Do you really care what others think?

I care what others think of me. I know that I should not but I do.

I honestly do care what other people think of me, its just me. I'm one of those ' i want to please everyone kinda people"... and its hard! Being gay, Its hard to please a lot of people, but i've discoved that I have to live my life they way I want and a way that will make ME happy. In the end.. its ME living the life that i have chosen. Not anyone else...

The only people I care about what they think are my family. I make decisions based on what is best for me and them. Other then that I don't care what others think of me.

I find it so hard to live for myself, and only myself. I don't want to appear selfish in any way, but I end up being selfishly trying to live for others. It's a dangerous game really. I've been trying to sort it all out for the past year or so.

I'm with Chris

there are a very limited # of people whose opinions matter much to me

It depends, for the most part I am me and I don't care. But there are times and things I do care about. I think it's only human.

I don't really care---but professionally, as a teacher and writer--I guess a small part of me isn't indifferent to other's thoughts.

For the most part I could care less what others think of me. Honestly I know I am a good person .. and one of the best anyone could care to have as a friend. So most of the time I do not care what others think of me. If they don't like me they can bug off ...

As a child this was a whole different story though. Other people made my life a living hell. I had bad acne as a kid .. I had a older sister who is mentally retarded (when I was growing up this was a reason to be teased) then I had two older brothers who were teased greatly before I ever came along ... so I was teased and tormented so badly as a child it was crazy. I was made to feel both at home and at school like I was worth nothing. I was stupid ugly and fat. One day I got it in my head .. that I was going to get even! So anytime anyone picked on me at school I literally beat them up. Well it is no fun for anyone to pick on you if your going to pick back. So the teasing went away eventually. I still had to deal with the tyrants in the neighborhood who thought it was funny to beat up on my older sister who was mentally retarded ..so next hting I know I was beating up those people too. I became not a bully .. but one who would defend the victims. On the school bus there was a set of twins who got picked on something awful. I started sitting with them and defending them too. As a child my plan was to save the world from all the evil doers. During the times I was getting teased and tormented at school I would just come home and cry in my room. Often times crying myself to sleep. I hated to go to school. It killed me that no one liked me. As I got a little older and got married it was worse .. I married a violent aggressive man who would physically abuse me ... it was when I finally left him that I got strong.

Now adays I could care less what anyone else's thinks of me. I know my heart is in the right place and I know who matters in my life. If anyone doesn't like me .. or hoe I dress .. talk or live thats there problem. I am very outspoken now too so I don't let anyone treat me or my kids wrong! I will put a stop to it at once!

I am me .. I love me and I am proud of me. I know I am a generous loving person ... and so what anyone else thinks deosn't matter!

Today, I live my life for me!
It took me a long time to get what others thought out of my 'choice-making' abilities, I'm much happier and content making these my own... ;)

For the most part I could not acre any less what people think of me. I need to care what my family thinks (my wife & children), what my employer thinks and what my God thinks. Beyond that, I'm glad when people like me but won't change my life to try to make them like me. I did way too much of that when I was younger and it never made me feel any better- just worse most of the time. When I was living as a people pleaser I couldn't look myself in the eye in the mirror without berating my self, because I hated who I was. Today I can look at myself and I think I'm OK. I check my motives & actions with those who disagree. If my behavior was not selfish or self-centered then it's their problem - not mine. I'll pray for them but I won't change.

It's only human nature for people to wonder what other people think of them, But it shouldn't matter to anyone as you live your own life as you choose, We all have free will, so our thoughts are free and it is natural to wonder what people think of you too,
smiling,

I usually do what I want to do and if anyone else doesn't like it, too bad

Oh my - I'm with everybody.

Our parental and peer judgments are very strong. Somewhere along the line I learned a compromise. If what I'm doing or saying is hurting another, then I will reform it. I won't completely abandon it though. The most valueable (I forgot how to spell that damn word!) lesson I've ever learned is that we are not responsible for others' feelings.

Everyone has good points. As for me, the older I get the less I care what other people think of me... except for my clients.
; )

I usually could care less what others think, I try not to let other's comments bother me,
Life is way too short to make yourself crazy over small things ;-)

I suppose I should care, but the truth be told, I only worry about a few people think about me. The rest can either take me as I am or leave me alone. Their opinions are just that, opinions and we all know that everyone has them.

I have learned that whatever I do, people who know me will know what to think. For those who don't know me, their opinions don't really matter.
I truly love my family and friends, but it's not possible to live life constantly trying to please others or avoid conflict. God made us to be individuals, not pale copies of others.

I think it is advisable to always care about what others think. However, what is most important is that the final decision is yours and your alone. Especially when it affects your personal life. No one person is smarter than the whole. Again however, no one person makes a decision for their life based upon the circumstances, or past happenings, of your life. Therefore, advise is a good thing but you must take that advise and use only the individual parts that are constructive to you and you alone.

Any decisions that I make I make with so many people in mind.

Not at all , how can you be yourself if you are always caring what other people think?

There was a time in my life when I would fret over what others thought about me. Now I am true to myself. I feel better for it too.

What Chris said.

I only cared about one person's opinion.

I care what those I love think and how they would feel about my actions and how my actions would reflect on them

I do care a lot, probably too much. However, there are somethings that I do or have done that other people are never going to like. I felt like it was the right thing for me to do, so screw them.

I like hearing what people around me think I should do.

I get a bit of joy from p*ssing them off with my antics and whatnot :)

I used to care constantly, but now I'm no longer on the department, so no prank I pull can reflect badly upon my old uniform.

I care sometimes, but often care about what I think about myself.

Most of the times I don't, until I realize that I'm still living with my mom and following her rules because she is so bent on me staying in school.

I care about what YOU think

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Does that sound non commital?

It depends on the person. I care deeply about what some people think of me. Generally, I have respect for others but can't really do anything about those who think negative of me. I'm not perfect - so if you are looking for something wrong - you will probably find it. As to the person who is looking for something wrong - I don't care what he/she thinks. As to the person who is my friend - I care deeply what he/she thinks.

I try to live for myself. But it's hard when you have so many other people telling you what you should or shouldn't do. I appreciate their opinions and their love, but I would like for them to see that what was good for them, doesn't mean it's going to be good for me.

Great answers everyone. You have given me a lot to think about.
Thank you all!!

I tend to wants others to like me and then I feel bad when it clear that I am doing everything for them and no one is doing anything for me -- I tend to get taken advantage of and that really hurts. And yet I keep trying which is just me being very foolish!

I really think it is a mix. I want to live for me, but I really do care what others thinks as well....just to a certain extent.

I live my life for me, and I try hard not to care what others think -- but I'm afraid I do, terribly.

a little of both i think :)

i care what people think of me.. yeah i know i shouldnt

I live how I want to live

Well.. I am kinda on both sides.. I really don't care what anyone else thinks about me.. I am me and if you don't like it then don't talk to me.. But when it comes to living my life for myself.. well, that is another story all together... I do end up doing whatever I want.. but I will sit and think about it forever before I do.. gotta make sure my kids won't get hurt in the long run and then there is my mom's opinion to take into account..

I care what others think, not about me,per se, but a subject, when I am trying to make a decision. After I make the decision, and know it was the best I could make at the time, I don't care what others think. Constructive criticism is fine, it has nothing to do with your character or worth as a human, it gives you a chance to evaluate and to grow. Unfounded meaness and put downs just show how small minded and lacking in self worth the other person is.