Acharya Prashant addresses the common concern of being affected by the opinions and criticisms of others. He explains that the problem arises when individuals fail to recognize that external opinions are merely reflections of another person's mind and have no inherent connection to one's true self. He emphasizes that emotional hurt occurs only when one links these external opinions to their own self-image. Instead of being affected, one should treat such feedback as mere information or news without allowing it to mechanically alter how they perceive themselves. He points out that most people live with their metaphorical eyes closed, depending entirely on others to define their worth. This dependency makes one vulnerable to both praise and criticism; if a compliment can make someone feel wonderful, a nasty comment will inevitably make them feel miserable. Acharya Prashant argues that individuals must develop the capacity for direct self-observation and use their own intelligence to understand who they are. Relying on others for self-validation is a sign of a lack of self-awareness. Furthermore, he highlights how people often crave external validation, which allows others to dominate them emotionally. He warns against the tendency to seek solutions from others for personal life decisions, stating that while general information can be gathered from outside, self-awareness must come from within. He concludes by advising that while one should listen to others, they must never allow external words to become their self-image, as true independence comes from functioning through one's own intelligence and vision.
