“Do you find it challenging to show affection in public?”
A question I was pondering this morning, as I thought about my own experience.
I remember times when I’d feel embarrassed holding my girlfriend’s hand or kissing her on the cheek in public.
I think much of this feeling or thought came from the sense of being judged.
“What will others think?” was a question that constantly ran through my head.
I’ll be honest, it took me quite some time before I became more comfortable holding her hand or kissing her in public.
Much of that journey started within.
I had to redefine what judgement looked like for me.
“Why do some of us judge when it comes to seeking others show affection in public? Is it because deep down inside we are seeking to do the same thing?”
But, that’s a topic for another conversation.
Back to the story ✍️
Instead of looking at it via the lens of, “What will others think of me?” I approached it via, “Someone else’s opinion of me doesn’t have to become my reality.”
This reminder, alone, helped me tremendously to become more comfortable living in my own skin.
In my opinion, I don’t think it’s fully possible to not seek approval from others or the desire to be liked by others across the board.
However, I do think it’s possible to pick and choose the areas of my life where I am not seeking it.
Showing affection in public has become one of those areas.
It doesn’t mean that the thought of, “What will others think of me?” has gone away completely.
It still creeps into my head from time to time.
The difference now is what do I choose to do next?
For me, I choose to remind myself, “Someone else’s opinion of me doesn’t have to become my reality.”
If you can relate to my experience, do you find it challenging to show affection in public? If so, why?
