dancing fool

here's a challenge that will either terrify you or excite you, and your reaction tells you exactly how much power you've given to other people's opinions.

go somewhere public — a park, a sidewalk, a plaza. and dance. no earbuds. no music. just you, your body, and whatever movement feels natural.

why this is harder than it sounds

you're not afraid of dancing. you're afraid of being judged. the physical act itself is simple — your body knows how to move. what stops you is the mental projection of strangers thinking you're crazy, laughing at you, or recording you for some mocking social media post.

and here's the thing: some of them might. so what?

the exposure therapy

this exercise is essentially exposure therapy for social anxiety. you're deliberately doing the thing your ego screams at you to avoid — drawing attention to yourself in a way that doesn't conform to social norms. and when you survive it (which you will), your brain recalibrates.

it learns: "that thing i was terrified of? it happened. and nothing bad followed. i'm still alive. still fine. maybe the fear was bigger than the reality."

this recalibration doesn't just apply to dancing. it transfers to every situation where fear of judgment holds you back. speaking up in meetings. starting conversations with strangers. wearing what you want. saying what you think. sharing your work publicly.

what actually happens

in practice, most people barely notice you. those who do tend to smile or look amused — not hostile. occasionally someone will join in. the catastrophic social consequences your brain predicted almost never materialize.

the few people who do judge? they spend about 3 seconds thinking about you, then return to their own lives. you are not as important to strangers as your ego believes.

the real win

the goal isn't to become a great dancer. the goal is to prove to yourself that other people's opinions don't have the power you've been giving them. that proof doesn't come from reading about it or thinking about it. it comes from doing the thing.

pick a public space. pick a time. and dance like nobody's watching — except everyone is. that's what makes it powerful.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.