In today's episode, Gina discusses letting go of what-if questions, particularly in the context of other people's thoughts.  It is very important to remember that we are not capable of reading others minds, at least not in any concrete sort of way.  Relying on other people's speech rather than what we think their thoughts may be will help ground us and lead to more personal security and less anxiety.  Listen in for suggestions on how to do this today! Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/  Thank you for supporting The Anxiety Coaches Podcast.  FREE MUST-HAVE RESOURCE FOR Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety  Anxiety Coaches Podcast Group Coaching link ACPGroupCoaching.com To learn more, go to: Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching  What is anxiety?  Find even more peace and calm with our Supercast premium access membership: For $5 a month, all episodes are ad-free! https://anxietycoaches.supercast.com/ Here's what's included for $5/month: ❤ New Ad-Free episodes every Sunday and Wednesday ❤ Access to the entire Ad-free back-catalog with over 600 episodes ❤ Premium meditations recorded with you in mind ❤ And more fun surprises along the way! All this in your favorite podcast app! Quote: You probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do! –Olin Miller Chapters 0:26 Introduction to Fears 4:04 Overcoming Fears 6:50 Mind Reading Dangers 9:51 Importance of Self-Compassion 14:34 Embracing Self-Acceptance Summary In this episode, I delve into the pervasive issue of fearing other people's opinions and how it can impact our sense of self and well-being. I start by emphasizing the importance of acknowledging this fear and how it often manifests when we're feeling less confident. A poignant quote from Elsa Joy Bailey sets the tone: "Don't let other people's opinions burn holes in your dreams." This sentiment encapsulates the struggle of letting external judgments overshadow our true aspirations and desires. I explore the different ways this fear can be expressed, particularly through habits like closing down and suppressing our true selves. It’s essential to recognize that our fears influence a myriad of our daily interactions and decisions. Often, this results in a cycle of people-pleasing behavior that doesn't serve us. As we move towards self-acceptance and valuing our own opinions, we may face pushback from those in our lives who are accustomed to our previous tendencies. I reassure listeners that it’s perfectly valid to prioritize one's own voice over the expectations or preferences of others. I introduce three actionable strategies designed to help listeners stop fearing other people's opinions. The first method involves letting go of what I call "what if" questions, which can easily spiral into negative thinking. By consciously recognizing these queries—like “What if they don’t like me?”—we can challenge ourselves to consider more positive alternatives and relinquish control over what is ultimately outside of our purview. #fearofopinions #anxiety #socialanxiety #selfacceptance #selfcompassion #mindreading #whatifquestions #criticalselftalk #personaldevelopment #mentalhealth #emotionalwellbeing #anxietycoach #overcomingfear #stopcaring #selflove #innerstrength #emotionalfreedom #personalgrowthjourney #mindfulness #wellbeing #mentalwellness #vulnerabilityisstrength #authenticity #liveyourtruth #ACP #GinaRyan #AnxietyCoachesPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices