This has been going on through the ages.
They criticize the silent ones.
They criticize the talkative ones.
They criticize the moderate ones.
There is not one in the world who escapes criticism.
There never was and never will be,
Nor is there now,
The wholly criticized
Or the wholly approved.
– The Buddha
You can throw yourself out there and get shut down. You can throw yourself out there and be successful. What you do in this lifetime, you do. Hide, or come out. Speak, or stay silent. You cannot avoid or control others’ opinions. You can control how you set out to fulfill your destiny.
My hope is that you live your life to the fullest. Create a life for yourself that is not limited by the criticism of others. Offer the world your gifts. Learn from your mistakes. Grow as a person. As the Buddha taught, you will never be completely accepted or completely rejected.
In the end, what you really have to ask yourself is this: Are you okay with you?
When it comes to you fulfilling your own destiny, that’s really the only question that matters.