Do you suffer from FOPO? Fear Of Other People’s Opinions

Hi my name is Erika and I’m a recovering people pleaser.

Do you suffer from FOPO or Fear of Other People’s Opinions?

This summer I listened to the Goop Podcast with Michael Gervais, a high-performance psychologist and the message surrounding FOPO really stuck with me.

Gervais states he believes that the greatest fear or threat for modern humans is the fear of other people’s opinions (which makes sense considering 75% of people fear public speaking).

We think we only matter based on what other people think of us.

Here’s why it’s a major problem. You’re LIMITING yourself and your potential because of the fear of what other people think.

We humans are amazing. We have so much potential inside of us that unfortunately lies dormant.

FOPO prevents you from reaching your full potential and enjoying life to the fullest. It also causes us to measure our success based on what other people think.

Signs you suffer from FOPO:

• You’re afraid to speak up (at work or in your relationships).
• You apologize often.
• You are a perfectionist (perfectionism stems from fear of rejection or fear of not being enough).
• You say YES to things you don’t want to do.
• You dim your light (because you don’t want to be judged for bragging).
• You struggle to make your own decisions.
• You hide your quirks.
• You imagine people are upset with you when they aren’t.
• You don’t post something to Instagram because you’re afraid it won’t get enough likes.

Fortunately, there’s a fix! Here’s how to stop worrying what other people think of you:

• Be Present-if you’re too focused on what someone else is thinking, you miss the beauty of whatever is happening in the present moment.
• Think Big Picture-if you can concentrate on what’s important to you, you think less about your individual role and more about your mission.
• Remember Opinions Change-other people’s opinions are based on THEIR belief system, not yours, and they can change at any given moment.
• Trust Yourself– you are the only person living your life and only you know what’s best for you!
• Mind Your Business– what someone else thinks of you is actually none of your business.
• Don’t Be A People Pleaser– it’d be nearly impossible to live up to everyone else’s expectations. It’s best to just proceed from the heart and let others fall where they may.

I understand that ALL of this is easier said than done but when practiced mindfully these tips may just be the key to unlocking freedom from worrying about what other people think!

Do you suffer from FOPO? Have any tips to combat FOPO?