“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
– Dr. Seuss
I’ve recently been over the moon happy about life; things have just been really good.
Although this is true, the past week has left me feeling mixed emotions.
I’m notorious for being a people pleaser and shrinking myself to accommodate others, even if the people I am shrinking my happiness for are no longer relevant in my life. I often give others too much influence over me. I never want to rock the boat or hurt anyone’s feelings, so much so that I hold back from sharing what makes me truly happy.
That’s why this Dr. Seuss quote resonated with me. I’ve been nervous to share my excitement over a new relationship because I’m afraid to hurt people from my past. It’s made me hold back from my happiness and joy, which is super unfair to myself. I finally made the executive decision to just live my happiness to the fullest, even if that means I hurt some feelings along the way.
As the quote states, those who matter to you won’t mind you sharing your truth – they, in fact, should support it. Those who do mind, simply don’t matter.
Your happiness is completely up to you and you cannot control how others will react to it.
I’m so tired of putting the feelings of others before my own. I know I am not alone in doing this. I’m a chronic empathetic.
When others are hurting or sad, I feel for them – literally. This is a blessing and a curse.
Why do we hide our happiness to protect people who don’t have a positive influence in our lives anymore?
Be your beautiful, happy self!
The point of writing this article is to say that you should never be afraid to share how you really feel, even if that means you hurt some feelings along the way. You deserve to be happy. It shouldn’t be seen as selfish to put yourself first, especially if your wellbeing is at stake.
In relation to this topic, you should always do the things that make you happy. Eat the cake, date the boy, take the trip, buy the outfit, take the leap of faith, do something crazy spontaneous – you only get one life to live to the fullest and you can’t live it to the max living hiding behind fear of ‘bothering’ others.
This is your life to take control of. You cannot allow the outside voices to dim your light, you must allow yourself to ignite at the things that make you happy and giddy. This is your “YOLO” moment and it’s nobody’s business unless you so choose it to be.
This post may be all over the place but I had to spill my thought vomit somewhere. I’m personally tired of living in the shadows, afraid to be too disruptive or hurt someone’s feelings. I deserve to let my light shine, and you deserve the same. It’s not my responsibility to protect the feelings of everyone around me, and it’s certainly not yours either. Never be ashamed of the things that make you happy and bring your soul to life.
This is your life to live and it’s too damn short to waste it worrying about what people may think.
I don’t know who needed to hear this today, but I know I did.
xo, Alyssa