Here’s another short story my psychotherapist told me to help me with my anxiety, this time for my fear of judgment which makes it hard for me to go out. Really liked it and it did actually improve my social anxiety. Hope it helps someone :))

[story adapted in my own simpler vocabulary]

There’s a man, his wife and a donkey. They are all walking on the street near each other. There’s a group of people passing nearby, looking at them and whispering, “Look at these dummies, walking one their feet. They have a donkey and aren’t even riding it.” 

So, the man and the woman decide to ride the donkey. Few streets away, they see another group of people. They hear them whispering to each other, “Look at those heartless pigs, both riding the poor and small donkey’s back instead of just walking. Lazy pigs.” 

So, the woman decides to walk by instead, letting her husband ride the donkey alone. Few streets away they see another group of people and hear them whisper, “Look at this shameless man! He’s making his wife walk while his ass is resting on the donkey’s back. What a disgrace!”

The man, ashamed, gets off the donkey and convinces his wife to go ride it instead of him. Soon enough they hear another group whisper, “Is the man dumb or just a big simp? Why is he walking instead of riding the donkey with his wife?”

Moral of the story being, no matter what, there can always be someone judging you. You can’t please everyone and when you try to, it will be impossible for you to live your own life. 

Does everyone do things to please you? No, right, they’re focusing on themselves and on their own life. Do you like everyone? No. So you can’t expect everyone liking you. It’s impossible.

By the way, most of the time in social settings, people aren’t even looking at you. I know we often feel like everyone has their eyes on us. The truth is most don’t. Some will look at you but will forget you in a second. Do you look and focus on every person on the street? No, right, you just see them because they’re in your way and you forget them once you pass them by. And yeah, sometimes there can be some people looking and judging you. Those people exist and they love judging everyone and everything. You shouldn’t pay too much attention to their judgments. It isn’t saying anything about you, it is saying a lot about them. Don’t let them impact your life. 

Btw, keep up with your good work :)) We can do this :)) we’ll overcome anxiety💙