This article idea came from a mate of mine who is a deep thinker and one of the most intelligent people I know.
He also competes in triathlon competitions. I can only sit back and admire the discipline and tenacity this takes.
The topic was fear of being judged by others. I suspect everyone would suffer from this malady at some point.
As young children we seem to have no such compunctions, but for whatever reason, as we get older this seems to change, and we are worried about what other people think about our decisions.
Fear of being judged is present in all areas of our lives and it can stop people from following their passion on occasion.
I admire those people that seem able to put this to one side and just get on with making decisions that are best for them, and most importantly, make them happy.
Fear of judgement can be more prevalent in the country in some ways. I think this is because there are less people about, and everyone seems to know each other.
In a farming context it may mean a farmer is choosing not to adapt to the latest technology or crop variety or whatever.
There are usually very valid reasons for doing this, but it doesn't stop the chatter about the place in relation to that particular agribusiness owner.
I know my first foray into direct drilling many aeons ago didn't go well.
Of course there were comments from the locals, but luckily the people that mattered the most - my family - weren't judgmental, and I got it right the next year.
Sometimes the fear of being judged stops people from making any decisions. This is quite sad for the person involved.
I'd venture to suggest quite often the fear of judgement ends up being a self-fulfilling prophecy, and in reality other people aren't spending much time judging that particular person.
Everyone has their own problems to deal with, and are likely devoting most of their energy and time to contemplating their particular dilemmas and opportunities, not anyone else's.
As my mate quite rightly points out, those that don't worry about being judged by others seem to achieve quite a lot. They are on their own path and not constantly worrying about what others may think - they know it's not relevant.
We put a lot of unnecessary pressure on ourselves in lots of situations, and these self imposed judgements aren't doing us any good on any level.
Of course you need to assess risks and make decisions based on sound principles. We can all get lost in our own thoughts.
Sometimes this can be quite positive if this helps to get to a goal. But, the contrary can be true if those thoughts are not helpful.
I think this is where having a clear vision for all aspects of life is vital. They will have thought this through in the cold hard light of day, not when feeling stressed.
I admire those people that follow their own path, regardless of what anyone says or thinks.
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