Why do most people care so much about what others think? Are they afraid of society norms?

I was ready to bolt when my friend walked up to me, grinning ear to ear. “You look like a dream,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

That moment, I realized something profound—most of the people staring weren’t even judging; they were just... looking. And the ones who judged? Well, they went on with their day just as I went on with mine.

The problem with caring too much about what others think is that we hand over our control to people who might not even notice us the way we think they do.

UNC Roughs Up Oklahoma, Seizes Control of NCAA Regional - 247Sports

Are we afraid of society's norms? Maybe. But more often than not, we fear the stories we write in our heads about those norms.

As I walked into the college, every pair of eyes seemed glued to me. Some admiring, some smirking, and a few whispering. My palms were sweating, and my steps faltered as my mind spiraled into a series of anxious thoughts.

It was the first time I wore a saree in college. Excited yet nervous, I draped myself in my mother’s teal-blue saree, which she had lovingly ironed and handed over with that proud twinkle in her eye.

What should I do if a girl whom I love asks me to be her friend?

Ah, society and its norms—always looming, always judging, isn't it? Let me take you back to an incident that forever changed how I view this question.

Because, trust me, the world moves on a lot faster than we think.

“Did I drape it wrong? Does it look too plain? Do I even look good?”

Why do I keep dreaming of my mom, who recently passed away from cancer, still being sick and in pain?

Take care!

So the next time society glares your way, ask yourself: is it really worth giving your peace to their fleeting thoughts?

And so should we.

I Discovered I Got Cheated On. But His Story About That Night Isn’t Adding Up. - Slate Magazine