What did they think of you!

What others think of you, whether they think at all—there's no point dwelling on such things. What you think or don't think, they have no way of knowing. So they simply think about you whatever pleases them to think. No matter how much you wish otherwise, you cannot budge them from that position.

You have no control over who will think what about you, or how much they'll think, do you? Let them think, let them think whatever they please. If someone wants to consider you a good person, they will do exactly that; strangely enough, even if you're actually bad, they'll still think well of you. And no matter what kind of person you are, if someone wants to think badly of you, they will think badly of you. They won't stop at just thinking it themselves—they'll encourage others too. No one can stop them.

Something even stranger will happen. The more you try to win their hearts, to live according to their wishes, to do better work, the more they'll think badly of you—if that's what they're inclined to do. You simply cannot move anyone away from whatever notion they have about you!

Let them think their muddled thoughts. Let them make their topsy-turvy comments. Let them spread their confused chatter and slander. That's the extent of their reach. They consider this their success.

If what you're doing is right, if it harms no one, then no matter what anyone says, keep your head held high. Hold onto your self-confidence. If you fall apart, no one will be happier than they are, because then they will have won.

Move forward, keep your gaze fixed ahead. Instead of wasting time brooding over their words, spend your time proving them wrong. You won't suffer because of their thoughts—you'll suffer for the sake of your own work.

You won't be able to change people's opinions much. But you can improve your own work. They will see you moving forward. They will realize they're thinking wrongly. Still, they won't budge from their position. There's no point in changing yourself to suit their minds—change yourself according to the needs of time. That will suffice.

Most of us begin explaining ourselves even to people we have no need to speak with at all! Does this make any sense? Someone to whom you have no need to explain your position—let them think whatever they want about you, let them interpret however they please. Don't give them any verbal response. Perhaps they have nothing to do, but you certainly do!