Breaking Free from O.P.P. (Other People’s Points of View)

We don’t often realize how much of our life is shaped by other people’s points of view (O.P.P.). From childhood, we absorb what parents, teachers, and society say about who we should be, how we should act, and what success looks like. These voices sink in so deeply that we often mistake them for our own. Over time, O.P.P. can cloud our choices, create stress, and even lead to physical symptoms in the body.

One of the most powerful examples comes from the life of Vincent van Gogh. While today he’s celebrated as one of the greatest artists in history, in his own lifetime he was dismissed, criticized, and even ridiculed. Van Gogh sold only one painting while he was alive. Much of the world’s opinion told him he was a failure. But he kept painting anyway. His passion, his inner knowing, guided him far more strongly than O.P.P. ever could. Imagine if he had stopped creating because he believed what others thought — we would have lost Starry Night, Sunflowers, and so much more.

The truth is, you don’t have to be a genius painter to face this same crossroads. Every day, you carry beliefs and habits that may not even be yours. Maybe you were told you’re “not athletic,” so you avoid movement even though your body craves it. Maybe you were told money is always a struggle, so you unconsciously sabotage financial growth. Maybe you still hear the old voice that says “you’re too much” or “not enough.” Those aren’t truths — they’re O.P.P.

In my own work with patients, I see this all the time. Someone comes in thinking their main issue is stress or fatigue, but when we dig deeper, we discover the root isn’t just physical. Often, it’s the invisible weight of living under other people’s expectations. That constant pressure eventually shows up in the body as symptoms — insomnia, digestive issues, hormone imbalance, or simply a lack of joy.

The first step in breaking free from O.P.P. is awareness. Start noticing: Whose voice is that? Is it truly yours, or something you picked up along the way? The second step is curiosity, not judgment. Ask yourself what you’ve been getting out of holding onto that belief — maybe protection, maybe approval, maybe safety. Then gently begin to release it, the same way van Gogh released the world’s opinion every time he picked up a brush.

When you let go of O.P.P., you create space for your own point of view — your body’s wisdom, your spirit’s voice, your unique path. And that’s where true health and flourishing begin.

✨ So this week, I invite you to notice one O.P.P. that’s been guiding you. Write it down. Say it out loud. Then ask yourself: What would I choose if I were free from this belief?

Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you for it.

— Jen Owen, NP

🌿 Ready to release O.P.P. and step fully into your own flourishing path? I’d love to guide you.