Opinions formed and for some of us, that is our biggest bugbear.  Where others seem to have formed opinions about us, or comparisons made without the evidence. Growing up with a disability, and I have heard it said from others, opinions are sometimes formed, but it can't help anyone.

Why people feel the need to live with or comment about other people, when they don’t really know. But if it happens to you, you may learn not to attach too much importance to what people think. It would be like having someone critique you, without really knowing you.

In a way it’s become part of the natural tapestry of life. We seem more interested and more preoccupied with other people’s lives than we are with our own. We’re too quick to pass judgment or comment on others, instead of working on ourselves and our own lives.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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4 comments on “Opinions formed”

  1. I agree with you. I live my life and I don't care what others think. I used to be obsessed with what others thought and my mom told me a lot, 'quit worrying about what others think!'

    As I got older I listened to her advice like I have many times and now I'm happier with myself. I know what I do that is right or wrong and the only persons opinion that matters about me is mine.

    People do form opinions about others. They hear something about that person and bam! they form the opinion whether it is right or wrong and then it is hard to change their opinion. I was called a whore once because of something that happened.

    Once I thought about what happened I realised I was date raped. There I said it. I haven't told anybody about this opinion that I have and now I am and I feel better about it.

    I just wish I had told my mom, because she thought bad of me because she knew what happened and didn't know the truth. We shouldn't form opinions about people we don't know and that we do know without knowing the whole truth.

    1. I'm so pleased you've used this platform to get your feelings out Lisa. So proud of you. No one will stand in judgment on what you've said Lisa and if they did it wouldn't matter what other people think. I agree with you.

      It takes guts to come forward on something so personal. Now that you've taken the plunge to say what you've kept to yourself for all of these years, I am sure you will feel more confident in other areas of your life.

      Glad you feel better.

  2. People pass comment on people to satisfy their craving for power and self indulgence; it kind of validates their superiority and shields their vulnerability.

    You're absolutely right, we can't attach too much importance to what people say or think because we have no control over that. But it would behoove people to understand that words have power and could cause a great deal of pain and perilous consequences.

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