Not all opinions are equally accurate

The mistake we make in our perceptions of others’ opinions about us is that we make no distinction between them. People have vastly differing amounts of wisdom and experience, and any approach that treats their opinions as equally valuable is sure to be ill-fitting to either the foolish or the wise.¹ The approval of another person is only as valuable as the value of that person. As long as you are tethered to the approval of another, you will never grow beyond their limits. While you remain tethered to the opinion of all people, you also tether yourself to the caliber of thoughts, feelings, and actions found in the average person. Normal people are, by definition, mediocre. If you seek for the approval of those who are above-average, you will have to be better than mediocre. Being better than average is not a passive outcome.

Effort is required to exceed the average, and succeeding ensures you will endure opposition from those who choose not to do the same. How well can you carry the rejection of most people, many of whom will misunderstand your actions, question your motives, undervalue your sacrifice, and envy your success? How different are you willing to be?