It’s difficult not to care what other people think about us. It’s part of our fallen human nature. Too often, we find ourselves making decisions based on what we perceive other people’s reactions might be when the reality is that they probably don’t even care. Caring about other’s perceptions becomes problematic when we put their opinion over that of God’s.

This example is but one of many ways in which pride rears its ugly head. I know that for me, I’ve made a lot of decisions based on what I think friends, colleagues, relatives, etc., would think. I’ve personally found that this has been a problem within my professional career, trying to appear smarter than I am or just trying to make coworkers happy, even if it meant that it would put me in a worse position.

We generally do not make wise decisions when we are too busy trying to make those around us happy. Do not confuse this statement with that of doing good works to make those around us happy. What I mean specifically is that when we are too busy trying to make those around us, or even ourselves content in the short term, it does not necessarily set us up for success in the long term.

One way in which we can begin to stop caring about what other people think (again, in the right context), is by praying the Litany of Humility on a regular, if not daily, basis. The Litany of Humility, if you haven’t ever prayed it before, is a litany that automatically humbles even the proudest. We pray for a desire to rid ourselves of the faults and failings that attach itself to pride. One example of which is asking Jesus to deliver us from a desire of being loved.

Through this Litany, we ask Jesus to humble us completely. And it works. I have found that since adding this prayer to my morning prayers that I do not care about what others think. Granted, I am still a human and have my faults and sometimes slip, but overall, I have found that I do not bother with thoughts about what others might think of me. It is a waste of time and energy that could be spent on more productive activities.

If you are finding that you are struggling with different areas of pride, especially that of what others may think of you, I highly suggest you begin praying the Litany of Humility in your daily prayer. You will find that as time progresses, you will stop caring about what others think about you and begin to focus your energy on pleasing God.

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved…
From the desire of being extolled …
From the desire of being honored …
From the desire of being praised …
From the desire of being preferred to others…
From the desire of being consulted …
From the desire of being approved …
From the fear of being humiliated …
From the fear of being despised…
From the fear of suffering rebukes …
From the fear of being calumniated …
From the fear of being forgotten …
From the fear of being ridiculed …
From the fear of being wronged …
From the fear of being suspected …

 

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I …
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease …
That others may be chosen and I set aside …
That others may be praised and I unnoticed …
That others may be preferred to me in everything…
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…