Fear of being perceived stems not from the act of being seen but from the judgments that ensue. People often fear that if others truly see their character, they might choose to distance themselves. This fear is compounded by the fact that human perception is subjective, leading to quick, often incorrect assumptions about one's character. The emotional weight comes from the uncertainty of how one will be judged, rather than the perception itself. Ultimately, it is the fear of negative judgments and the unknown aspects of those perceptions that underlie the struggle with being seen.
Our fear of being perceived is more than just social anxiety, its a real phobia around being scrutinised, observed and primarily judged by others. It's also greatly limiting your potential and ability to be your true self. But there is a way through, there is a way to escape the constant fixation on what others are thinking about you. In today's episode, we discuss:
- The origins and effects of scopophobia
- How our fear of being perceived is both a social and specific phobia
- Why do we worry about what other people think?
- Perfectionism and our fear of being perceived
- The impact of early childhood experiences
- Three mental shifts to overcome your fear of being perceived
Listen now for all that and more!
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