Blog 7: Fear of Judgement
Blog 7 in our series on women setting goals
What If People Judge Me? Why It’s Time to Stop Waiting for Approval.
Let’s talk about something that quietly holds many women back: the fear of being judged. It’s sneaky. Sometimes it’s loud, ‘ What will they think? Will they laugh at me? Will they think I’m getting ahead of myself?’ Sometimes it’s quieter, just a lingering hesitation before we take that next step.
Whether it’s launching a business, changing careers, or trying something new later in life, we can find ourselves looking over our shoulder, scanning for disapproval.
But here’s the thing: people will have opinions. You can’t control that. And you don’t need to.
Ask yourself: Whose approval am I really waiting for?
Is it someone close to you? A voice from the past? A vague sense of ‘they’ out there? Once you name it, you can decide if it’s still worth giving that power.
As Brené Brown reminds us in her reflection on The Man in the Arena , the people who matter are the ones who are also in the ring, doing brave things and cheering you on. Not the ones shouting from the sidelines. You can read more about this in her brilliant book Daring Greatly.
So instead of fear, try shifting your focus to excitement. What if you let yourself feel energized about your goal instead of anxious about judgment?
And find people who ‘get it.’ A supportive community — even just one person — can make all the difference. Someone who says, ‘Go for it, I believe in you,’ instead of ‘Are you sure that’s a good idea?’
Reflection : Who do you turn to for support when fear creeps in? And what would it look like to trust your own voice just a little more this week?
Until next time,
