It takes guts and self belief to tell the truth about what you see and do what you feel is right, even if it’s not accepted. If you’re lucky it can change people’s lives. If not, it’s just water under the bridge.
What other people think of me is none of my business. When I stopped worrying about it I suddenly attracted hundreds of new clients and friends and I’m having a greater impact on life.