but what will people think?!

Most of us care what people think. We do. It’s inherent in us. Back in the day, we needed our tribe to like us in order to survive. We needed people to approve of us so we didn’t get voted off the island. We needed to play it safe so that people wouldn’t think we were crazy or weird or out there.

But times have changed. We no longer need the greater tribe to keep us alive. We can keep ourselves alive without approval from the outside world. Which means we no longer need to hide parts of ourselves or let the fear of “what will people think” keep us from playing big. But I know, this still plagues most of us.

And you guys, first, let’s note, that’s a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful thing to care about others and want to please them, but not at the expense of ourselves.

When we care so much about what others think that we’re afraid to authentically be ourselves, we get in our own way. When we keep ourselves from embracing ourselves, it’s hard to live a full life. Constantly second guessing ourselves only leaves us feeling frayed and on edge.

And when we don’t show up as our authentic selves, it impacts the rest of us too.

Because this world needs you to be yourself. We need you to share your gifts and your light. Don’t keep those gifts hidden just because you’re afraid of what your friends, your parents or your grandma will think. You can make this world a better place by going after your passion, whether that’s making art or starting your own restaurant.

And because this world needs you to embrace your silly, wild side. We have so much pressure and negativity in the world these days, we can’t have you repressing the fun side of yourself. We need you to run like you’re five and dashing for the last swing, just like Phoebe on Friends. We need you to dance like no one’s watching (even when people are), just like Schmidt on New Girl. We need you to sing or hum as you walk down the street because it’s these little things that bring everybody up.

And because this world needs your voice. We need to hear what you have to say. Because what you have to say matters. Every person is equally important and I’ll tell you, if you have something you want to say, I bet there is at least one person that feels the same way. Imagine how you might connect with someone when you say what’s on your heart – it might be exactly what they need to hear.

So can we let go of looking around before we show our authenticity? Can we let go of needing the approval of others? Can we just go for it already? Can we follow our hearts and stop second guessing ourselves at every turn?

So let me know, how are you going to let go of approval today? In the spirit of embracing my silly, I'm including one of my most embarrassing photos below. Hopefully this makes you giggle. And as always, I’m cheering you on.