It’s no secret that some of the most successful, happy and admirable people we know are those who don’t seem to give a f*ck.  You know the type: the woman who unapologetically shares her opinion regardless of its popularity or who boldly leaves an unfulfilling job (and tells the boss where to go); or the man who makes a drastic and unexpected life change simply because it feels right to him. Too often, giving a f*ck gets in the way of our goals and limits our personal growth and happiness.  By increasing our self-awareness and being more intentional about what and whom we take to heart, we can take our wellbeing to the next level.

We are each wired differently and have unique triggers in terms of what does and doesn’t affect us.  For instance, I never really gave a f*ck about others’ opinions regarding my decision to pursue music professionally; even when my family was initially unsupportive, my passion and self-confidence always won out. Meanwhile, I’ve given way too many f*cks about others’ perceptions of me in business situations throughout my career and this has held me back.  My point in sharing this is that we are all works in progress and it’s never too late to improve ourselves and our lives.

As Robin Sharma, author of the awesomely inspirational fable The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, points out,”What you focus on grows, what you think about expands and what you dwell upon determines your destiny.”  Deciding to care less about things and people who drain your energy will uplift and empower you in beautiful ways.  I use the verb decide because it’s ultimately a choice whether or not you give a f*ck. It’s similar to when you have a negative thought; you can allow yourself to dwell on it, in which case its power will grow, or you can decide to intentionally let it go and move forward.  As someone highly sensitive, believe me – I know this can be challenging – but I can share from personal experience that conscious effort works.

4 Reasons Why You Must Give Zero F*cks:

1/ It means owning who you are.  It doesn’t mean you don’t care; it just means you’re willing to accept that the consequences of your actions or words may not be greeted with nods and smiles.  It’s about embracing your difference.

2/ People think about you much less than you realize.  It’s exhausting to be concerned about what others think of you.  The truth is, while we worry about others judging us, those same people are usually worried about us judging them.  (What a waste of energy.)

3/ Not everyone is going to like you (even if you give every f*ck in the world). You already know this, but a reminder can’t hurt. No matter what you say or do, some people out there are not going to like you.  And that’s totally okay.

4/ It’s about freedom and independence.  Once you’ve relieved yourself of the weight of giving a f*ck, you can finally be an active participant in your life rather than a spectator, debating and waiting to make your next moves.  Your authentic (and kickass) life awaits.

* Song For This Moment: “I Love It” by Icona Pop.