“We only become what we are by the radical and deep-seated refusal of that which others have made of us.” Jean Paul Sartre

Do you believe what people say about you?  How much value do you put on other people’s opinions of you?  If you’re like most of us, the opinions of others matter to some degree.  To what degree? That depends on the person.  I once heard an anecdote about how dangerous it is to put our self-esteem into someone else’s hands.  It’s dangerous because you’re letting someone else control your destiny.

Do other people’s opinions really matter?  The short answer is no, not really.  You should always consider the source.  If a close family member or friend is giving your his or her opinion, that opinion should be worth more than a stranger’s comments, especially if it’s negative.  Even close friends and family can be wrong about what’s best for us.  That’s why I say that other people’s opinions really don’t matter when it is all said and done.  What matters is how you feel and what you believe is right.  In short go with you gut feeling, don’t let anyone put an unfair label on you and do what Mr. Sartre says in the above quote – become who you are by rejecting what others say you are.