People Will Judge You Anyway – So Believe in Yourself

The Father, the Son, and the Horse (Short Story)

A father and his son were going to a village with their horse.

First, the son rode the horse. People criticised him for making his father walk.
Then the father rode. People criticised him for being selfish.
Then both rode. People criticised them for being cruel to the horse.
Then both walked. People laughed at them for being foolish.

Finally, the father said:

“No matter what we do, people will talk.
Trying to please everyone will only steal our peace.”

And they continued their journey.

Moral of the Story: You can never satisfy everyone. Trust your judgment.

“Freedom begins when dependence on opinions ends.” – Osho

Different People, Different Mirrors

• When I look at my YouTube channel, I see hundreds of comments. Some people say I speak in such simple language that everything becomes easy to understand.
  Some say my videos helped them gain confidence and even find a new job.
• At home, my wife feels I am the most caring and loving husband she could imagine.
• During performance appraisals, my superiors feel differently.
  They say I am “doing okay,” but not meeting their expectations. According to them, I do not fully understand their vision!
• Among my friends, I am known for one rare quality — consistency. They often say it is my greatest strength.
• At Toastmasters, a club focused on communication and leadership, members consider me a strong pillar who contributes deeply to the growth of the club.
• Some people ignore. Do not say any word or show any emotion. They behave as if I do not exist for them!

The same person.
Different places.
Completely different opinions.

The Inner Conflict

This contrast creates a conflict within me.

If so, many people appreciate me, so why do some remain dissatisfied?

Is the problem with me?
Or is it that some people do not understand my strengths and weaknesses?

Am I trying to excel in areas that are not aligned with my natural abilities?
Or are others trying to mould me into something I am not?

And the most puzzling part:

Even when 9 out of 10 people appreciate me, my mind keeps replaying the one criticism.

Why does the negative weigh more heavily than the positive?

The Silent Question: What Do I Think About Myself?

This leads to a deeper question:

• What is my own opinion about myself?
• Do I truly believe in my capabilities?
  Or am I waiting for external validation to feel worthy?
• When people praise me, I feel confident.
  When they ignore me or criticise me, I begin to doubt myself.

Slowly, self-doubt creeps in.

• Confidence weakens.
• Body language changes.
• Stress increases.
• Health begins to suffer.
• The same thoughts replay again and again.

And all this… because of opinions.

A Simple Truth About Life

People will always have opinions.

• Some will praise.
• Some will ignore.
• Some will criticise.

Whether I like it or not.

“Kuch to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna.”

But the real question is:

• Do I respect myself?
• Do I trust myself?
• Do I encourage myself?
• Do I speak honestly and kindly to myself?

Because no external voice is more powerful than the one inside.

How My State of Mind Shapes My Opinions Too

When I observe myself, I notice something interesting:

• When I am happy, I am generous with appreciation.
• When I am low, I either remain silent or notice only flaws.
• When I succeed in something, I feel inspired to congratulate others.
• When someone ignores me on social media, I suddenly feel less generous, even judgmental. I start thinking:

“Why should I like their post?”
“Why do people pretend so much online?”
“Are they really that happy and successful?”

That’s when I realise:

Whatever is inside comes outside.

Understanding Others’ Opinions

So, when people appreciate me, it reflects their positivity.

And when people criticise me, it may not be only about my performance.

It may also reflect:

• their stress,
• their pressure,
• their fears,
• their own unresolved struggles.

The Real Moral

The conclusion is simple, yet powerful:

Let me choose what I believe about myself, rather than letting others decide it for me.

Not arrogance.
Not denial.

But calm self-belief.

Because confidence built from within is stable.
Confidence borrowed from others is fragile.