I was recently enjoying a pedicure with my beautician who is Greek. She shared stories about her parents growing up in Greece.
Her father was engaged to get married to a lady, however, he called off the engagement because she was friendly, talked, and greeted other men in the village and this became town gossip.
Gossip and judgment would circulate through the village if someone deviated from the expected norms. In the small village, people’s mistakes or wrongdoing seemed to be the source of entertainment, sometimes leading to individuals being ostracised.
This reminded me of my grandparents, particularly my grandmother, and how she would worry about my actions and behaviour due to concerns about others’ negative opinions spreading and potentially tarnishing my reputation.
For the first time, I was able to imagine myself in my grandparents’ shoes. They had no access to television, the internet, or convenient transportation (travelling between villages/countries was expensive), and I realised growing up in such an environment is what shaped their beliefs. Imagine knowing that a mistake or an ill-phrased statement could lead to becoming the town’s outcast.
I remember challenging my grandmother’s viewpoint, questioning who would actually make these comments as it never made sense to me. I wasn’t brought up in a village as my grandparents moved away from village life and to Australia back in the 60s. However, this belief had been repeatedly reinforced throughout my life, leading me to subconsciously accept it as true.
What old limiting belief are you currently holding onto that you need to let go of as it is not your belief? Is it a fear of judgment from others? Release this belief today; it’s not yours but rather a remnant from generations ago. Say out loud now “I release the fear of judgement”.
We are no longer confined to a village, family, workplace or friendship group. We have the ability and the power to move away and choose who we spend our time with. While we might not entirely sever ties with certain people (like family), we can control and minimize the time spent on interactions.
The truth is that people will judge, no matter what. The “tall poppy syndrome,” common in Australia and other cultures, attests to this. I believe that if individuals have time to judge and talk negatively about me, then they aren’t true friends, and I don’t need them in my life.
You’re destined for greatness, and you mustn’t let fear hold us back. You can and will leave a legacy.
What’s one action you can take today to break free from the limiting belief of being afraid of what people say? I contacted a potential client I was apprehensive about contacting, as I feared they might respond harshly and not like me. Great news, I signed them up.
Take a step forward toward letting go of the fear of judgement. Leave a comment below on an action you will take to help you move forward.
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