Dear Friend,
I worry waaay too much, especially about what other people think about me. I wonder if you can relate.
Lately, I’ve been doing something that sends me into a little bit
of a panic, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
First, let’s talk about why the disapproval of complete strangers feels so scary. It’s because humans are social beings,
and historically, being rejected and abandoned by your tribe would leave you pretty helpless all on your own.
But nowadays, if someone doesn’t like you, it probably won’t affect your chances of survival.
So, remember that one hundred percent approval is as rare as
a unicorn because there are pros and cons to every choice,
and everybody sees things from a different perspective.
That means you gotta live yo’ life as best as you can.
And if you truly do that, you also have to tune out the disapproval of others as best you can, so long as you’re not causing anyone harm.
At the moment, I’m trying to bravely follow my own advice.
I’m actually quite a scaredy cat about the whole thing, but I persevere because I believe it’s important.
The whole Love Letter Initiative project was meant to be purely positive, spreading wisdom and encouragement online and in the real world.
The ‘problem’ is that I get worried when I’m placing the letters and notes out in public.
I’m worried people are either going to think that I am littering
or overstepping into promotional territory because the letters
and notes contain the project social media handle and hashtag – even though their main purpose is to create joy and connection.
I recently left a teeny love note in a lady’s bathroom.
And when I revisited it (because I have a small bladder), I saw that someone had moved it — from a corner spot to the mirror, and that made my day.
Because it means that somebody connected with it.
So, I’m going to continue, and I hope you join me. Grab a pen and a piece of paper.
Jot down something thought-provoking or inspirational.
Then add @loveletter.initiative and #healingtheworldwithwords.
Please share photos and tag them so that I can reshare them on social media. And, hopefully, whoever finds them will reshare them, as well, to show that they’ve been received and appreciated.
You know, I’m so looking forward to finding one in the wild someday.
I’ll come back to this video when I do.
Until then, and forever, sharing infinite love,
Ali
