Subject: What You Think of Me Is None of My Business

Welcome to Celebrating the Journey!

produced by Margo Chisholm
Coach, Speaker, Author, Adventurer
Monday, January 17, 2000
Issue #10
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Welcome to our new subscribers this week. It is
enormously satisfying to know that CTJ touches people in
a way that you’re drawn to pass it along to people you care
about. This week I have an incentive for you!

Anyone who refers 5 new subscriptions to CTJ will receive
a copy of ‘Gypsy Midwife’ a new CD by gifted singer and
songwriter Jan Garrett. This soulful collection creates the
perfect environment for being quietly with yourself or
another.

Here’s how it works. Forward CTJ to your friends, family
and colleagues. Let them know that to subscribe, they can
email me directly at margo@tothesummit.com, with the
subject ‘Subscribe CTJ’ and your name and email address
in the body. It’s that simple. When I receive 5 referrals
from you, I’ll email you for your snail mail address and
send off the CD.

Oh, yeah, there is a small catch. They need to stay
subscribed for a month! Let’s play!

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What You Think of Me Is None of My Business!
I can’t do that! What would my mother say?
I can’t wear that! What would the neighbors think?
I can’t be an artist! What would my father think?
I can’t say no! They’ll think I’m selfish.
I can’t tell you how I feel! You might not like me.

Many of us don’t do what we want to, or do what we don’t
want to, or don’t speak the truth, or don’t live our dreams
because we’re afraid of what others might think or say
about us. John-Roger and Peter McWilliams call this
‘worshiping the god of other people’s opinions.’ I call it
the ‘They’re More Important Than Me’ game. It’s a very
expensive game. It costs us our serenity, our dreams, our
goals, the relationship we want, and ultimately, our souls.

We too often live under the illusion that what other
people think of us is our business. It’s not. Our business is
to live with integrity, from our heart, from our values; to
follow our own dreams and create the life we really want.
How others react and respond to that is their business
Really!

But…. But what if…. But if they…. But they’ll think… Let
them. Let them think what they will, say what they will,
act as they will. Yes, it can be painful and disappointing
when people we care about don’t agree with how we are
living or speaking or acting. That discomfort is temporary.
It is far less costly than saying, doing or not doing what
someone else wants us to say or do or not do. That costs us
having the life WE want.

Creating the life we really want requires that we honor
our values and dreams and goals. And that means
remembering that…
What You Think of Me Is None of My Business!

COACHING:

In what ways do you allow what other people think of you
to be your business? How are you not living your own
dreams because of someone else’s opinion? How would
your life be different if you were not influenced by other
people’s opinions of you?

Write ‘What You Think of Me Is None of My Business’
on several pieces of paper and post it in places where you
will see it: on the bathroom mirror, above your desk, on
the visor of your car. Practice saying it out loud. Practice it
with a trusted friend or loved one. Be aware of when you
make a choice based on what someone else thinks rather
than on what is true for you. When you notice it, say the
words – to yourself or out loud: What you think of me is
none of my business. I can make my own choices based on
my own values and dreams and desires.

QUOTES:

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is
easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is
he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect
sweetness the independence of solitude.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

When we truly care for our selves, it becomes possible to
care far more profoundly about other people.
Eda LeShan

Take care of what you like, or you will end by liking what
you get.
George Bernard Shaw

To be one’s self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is
more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to
conformity.
Irving Wallace

RECOMMENDED READING:

What You Think of Me Is None of My Business
by Terry Cole Whittaker.
I bought this book when it first came out in the 80’s
because of its title. Terry’s ideas for personal growth and
motivation were innovative back then and are still useful
today. The reminder of the title is worth the price of $4.79!
Order it by clicking here
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/051509479X/tothesummit

Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
One of the best! This book, published originally in
1987, is filled with concrete techniques to turn passivity
into assertiveness, “I can’t” into “I’ll handle it” and “what
will they think” into “I’m worth it.” It’s easy to read and
absorb, and full of lots of common sense and honesty. The
first time I read it, it compelled me to take actions that
forever changed my life for the better. It’s a great book for
getting unstuck and beginning to create the life you really
want. Order it here for only $10.36:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0449902927/tothesummit

Give yourself the gift of not worrying about what “they”
think or say about you this week.

Namaste, Margo

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TODAY’S OPPORTUNITIES:

Jan Garrett’s CD, entitled “Gypsy Midwife” is available
from me for $15 plus $3 shipping and handling. It is an
exquisite mix of soulful lyrics and beautiful melodies and
arrangements. The perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea
in front of the fire or journaling or quiet time with a
partner. A true gift for your heart. Order by sending a
check for $18 to the address below.

Margo’s book, “To The Summit: A Woman’s Journey into
the Mountains to Find Her Soul” is no longer available in
stores in the hardcover version. You can purchase a
signed copy by sending a check for $18 – a 25% discount –
to:
Margo Chisholm
37 Dakota Meadows Dr.
Carbondale, CO 81623
To find out more about Margo and her book, visit her
website at https://www.tothesummit.com.

“Gypsy Midwife” and “To the Summit” are available as a
package for a total of $30. Save 18% and add to both your
reading and music libraries!

Margo has a few spaces available in her coaching practice.
Every serious athlete has a coach. Why not have one for
the most important game of all: Life! Contact Margo at
mailto:margo@tothesummit.com or visit her website for
information and resources for YOUR life at
https://www.tothesummit.com.

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Copyright © 1999, all rights reserved, by Margo Chisholm

I invite you to share Celebrating the Journey with your
Mailing List, Friends, and Associates. We ask only that the
entire email with Copyright and Credits be included. The
author of this article is Margo Chisholm. You may contact
her at (970)704-9336 or at mailto:margo@tothesummit.com.

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My purpose in publishing Celebrating the Journey is to
provide you with resources, motivation, inspiration and
energy for YOUR journey to creating success and freedom
in all areas of your life. CTJ will use stories from my life
and others’, coaching tips and resources, quotes and
humor to deliver a learning experience that can enhance
your life. I am always looking for comments, ideas and
ways to improve CTJ. I welcome your emails at
mailto:margo@tothesummit.com.

To receive your own free copy of Celebrating the Journey,
send an email to
majordomo@tothesummit.com
and in the body of the text include
subscribe tothesummit-list youremailaddress
or to stop receiving it include
unsubscribe tothesummit-list youremailaddress

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Margo Chisholm is available for individual and group
coaching. Every dedicated athlete has a coach. Why not
have a coach for the most important game of all: the
game of life. Visit our website at
https://www.tothesummit.com for additional resources
and tools. To schedule a consultation, send an email to
mailto:margo@tothesummit.com
—
“At every moment of our life we have an
opportunity to choose joy.”
Henri J. M. Nouwen

Margo Chisholm
Coach, Speaker, Author, Therapist
Partnering you in having success,
freedom and joy in all areas of your life
970-704-9336 fax 970-704-9346
margo@tothesummit.com

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