Judgment, Judgment Everywhere

"Everyone's projecting onto you, or you feel like everyone is judging you.  I feel like I'm being judged a lot of the time.  You become really self-conscious." - Kate Moss

Just take a look around and you'll see that judgment is everywhere.  We judge people by the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, the food they eat, the color of their hair/skin, their sexual preferences; every movement we make, every word we speak, every breath we take is an opportunity for us to be judged.  We're judged and criticized to the point where we keep every thought to ourselves for fear of our ideas provoking a disapproving reaction - to the point where we second guess everything we do in life and we feel like nothing we do is ever good enough.  Because there is always at least one person who has to find fault in your choice or idea.  There's always that one person who can never just be happy and supportive of the choices you've made or thoughts you've expressed.  So instead you become inverted, silent, and hidden.  You allow yourself to blend into your surroundings and you undermine and undervalue your own opinions because that's what everyone else has always done in the past.  Your ideas and suggestions were always shut down, your jokes were never laughed at, your inspirations were found to be corny and unrealistic, your music was never cool enough.  Everything you did, everything you believed in - it was all wrong.  In the eyes of what seemed like the whole world it was wrong - you were wrong.  But in your eyes, everything was just right.  All of that music, all of those dreams and aspirations, all of your fashion and style - it made the world a better place for you.  They say people judge out of jealousy.  So the key is not to become self-conscious or insecure from the judgment you receive, but rather to embrace that judgment as an indication that you have everything all figured out and everyone else just wishes they had their shit together like you do.  So screw what everyone else thinks.  Make decisions for you.  Follow your heart, live your dreams, and be yourself.  No one else has to like or approve of your actions.  Be confident.  You only get one shot at life...live it for you.