“Judge me if you want, but at the end of my life I choose to have memories not regrets.” – Steve Maraboli

Let’s face it, all of us, feel the palpable fear of judgment at some point in our lives. After all, we humans crave a sense of belonging – the innate need to be accepted by others.

Unfortunately, this fear can be one of our greatest downfalls. If left ‘unchecked’, it can potentially hinder us from becoming the best version of ourselves as well as preventing us from living our best lives.

Truth be told, I too have encountered countless moments in the past where I would opt would keep my opinions to myself or felt the need to conform in order to be liked or accepted with others.

Having personally faced this dilemma, I know all too well that letting go of this nagging fear of judgment is certainly much easier said than done.

That said, below are some useful tips I’ve picked up over the years that has helped me to start living life more authentically.

1. Understand the Fear 

This may sound like a strange tip at first but allow me to elaborate.

Understanding our fear and where it’s actually coming from helps us to overcome it. This is because more often than not, our fear of judgement originated within ourselves.

Many of us make up stories in our head of how others perceive us.

For example, we have a fear that we are inadequate or not smart enough so we come to the automatic conclusion that *everyone* we encounter think that we’re stupid or not smart enough.

As a result, we become afraid to speak our truth and are unable to make a real connection with others.

Be aware of your inner critic – understand that your judgement of yourself is not necessarily the truth and it may not reflect how people actually see you.

Learn to quiet that ‘mean’ voice in your head and stop letting it define you. Choose to give in to vulnerability and give others a chance to see who you truly are.

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2. Accept that Judgement is Inevitable

“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard

We may not want to admit it but truth is we *all* judge and there’s almost nothing we can do about it. Since we can’t control what others think of us, it also means that no one can control what we think of them either!

Once we’ve come to accept that judgement is inevitable, it’s actually quite liberating.

People can always criticize and have their own opinions about you but at the end of the day, remember that the only validation that you need is one you give to yourself.

Realize that though we may not be able to ‘free’ ourselves completely from our need of being liked or accepted, it’s important to know that it’s impossible to get everyone to like or agree with you – and that’s OK.

Let’s look at it this way, how can we expect for everyone to like us when we don’t (and won’t) necessarily resonate with or like every single person we encounter?

3. Make Yourself a Priority

Take the time to get to know what makes you, you.

By having a solid understanding of who you truly are, you won’t be easily swayed by other’s perception of yourself.

You can do this by making yourself a priority.

Set aside ‘me’ time and jot down all the things that make who you tick. Be honest about your strengths, and more importantly, your weaknesses. Acknowledge the things you are good at and what you need to work on.

It’s crucial to note that everyone – without exception –  is flawed.

Once you’ve come to terms that no one is perfect (including you), it makes it a whole lot easier to come to terms with things that you need to improve on.

The great thing is that when you accept your flaws, no one can use them against you. And as a result, others will less likely to be able to take control of the way you feel about yourself.

Instead of constantly worrying about what others think about you, you can use that your energy to focus on becoming the best version of yourself that you can possibly be instead!

Been wanting to free yourself from fear and start living your best life? Working with a coach can help you gain clarity on your fear and shift your focus on things that’ll enable you to live more authentically. Click here to book your FREE discovery session.