The Weight of Opinions

Why Having a Purpose Is Your Best Shield?

Does this inner conversation sound familiar?

What will people think?

What if I am misunderstood?

Why doesn’t anyone notice my good work?

What if I go wrong?

Most of us carry these questions daily—like invisible luggage we never check out of. We keep scanning the world for approval, adjusting our steps to avoid judgment. Yet here is a quiet truth:

The noise of the crowd becomes unbearable only when your own inner direction is silent.

Purpose acts like noise‑cancelling headphones for life. Without it, every opinion feels loud. With it, even criticism becomes background music.

The Core Equation: Purpose vs. Opinions

The root cause of persistent self‑doubt and dependency on external validation is surprisingly simple:

A purposeless life.

When you don’t know where you are going, any road feels acceptable and every passerby’s opinion becomes a compulsory stop sign.

But when you move steadily toward a defined goal, deviation becomes expensive. You no longer have the luxury of stopping for every comment, suggestion, or raised eyebrow.

Purpose does not make the journey easy.

It makes the journey clear.

The Reality of Moving with Purpose

The moment you start walking with intent, expect three things:

1. Observation – people will watch you closely.

2. Guidance – many will suddenly become advisors.

3. Resistance – a few may actively try to slow you down.

This is not cruelty; it is human nature.

Paradoxically, the toughest resistance often comes from those closest to us. Not because they wish us harm, but because proximity amplifies expectations. Their vision of your life and your own vision will never match perfectly.

Wisdom lies not in fighting this reality, but in accepting it with emotional maturity.

Two Questions That Reveal More Than Answers

In my own journey, I frequently encounter two recurring questions - often casual, sometimes curious, always revealing:

“How do you manage all this?”

“Is there any earning? Have you been monetized?”

If the answer does not include immediate financial results, reactions change.

Some turn neutral.

Some fall silent.

Some quietly move on.

And interestingly, that silence never discourages me.

It motivates me.

Because it confirms something important:

I am walking a path they have not yet learned to measure.

A Subtle Truth of Human Psychology

There is a fascinating pattern in human behavior:

People are often less disturbed by their own problems and more unsettled by another person’s growth.

Shared struggle feels comforting.

Solo progress feels threatening.

Consider this simple yet profound example:

A child failed badly in mathematics. That term, many students in the class failed. The child returned home and said confidently:

“Mummy, most of the class failed in maths today.”

The mother asked carefully,

“What about you?”

The child smiled and replied,

“I also failed.”

The Insight

Being part of a collective failure hurts less than facing an individual one.

The herd provides emotional cushioning.

But growth rarely happens in herds.

Life Has No Manual - Only Mathematics

Human life is unpredictable.

There are no shortcuts.

No instruction booklet.

If you accept birth, you must also accept growth - slow, uneven, and often uncomfortable.

Everyone is free to experiment.

But everyone must also accept the results of those experiments.

Here lies a Mathivation truth:

Change the inputs, not the excuses.

Relationships may fluctuate.

Opinions may deceive.

But functions never cheat.

Relations may.

Key Takeaways

● Define Your Purpose – A clear goal is the strongest shield against the fear of public opinion.

● Expect Resistance at Home – Mismatched expectations with loved ones are normal; emotional intelligence keeps you steady.

● Use Silence as Fuel – Neutral reactions to non‑monetized efforts often mean you are ahead of familiar benchmarks.

● Trust Functions Over Relations – Focus on actions (variables) and principles (functions). Outcomes follow logic, not approval.

From the Desk of the Author

My path has never been free of struggle - and I no longer wish it to be.

Struggle is not a flaw in life; it defines life.

Life is not about avoiding difficulties.

It is about choosing which difficulties are worth embracing.

Your variables will define the equation of your life.

But only their values - your discipline, consistency, and intent - will produce meaningful outputs.

An Appeal to Teachers, Parents, and Learners

Let us stop raising children who find comfort only in shared failure.

Let us teach them to:

succeed alone,

fail alone,

and stand alone - without waiting for the majority to validate their experience.

Growth is a personal experiment.

Education must prepare learners for solitude as much as for society.

A Question for You

Are you trying to balance unpredictable relationships?

Or are you focused on refining the input functions of your own actions and goals?

Because in the long run,

Life rewards clarity, not consensus.

Rakesh Kushwaha

Educator | Author | Lifelong Learner

Founder – Mathivation HUB