There are enough people doubting your decisions for you to be doing the same. Sometimes, you just have to rely on your instincts and do what you feel is right, what you believe is in your best interests. Of course, no one likes seeing you have that power; people love influencing you and steering you in directions they desire.
No one can know you better than...you. And for that matter, no one should. Yet, people always have their opinion of you, don't they? What they see doesn't satisfy them. The way you behave, what you wear and how you sound are contentious parts of yourself that they don't approve of. The only question you have to ask yourself when faced with these criticisms is this: why does their opinion matter? They don't, and here's why.
Happiness is the currency required to purchase peace and fulfillment. The problem is, everyone around you has their version of what happiness is and, more annoying, feel their perspective on the matter should apply to you. Your happiness must be drawn out of your own spiritual and mental desires. You can't allow others to dictate what your happiness is. But you do, don't you?
When was the last time you took notice of you? Can you remember when you last looked yourself in the mirror, and appreciated the person staring back, gave them a compliment, happy they were there, alive and well?
Everyone has to experience pain. That's how we grow and mature as individuals. Pain is a necessary experience we all have to go through as we navigate through life's challenges. To conquer pain, we must experience pain. There are a lot of complexities involved in developing relationships with people.