What You Think About Yourself Matters Most

You Matter More

So much of our emotional energy gets spent managing how we are perceived: what they think, how we “come across” to others, whether we said the ‘right’ thing. It’s understandable, we’re wired for connection, but when we orient our inner world around external judgment, we slowly lose touch with ourselves. What you think about yourself matters far more than what they think about you.

From a clinical perspective, this isn’t about ignoring feedback or pretending relationships don’t matter, it is about recentering and prioritizing yourself. Come home to your own experience with curiosity and compassion in 2026. When self judgment is running the show, even neutral interactions can feel threatening. When self love and acceptance is present, the same moments feel workable, even beautifully imperfect.

This is an invitation to go easy on yourself, especially as you sift through the stories you tell about who you are. You do not need to eliminate self criticism overnight, sometimes a bit of awareness is all you need. Sometimes pausing before piling on, is a good start. Sometimes choosing a familiar, supportive way of meeting your needs, rather than a harsh one, is a good start.

As with all truth exploration, gentleness matters. Ask yourself: What do I need right now to stay connected to myself? You might revisit what’s helped before. You might experiment with something new. Either way, the practice isn’t about getting it “right.” It’s about building a relationship with yourself that isn’t contingent on approval.

Other people’s thoughts will always shift. Your relationship with yourself is the one you live in every day. Tend to that one with care. What ‘they’ think about you matters far less than what you think, and how you feel, about yourself.

Chris Lauzon, LICSW

Mental Health Therapist

Boston, Massachusetts