How can I stop being affected by other peoples opinions when pursuing life goals?
I 21M, really want to get married and have kids someday. That’s my biggest dream and life goal. I understand not everyone wants this. When someone disagrees with this life and says it sounds miserable, it makes me feel like I’m wrong for pursuing and wanting it. It makes me feel that most women would hate me for wanting to pursue a relationship with them. I feel most would judge my desire for attraction and intimacy. Attraction and intimacy are core parts of a romantic relationship for me, and without them, it feels platonic to me. It's what I need to feel fulfilled in a relationship. Every time I hear someone say getting married and having kids sounds miserable, it makes me feel others hate it, and would hate me wanting this.
I also feel like I'm somehow wrong for not dating someone interested in me, even when I'm not attracted to them, or we don't want the same things in life. But I feel pity dating does both of us a disservice and leaves us both worse off.
Posted Apr 29, 2026, 7:06 AM UTC