“Not giving a f*ck does not mean being indifferent; it means being comfortable with being different.” -Mark Manson, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
When I was in school (yes, that was like five months ago), I hated reading. I think it was the act of someone telling me I had to read something and not having the option to choose for myself. Well, I graduated and had the freedom to choose. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living Life was the very first book of my choosing, and can, to this day, say it was a great choice.
Growing up, I was one of those kids who cared what others thought of me. I would speak and think, “I wonder if they thought I sounded stupid” or “Oh no, I can’t believe I just said that.” and really I was probably just smiling and saying hello in the hallway at school. Some of you might think that’s silly and others might be realizing that you aren’t alone.
Changing old habits is hard. Especially, changing the way we think.
Mark Manson said, “In my life, I have given a f*ck about many people and many things. I have also not given a f*ck about many people and many things. And like the road not taken, it was the f*cks not given that made all the difference.”
Manson made me realize that when I didn’t care so much about the people that didn’t matter was when I was truly happy with myself. It was when I wasn’t worried about what others thought about me that I was truly living in the moment and enjoying it.
Now, not caring is way easier said than done. It is completely impossible to not give a single f*ck about anything. That’s where prioritizing what you give a f*ck about comes into play.
“Because when we give too many f*cks, when we choose to give a f*ck about everything, then we feel as though we are perpetually entitled to feel comfortable and happy at all times, that’s when life f*cks us.” -Mark Manson
I asked myself many questions. What is important? When am I the happiest? When and where do I thrive and achieve personal growth the most? Where do my relationships stand with the people who mean the most to me?
Not giving a f*ck about what others thought about me allowed my relationships with my family and friends to thrive even more. I allowed myself to be happy in my own skin and be okay being me. I spent more time smiling, laughing, talking, listening, and being in the moment with my family and friends than being in my head worried about what a complete stranger was thinking about me.
“Being open with your insecurities paradoxically makes you more confident and charismatic around others. The pain of honest confrontation is what generates the greatest trust and respect in your relationships. Suffering through your fears and anxieties is what allows you to build courage and perseverance.”- Mark Manson.
Mark Manson explains that not giving a f*ck doesn’t mean you don’t have to not care, but more so being comfortable with being different. So, my final questions to you is, do you have the courage and perseverance to be okay with being different?