your opinion of yourself is far more important than anyone else’s

This week I want to talk about something that resonates with me a lot, I used to be really hung up on what others were thinking about me. (Trigger warning; self harm) 

At the start of this year I made big changes in myself and my life in general, namely deciding to do what makes me happy. I had thought about starting a blog a lot before but felt too embarrassed of what others may say, but seeing the positive reaction when i opened up about my mental health struggles influenced me to stop caring what others thought of me when it was negative. I still get anxious when I make a post but the positive comments I receive from complete strangers gives me a feeling of overwhelming relief which makes the pre-post anxieties totally worth it. 

I am not naive enough to think that no one is judging me. But I’m at a stage in my life where I’ve stopped caring. 

Last year I went on a girls holiday to Magaluf. Whenever we were out beside the pool I would keep my shorts on. This was purely because I had scars covering my thighs. I was too terrified about the thought of someone seeing them, I used to get really panicked whenever someone would mention my scars so I couldn’t deal with the thought of them being on display to strangers. 

My scars used to be something I was ashamed of but now I realise that they’re just like my scar from my spinal fusion which I’ve never been ashamed of, they’re a sign of what I’ve been / what I am going through. 

The other day I went swimming with my mum and brother. I was anxious about people seeing these bright red lines on my thighs, which I am every time I think about going swimming, but this time was different because I still went. I went and I forgot about the scars and had fun with my family. 

I recently got a thigh tattoo which definitely helped me be more willing to expose my thighs and was the reason that I took a picture in my swimming costume before I left. I never thought I’d be posting pictures in my swimming costume with my legs on display for the whole world to see, but here I am, posting it on both Instagram and Twitter, and now here!

I decided that the most important person’s opinion or perception of you is your own. You can definitely care about other people’s opinions like your family and those that matter, but don’t let anyone else’s opinion make you feel less than what you are. If you think of yourself in a positive way, you’re going to feel better about yourself. If you are able to block out negativity and worry less about what others may be thinking then you will feel so much better in yourself. I guarantee it.