Resist the urge to always explain yourself

The fact is – for any number of reasons that are often beyond our control – people don’t always see us in the same way we see ourselves.

While it’s natural to care about how you are perceived, it is an exercise in futility to try to explain yourself or justify your actions to everyone who doesn’t get you. Not only is this often a waste of time, it will likely make you seem insecure on top of everything else.

People will often draw conclusions about others based on what they...