There have been two times in my life that I could have died, and a third that could have left me paralyzed from the neck down. 

Fortunately, I’m still here (no, this isn’t a ghost) and I’m very grateful to be able to have full functionality of my extremities. 

While terrible at the time, these experiences made me extremely grateful for the ability to eat solid food, or to walk, or to even just be alive. Sitting in the emergency room with a scope up your nose is a great way to remember all the things in life to be grateful for. 

And when you’re grateful for the small things, suddenly all the usual fears concerning other people’s judgements would fall away. 

How might you feel that same gratitude without having to go through the ordeals of a near-death experience? And what might you do if you didn’t have those other people’s voices in your head?