Do you worry about what people think of you?

Do other people’s opinions heavily influence your thoughts and decisions?

Take a minute, and ask yourself, “Am I concerned about what people think of my ______?”

1. Job
2. Clothes
3. Beliefs
4. Relationship status
5. Car
6. Housing
7. Phone
8. Body
9. Dreams
10. Goals

It’s easy to worry. We all want to belong.

While a bit of social awareness is helpful, caring too much about what people think of you is not. It’ll keep you from enjoying life and striving for your full potential.

But the fear of people doesn’t have to slow you down. Here are 6 ways you can beat it.

1. Care more about what God thinks.

One way we can stop worrying about what others think of us is to prefer what God thinks.

Remember that men are mortal, while God is immortal. People can hurt our physical bodies. But only God determines our eternal destiny (Matthew 10:28).

He also loves us the most. He proved it by sending His Son Jesus to die in our place (Romans 5:8).

And you never have to question where you stand with someone when he dies for you. (Thanks, Pastor Beau.)

(If you want to learn more about beating the fear of man, check out Edward T. Welch’s book When People Are Big and God Is Small. It’s where I learned this first strategy.)

2. Give yourself permission to feel awkward.

If you’re an introvert, large groups of people will make you uncomfortable. Your mind might blank when you try to speak. And you may struggle to express yourself clearly.

Introverts enjoy solitude. While extroverts get energy from people and activities, introverts prefer to be alone.

It’s not that they don’t like people. They do. But they need time to recharge between activities.

Introverts also tend to overanalyze their words. They may review something they’ve said over and over, beating themselves up for mistakes.

It’s no surprise, then, that introverts may feel awkward around other people. An introverted guy may feel extra-uncomfortable approaching a girl he likes. And he may shy away from social gatherings.

If you’re introverted, give yourself permission to feel awkward. It’s normal. Don’t let feelings keep you from important friends and relationships.

Expect to feel awkward, and carry on with your plans.

(The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney, Psy.D., is full of practical advice for introverts. These ideas are from her book.)

3. Fight fear with fear.

Instead of fearing what people think of you, fear mediocrity. Fear settling for less than your potential more than you fear rejection.

Think about where you could be 5 or 10 years from now. Are you willing to sacrifice that future for the approval of people?

Don’t you want to live a life where you’re excited to get out of bed in the morning?

It’s possible.

(I learned this idea from Tim Ferris’s book The 4-Hour Work Week.)

4. Connect and cut Off.

Surround yourself with people who care about and accept you. And avoid anyone who puts you down.

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” says Jim Rohn. And Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived said, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20).

Who do you need to connect with? What relationships do you need to end?

God commanded Israel to wipe out the inhabitants of the promised land before settling. He knew that the rituals and practices of foreigners would corrupt his people. And they did.

We’re no less impressionable than the Israelites.

(If you need to end a bad relationship, check out Dr. Henry Cloud’s book Necessary Endings.)

5. Enjoy being you.

Find out what you love, and do it.

Don’t let other people persuade you to conform to their expectations. Be yourself.

While you need to love and care for others, you don’t have to pretend to be who you’re not.

Being true to yourself is a matter of stewardship. Discover, hone, and use your unique gifts and talents; it’s the best way to help people.

Shakespeare put it well: “[T]o thine own self be true.”

6. It’s not as bad as you think.

Fear is irrational. When I think about sharing in a big group, my heart starts pounding and my palms sweat. I get the same way when I have to talk on the phone.

But my fears almost never match reality. I let my imagination get the best of me.

William Backus hit the nail on the head in Telling Yourself the Truth. He taught his clients a simple but effective self-talk strategy.

Clients were in the habit of lying to themselves, thinking, This is the end of the world. No one will ever like me again! Backus encouraged them to exchange the lies for the truth. He asked them to think, Though this may be embarrassing and a little painful, it’s not the end of the world. I’ll survive, and God will still love me.

Many of his clients found freedom from worry. The strategy can work for anyone. It’s helped me.

Don’t let people’s opinions hold you back from the life God wants you to live.

What is the fear of people keeping you from trying? How has it impacted your life?