The Doubt of Others
“People who have abandoned their dreams and aspirations will always discourage others from pursuing theirs.”
Casey Neistat
Sometimes, it feels like there are many people who hate you and the things you do. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, while other times it might simply be a snarky comment or a nasty look. In these moments, it’s helpful to realize that those who hate on you do so simply because they never pursued their calling or desires.
We don’t need to let people discourage us, so let’s live out the things we know to be true for ourselves and try to not worry so much about what others think of us. I know this is easier said than done but it’s worth remembering. They may not be frustrated with you at all. They may simply be taking out their frustration on you. They are likely frustrating with themselves or with the circumstances they’ve had to endure.
As Casey Neistat goes on to say in the same video (as the quote above)about what to do when people try to discourage him and when they doubt whether he can do what he wants to do:
“You have to have a blind, overwhelming confidence to chase down your dreams anyways. So I would just hide behind that confidence when people would discourage me.”1
I love this thought because honestly we don’t need to concern ourselves with the haters. And as Taylor Swift has so often reminded us, when “the haters gonna hate / baby, I’m just gonna shake.”2
Creatives, don’t be about them (the haters); be about your art. Get down and dirty in the art that only you can create.
TODAY’s CHALLENGE: Ask yourself what you can do TODAY to ignore the haters and focus on your craft. Maybe it’s getting better at your art or maybe it’s connecting with someone who does what you want to be doing. Don’t get bogged down with frustration because of what someone “out there” might be saying. What do you need to say to yourself today and how can you live out your life more creatively?
Both of the above quotes are from Casey Neistat’s YouTube channel, specifically his video titled “How to Travel the World and Get Companies to Pay for It”.
I also love this line from Taylor Swift’s hit song, “Shake It Off”:
“Just think, while you’ve been gettin’ down and out about the liars
And the dirty, dirty cheats of the world
You could’ve been gettin’ down to this sick beat”