#184 – Does your Ego also comment on your dress?

My friend VJ knew she needed to exercise because she felt flabby and low-spirited. The reason she didn't was her lack of have appropriate shoes. Well, she had a pair of red sneakers, but she couldn't wear them with her only pair of shorts – neon pink. Try as she might, she didn't find the wherewithal to show up at the gym of her high-end condo committing such a crime against her fashion standards.

One day, telling me about it, she realized how lame an excuse it was. After we talked, she sent me a selfie from the glass-walled elevator on her way to the gym, with the text, "I wonder what people'll think of me... LOL"

I replied, "They'll think, 'there goes a brave woman!'"

It sounds ridiculous, but how many times do we give away our power like this? How often do we avoid things that would benefit us just because we fear other people's opinions? Why do we care?

Because your Ego only cares about your survival and when we lived in caves, it was true that abandonment could lead to death.

So it created this strong need for approval in the human mind, which became fear of standing out and standing up. Fear of upsetting the powers that be – just in case.

In our day and age, that ancient survival mechanism works against our growth and freedom. But awareness is the first step towards liberation. Once we recognize when the fear of other people's opinions is getting in our way, we can choose differently.

As for VJ, wearing that clashing outfit taught her something valuable: working out was for her, not for people looking at her clothes – why would she care? This was her first step in living from the inside out.

Where might you be holding back for fear of what other people will think of you or your decisions?

Love,

Carolina