"I Don't Care!" (The New Outlook)

Well, many people have been asking me what my new outlook on life is and how it has begun to work 'so quickly' ... so after quite a few requests, I have written a more detailed version of what exactly I meant by my 'new outlook.'  At the bottom, I've included a quote Karie showed me today that fits so perfectly with my new mentality.  Enjoy!

I don't care.  That's my new mentality!  And yes of course, this requires some explanation or else it might sound a little harsh.  Well for years, I have annoyingly cared FAR too much about what other people think.  "But if I do this, then people might think ___ about me!"  It's dumb, but it's something nearly everyone has to go through and figure out at some point or another.  For me, it took a while, and things just recently clicked in my head.  I unknowingly limited myself in the things I could do or say simply out of fear of how others would perceive me if I were to do a certain thing.  I have never been "quiet" but I most certainly have not be the "loud and out there" one either.  I am out there juuust enough to get noticed on occasion, but no where *near* enough to get heads to turn or anything like that.  I lived life and had 'fun', but lived it VERY cautiously... and doing that isn't fun.

I've always had friends, but they're usually people I've met in some friend-of-a-friend situation or they're just ones that I've known forever.  And while there's nothing wrong with that, it's a heck of a lot more fun to meet people in all sorts of different ways - and without the help of others.  I've usually kept to myself in classes with this skewed mindset that it's somehow easier that way, and so I hardly ever meet people through any class; but this semester I've met all sorts of people that way, and it's great!  I also decided to throw all those stupid 'cares' out the window and basically do what I want.  If I want to sit next to someone, I'm gonna do it.  If I want to meet someone, I'm going to go talk to said person.  Life is too short to live it out in worries and fears!  So... that is EXACTLY what I've started to do!  

Yes, for those of you curious about my facebook status this past week, this mentality is exactly what I'm referring to!  I am going to live life how *I* want to and I am throwing all my cares out the window... heck, if I want to do something, you better believe I will!  Even if it's something that might result in weird looks from passersby, I'm still gonna do it! 

And another thing... how others view you is entirely dependent upon YOU.  It's all in your head.  If you think you're something, then that is exactly what you are and how you appear to others.  So if you think you're fun and exciting and a blast to be around, that will transfer to others and they will believe exactly that.  But if you constantly tell yourself that you're boring and no fun to be around, I hate to break it to ya, but you've just doomed yourself to misery by your own mentality.  That was my other problem: self-confidence.  I definitely didn't have enough of it.  Sure, I have plenty when it comes to jobs and networking, but with regards to everyday social life?  Yeah it sucked.  So I decided that I was just going to TELL myself that I'm the "fun, exciting, blast to be around" person and just live by that and see where it takes me.  As it turns out, it is now more apparent than ever before that people will view you based on the way you view yourself.  I can't even remember the last time I had this much fun this often in the span of one week!  Everywhere I go - even in my classes - it's just a blast.  I'm always talking with lots of people, joking around, playing pranks, and loving life.  

If you have a poor view of yourself, I highly recommend you make a conscious effort to change that and see what happens if you really stick to living by your NEW view of yourself.  I promise you it works!  Believe that you are already how you want to be and stop worrying about how others might perceive you or the things you do, and just run with it.  And I mean run with it.  Don't start with a slow jog - take off with it at full speed and before you know it, you're suddenly living the way you've wanted to live for so long!  :D

And now, the amazing quote that I now love...

"Fearless is not the absence of fear. It's not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death. Fearless is falling madly in love again, even though you have been hurt before.  Fearless is getting back up and fighting for what you want over and over again...even though every time you've tried before, you've lost. It's Fearless to have faith that someday things will change. Fearless is having the courage to say goodbye to someone who only hurts you, even if you can't breathe without them. I think it's Fearless to fall for your best friend, even though he's in love with someone else. And when someone apologizes to you enough times for things they'll never stop doing, I think it's Fearless to stop believing them. It's Fearless to say "You're NOT sorry," and walk away. I think loving someone despite what people think is Fearless. I think allowing yourself to cry on the bathroom floor is Fearless. Letting go is Fearless. Then, moving on and being alright...That's Fearless too. But no matter what love throws at you, you have to believe in it. You have to believe in love stories and prince charmings and happily ever after. Love is Fearless."     -Taylor Swift