Too Cool to be Cool: Reclaiming Your Headspace by Journalling

[salixj]

GoT is on everyone's tongue, including people who don't watch it, who are, apparently, too cool to be cool and watch the show.

I'm not cool, just not watching for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with this post. 

Anyway, discussion on Facebook (where else?) ensued over those who did watch getting mad at those who didn't watch, who posted they didn't watch, because they were bragging in some way that they were too cool to watch, which apparently isn't cool. (See what I did there?) 

So I asked, okay, (paraphrasing this whole conversation) but why do you care if someone thinks they are too cool to watch GoT or whatever the current rage is? 

And the answer I received back was "Because they mean then you aren't cool and that is mean."

And my question again was "But why do you care? So they think you aren't cool, so what? What if you aren't cool? So what?" At which point, the person blocked me.

Okay. Still I ask: Why do you care? Or better yet: Why would you give headspace to someone who thinks your interests aren't cool? Because whatever your interests are, they are yours.

And when their voices are allowed in, guess whose voice is silenced?

Yeah, yours.

And if you allow someone into your head with their judgement of you not only living rent free, but you end up paying for their presence. Treating them like kings and queen.

Who should rule?

Yeah, you.

And this type of surrender of headspace, a ceding of power, happens in many different areas, this outside judgment of you, these critical voices who want to take over your joy, your fun, your likes. 

"I'm judging you."

Well guess what? I don't care. I'm not cool, never was, never will be, and I'm cool with that!

Have you given up headspace to your critiques? It is time to get them out!

NOTE: I'm talking about interests, things that give you joy and pleasure but not harm. What books you enjoy, the shows you watch, how you dress when you are hanging about the house. There are definitely times to listen to others. I'm not talking about advice regarding health or career or parenting. That has a different evaluation (you will still sometimes want to discount those voices as well). 

The first step is to acknowledge that you have given free headspace to your critiques.

You know what to do; pick up that journal and find yourself a nice clean page. 

Are you there now? 

Write down these statements.

"I have given up headspace to _______. " 

Was there a name that easily came to mind? Can you picture the person's face? Hear their voice? Get a good look at them. 

Now write: "I know you think _______ is _________. Maybe you are right. Maybe you are wrong. Guess what? I don't care. I like _______ and therefore I'm going to continue to enjoy it, even if it is _________. You know why? Because:" And then list the reasons you enjoy the uncool thing you want to enjoy.

And those reasons are the only reasons you need to enjoy reading or watching, or collecting or doing anything that doesn't cause harm.

Is it uncool to ____? 

As long as you aren't causing harm guess what?

It is cool no matter what your critique thinks.

And that is power, real power, which is yours to take back and keep.