Introvert

Others Expectations

Today was one of those golden days - autumn but still warm, skies clear and blue, air still - almost magical.

As I sat outside drinking all this in, for some reason I realized how much the expectations of others inhibit us. When defining Self Concept, I often list the forces that shape how we feel about ourselves.

These can include the input of parents, friends, family, teachers, mentors - the list goes on and on. But I realized that even when these people are not physically around, their voices can echo in our heads.

When was the last time you were free of the inner dialog of others? How much of our behavior is constrained by the expectations (spoken, unspoken, past, present, future, known and unknown) of others speaking in our heads.

We live together in the world and are influenced by others - but somehow, sometime it is necessary to be free of the thoughts of others; to better know our true selves.