Today’s world appears to have more people criticizing others than ever, with some people actually spending the majority of their time critiquing how others live. However, you don’t have to give away your power to others by saying you’re sorry. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for your lifestyle, your choices, or who you choose to spend time with.
At the end of the day, if you feel happy and love the life you live, that’s all that truly matters. If you live according to your truth, you don’t have to feel ashamed or apologize to anyone. Other people don’t get to dictate how you live your life, so don’t ever say “I’m sorry” for the following things.
HERE ARE 12 THINGS TO NEVER SAY SORRY FOR:
1. Making yourself a priority in your life.
Somehow, making your heart happy twisted into a selfish, egotistical, entitled idea. In reality, no one else can ever offer the happiness you can give yourself, so it only makes sense to prioritize your fulfillment.
If you have taken your life into your own hands instead of waiting on others to teach you how to live it, then you have already mastered an important aspect of self-development. We all have 100% responsibility for how we live our lives, and only by putting our needs first can we ever attempt to help others in need then, too. After all, how can we help others if we don’t first address how to help ourselves?
2. Following your dreams.
Wanting more in life does not make you ungrateful or spoiled. In fact, it makes you ambitious. It means you have goals and dreams and want to fulfill them while you still can. It means you don’t settle for less than you know you’re capable of. Others might view you as an unrealistic dreamer who will never truly find happiness, but it doesn’t matter what others think.
You can express gratitude about what you’ve been blessed with while still aspiring for more in life, so don’t ever feel bad about having big dreams. Go after them with all your heart; the universe will surprise you in ways you never imagined.
3. Making time for you.
In this fast-paced world, we spend so much time caring for others and attending to their needs that we forget about our own. However, if we don’t fill up our own cup, how can we ever expect to have any left for others?
Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s necessary for our health. Don’t ever apologize for turning down an invitation or saying no to someone in order to look after yourself. Whether you book a 5-star vacation or an afternoon at the spa, you should always come first in your life and should never feel bad for taking some “me-time.”
4. Who you choose to date.
Again, no one else can decide for you who to date. No one can determine if you like girls, guys, or both but you, so don’t let anyone else make you feel ashamed for who you engage in romantic relationships with. As long as you truly love and care for the person, then feel free to date whoever you’d like. We all are one, after all, and love lives within all of us. If someone expresses concern with who you date or doesn’t agree, then they don’t deserve a spot in your life. Period.
5. Expressing emotions.
Unfortunately, emotion shaming is now a real thing. We perform like robots in much of society, expected to obey and not express how we feel. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t express yourself. Of course, you probably shouldn’t get angry with your boss right before he gives you a promotion, for instance, but overall, we live in a very stifled society where people don’t feel comfortable expressing themselves. There’s a time and place for every emotion, but don’t ever feel ashamed for how you feel in any given moment.
6. How you earn money.
If you feel emotionally and mentally satisfied with your job, then don’t ever say you’re sorry for it. Whether you make billions or hundreds a year, the dollar amount doesn’t matter if you don’t feel happy with your vocation. Anything that makes you feel fulfilled while helping you keep food on the table is enough, so don’t let anyone let you feel like it isn’t.
7. Being optimistic.
In a world where people constantly tell us to “expect the best but prepare for the worst,” keeping our heads up can seem quite challenging. However, many scientists and researchers around the globe have recognized the many benefits of positive thinking, including decreased stress, a longer life span, greater creativity, and more.
Staying positive in hard times can make us more resilient and better deal with challenges. So, to all the Debby downers who love to rain on your parade, don’t let them!
8. Your past.
Some people love to bring up all the mistakes you made in the past, but if they do, remember this. While they sat there criticizing you and your life, you had experiences and learned from them. At the end of our lives, we will only have our experiences and memories to go on, so don’t let anyone make you feel sorry for your past. We live and learn, and our past does not have to define us.
9. Your diet.
People love to tell others how to eat and what will make them feel best, but at the end, it’s your body. Just as you shouldn’t tell others how to eat, don’t let them dictate your eating habits. Everyone thinks they know the optimal diet for humans, from vegans to meat-eaters, but in reality, only you can decide what feels right to you, not anyone else.
10. Striving for more in life.
Wanting more in life does not make you ungrateful or spoiled. Instead, it makes you ambitious. It means you have goals and dreams and want to fulfill them while you still can. This drive means you don’t settle for less than you know you’re capable of. Others might view you as an unrealistic dreamer who will never indeed find happiness, but it doesn’t matter what others think.
You can express gratitude about what you’ve been blessed with while still aspiring for more, so don’t ever feel bad about having big dreams. Go after them with all your heart; the universe will surprise you in ways you never imagined.
11. Challenging the mainstream.
Others like to nitpick every aspect of people’s lives in today’s world, so much so that people actually feel guilty about how they choose to live. Just live in your truth and don’t mind what others say; remember, if anyone feels threatened by how you live your life, they might actually be jealous of you. Sometimes, people feel so uncomfortable and dissatisfied with their lives that they must bash others to make themselves feel better.
If you want to homeschool your children, live off-the-grid, eat only from your garden, let food be your medicine, and teach your children peace and love instead of what’s on television, don’t ever be sorry for that. Everyone deserves to live the life they want without feeling remorseful for simply following their hearts.
12. Your opinions.
You can still respect someone without agreeing with them. You can remain civil and respectful without agreeing, also. If you have an opinion, don’t hesitate to express it, even if it doesn’t seem like the “popular” choice. The world will never change if we keep our opinions to ourselves, because oftentimes, the best ideas come from opinions and viewpoints.
