--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My job is not to worry about what…" description: "\"“My job is not to worry about what everyone else thinks about me but to discover what I think. If I actually want to know what someone else thinks, my ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/jenni-schaefer-22271_anxiety_my-job-is-not-to-worry-about-what-everyo_3038351.jpg" --- # My job is not to worry about what everyone else thinks… ![“My job is not to worry about what everyone else thinks about me but to discover what I think. If I actually want to know what someone else thinks, my job is then to ask that person. More often than not, however, it isn’t important to know. It’s okay if people are mad at me, and it’s okay if people…” quote by Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/jenni-schaefer-22271_anxiety_my-job-is-not-to-worry-about-what-everyo_3038351.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/jenni-schaefer-22271_anxiety_my-job-is-not-to-worry-about-what-everyo_3038351.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/873/jenni-schaefer-22271_anxiety_my-job-is-not-to-worry-about-what-everyo_3038351.jpg) > ““My job is not to worry about what everyone else thinks about me but to discover what I think. If I actually want to know what someone else thinks, my job is then to ask that person. More often than not, however, it isn’t important to know. It’s okay if people are mad at me, and it’s okay if people think I’m a complete idiot—as long as I’m doing my best. Just because certain people might have judgments about me, it does not mean they have authority over me. To truly form my own life, I had to ask questions like ‘What are my needs? And ‘What are my thoughts?’ I had to acknowledge both my strengths and my weaknesses. I had to form my own opinions based on my reality instead of someone else’s.”” [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges self‑reliance in forming opinions, focusing on personal needs and thoughts rather than external judgments. **In simple terms:** Listen to yourself, not others. Key Takeaway Prioritize your own truth. Themes self‑reliance authenticity personal growth Mood reflective empowering Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationship choices - creative projects - mental health coping - goal setting Key Concepts self‑awareness boundary setting internal locus of control Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs am I holding that come from others? - How can I balance feedback with self‑truth? A Different Perspective External opinions can still provide useful feedback if filtered wisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Doing My Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-my-best/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Self image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-image/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) ## Related quotes > [“It's like she thinks my job is to please her, and that should be my dearest wish, and when I don't please her -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/it-s-like-she-thinks-my-job-is-to-please-her-and-that-should-be-my/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I've no interest in being thought provoking. Who needs more thoughts. I'd rather go down as one who is thought disposing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/i-ve-no-interest-in-being-thought-provoking-who-needs-more-thoughts-i/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [When you're quiet, others can form opinions that are way off the mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/when-you-re-quiet-others-can-form-opinions-that-are-way-off-the-mark/) [Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/) > [A people are free in proportion as they form their own opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/a-people-are-free-in-proportion-as-they-form-their-own-opinions/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [I form opinions quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meaden/i-form-opinions-quickly/) [Deborah Meaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meaden/) > [Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/prejudice-is-a-great-time-saver-you-can-form-opinions-without-having-2/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [In life people form opinions. No matter what they think, be who you are and aslways keep a smile upon your face. Its your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-brookes/in-life-people-form-opinions-no-matter-what-they-think-be-who-you-are/) Imogen Brookes > [“Monique, people on the outside looking in will always form their own opinions. But ain’t nobody got a heaven or hell to put you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-lynnette-nichols/monique-people-on-the-outside-looking-in-will-always-form-their-own/) Nikita Lynnette Nichols > [It doesn't make it any easier that people form opinions and make judgment calls and think I'm something that I'm not or do things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-rowe/it-doesn-t-make-it-any-easier-that-people-form-opinions-and-make/) [Debbie Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-rowe/) > [People are quick to form opinions online, but they're also quick to change them. If you have an opinion, stand by it and see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-gambhir/people-are-quick-to-form-opinions-online-but-they-re-also-quick-to/) [Gautam Gambhir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-gambhir/) > [Comments like 'he's not committed' or 'he's not good enough' appear as soon as you are not 110 per cent. 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I want an America that is entrepreneurial, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/there-s-one-america-that-barack-obama-wants-and-there-s-a-very/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [The answers to these questions will determine your success or failure. 1) Can people trust me to do what's right? 2) Am I committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/the-answers-to-these-questions-will-determine-your-success-or-failure/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [All I can do is focus on doing my best work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ryder/all-i-can-do-is-focus-on-doing-my-best-work/) [Sam Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ryder/) > [“I may not be the best... I may even be the worst... But I'm doing my best to be worthy of you...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nerd-seyer/i-may-not-be-the-best-i-may-even-be-the-worst-but-i-m-doing-my-best/) NerD\_Seyer ## More by Jenni Schaefer > [In the past, I was a perpetual victim; how I was doing in any given moment depended on what happened to me. Today I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/in-the-past-i-was-a-perpetual-victim-how-i-was-doing-in-any-given/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [Real hope combined with real action has always pulled me through difficult times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/real-hope-combined-with-real-action-has-always-pulled-me-through/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [Oftentimes, especially during my recovery, I didn't need to think about everything I was doing wrong; instead, I needed to focus more on what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/oftentimes-especially-during-my-recovery-i-didn-t-need-to-think-about/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [“Why couldn’t I find one action that would make the need to binge automatically disappear? 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For me, it worked like this: I used to live in a constant state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/anxiety-becomes-high-energy-when-taken-to-the-light-for-me-it-worked/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [I would not encourage you to go through the sweat, blood, and tears of the recovery process only to reach some kind of mediocre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/i-would-not-encourage-you-to-go-through-the-sweat-blood-and-tears-of/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [“I wrote in my journal about how good I felt when I was not living under Ed’s control. Then, when I really felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/i-wrote-in-my-journal-about-how-good-i-felt-when-i-was-not-living/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [“During the worst stages of my eating disorder, I was all-or-none with food—either bingeing or not eating. Much of my experience was, in fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/during-the-worst-stages-of-my-eating-disorder-i-was-all-or-none-with/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [Replace perfectionism with persistence. After all, in recovery and life, it's persistence that really pays off. Forget about perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/replace-perfectionism-with-persistence-after-all-in-recovery-and-life/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [“When you feel like you would rather die than live another day with an eating disorder, know that I used to feel that way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/when-you-feel-like-you-would-rather-die-than-live-another-day-with-an/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) [Explore all 27 Jenni Schaefer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My job is not to worry about what everyone else thinks about me but to discover what I think. 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