Know and Live by Your Personal Philosophy

Worrying about what other people think of us can be paralyzing. We stop taking chances and play it safe. Our careers suffer. To fight these anxieties, develop a personal philosophy that articulates your sense of who you are. What values drive your actions? Who has qualities that align with yours, and what are they? What makes you feel that you're performing at your best? How do you want to live your life? Write down your answers and look for what they have in common. Use the words that stand out to come up with your personal philosophy. Then commit to living by it.

When something at work starts to lower your confidence, let your philosophy remind you of why you do what you do. Shut out others' opinions and focus on the things that really matter.