The Influence of Others' Opinions

One of the main challenges of Stoicism is learning not to let the opinions of others affect us. As social animals, humans naturally seek approval and acceptance. The media, including fashion magazines and social media platforms, capitalizes on this need for approval by influencing our preferences and encouraging us to seek admiration from others. Society and the communities we grow up in also contribute to our concern for others' opinions. For example, rigid expectations and judgments can create a sense of failure if we don't meet certain standards. Thus, it is essential to examine why we worry so much about what others think of us and recognize that these opinions are subjective and not a reflection of our true worth.