Feel The Wave

Where you begin your personal growth journey.

Tag: Staying true to yourself

  • Stay Poised: The Power of Standing Firm in What You Believe

    Don’t get pulled into the power of the mob mentality. Have your own thoughts and opinions. Reflect on what others say, take time to analyze the information, and see whether it aligns with your beliefs. Ask yourself what your true thoughts and perspectives are. Don’t agree with everyone in the room just to be accepted. Don’t be a yes-person. It’s okay to have different opinions—that’s what strengthens ideas. How you share your opinion matters too, but that’s a topic for another time.

    Different perspectives, especially on social issues, are valuable. We can agree to disagree and still remain friends. Our differences are what make our thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives unique.

    It’s easy to go along with the crowd when people are passionate about a social issue. You can easily hide within the group and let things be. You might think, “What’s the point? I can’t change their minds, so I might as well join them—even if I don’t believe what they’re saying.”

    That mindset is a recipe for regret. Resisting the urge to follow blindly is the first step. Many others may share your thoughts but still join the crowd simply to avoid conflict. It’s not easy to hold a different opinion from the majority. The attention suddenly shifts to you, and anxiety spikes in that first moment—it takes real courage to stand apart. You step into the unknown, facing the crowd head-on. It’s frightening.

    A great example of someone who stood against the crowd was Mahatma Gandhi. He often defied popular opinion, standing by his principle of nonviolence even when it meant opposing both his followers and the British authorities. As he famously said, “We need to be the change we wish to see in the world.”

    Whether on a large scale like Gandhi or within your circle of friends, there’s a sense of pride after taking that first stand. Once the anxiety fades, you begin to feel empowered. You must stand firm and stay true to what you believe, regardless of the pressure around you. Your responsibility is to remain a good person and not let the crowd turn you into someone you’re not.

    Take care.

  • When Words Hurt: How to Stay Grounded in Who You Are

    No one likes to be made fun of or be the brunt of a joke. No one wants to be ignored, attacked, or humiliated. We want to be loved, accepted, and celebrated. We want to be included. However, not all of this is in our control. We must accept events as they are. The only thing we truly control is what we think and how we respond.

    No one can disgrace you except yourself. People can say what they want—good or bad—but only one thing matters: what you say and believe about yourself. If you know something isn’t true, why should it affect you? Of course, that’s easier said than done. Emotions play a part, and they are difficult to control.

    It’s hard to stay composed when someone’s impression of us is negative. Even if we know their words aren’t true and are more a reflection of them than of us, we often feel the urge to defend ourselves.

    Why do we need to convince someone that we are not stupid, mean, or ugly when we already know that’s not true? Why waste our energy defending ourselves against something we know is false? Perhaps it’s instinct—the human need for acceptance—that drives us. It’s not easy to tame something wired into us since the beginning of our existence.

    That being said, if someone called me a purple elephant with malicious intent, I’d laugh and brush it off. But if someone called me a pathetic loser, I’d feel a rush of emotions and the urge to defend myself, even if that person was a stranger. Why? Why do we put so much weight on what others—even strangers—think of us? Perhaps it’s rooted in evolution, when belonging to the tribe meant survival. Either way, it’s a powerful pull.

    Some people have learned to tune out the noise from strangers. Kudos to them. I still have work to do, and it’s something that requires constant attention. If you feel the urge to defend yourself to a stranger, pause and ask yourself why. You know yourself better than anyone. In the end, it shouldn’t matter what someone you’ve never met thinks of you.

    Take care.