Below are some prompts and exercises to help you build courage when you're afraid of what others will think.
Review
Whose opinions matter most to you? What’s your relation to this person or these people? Why is what they think so meaningful to you?
What are you most afraid other people might think or say if you put yourself or your work out there?
What is the version of yourself you feel safest being when you’re around other people? Does this feel like an authentic version of yourself?
How does worrying about other people's opinions affect the choices you make? What do you find yourself avoiding, changing, or holding back?
What is something you’d want to do if no one would ever find out about it?
Practice
Low Stakes: do something mildly vulnerable in a situation where the consequences are tiny. Wear something unusual, share an unfinished idea, ask a question you normally wouldn't, etc.
Cold Plunge: think of the people whose opinions you’re most nervous about. Choose one of them. Confront them directly with your idea, your work, your whatever and deliberately ask them for their opinion on it.
Eyes on the Prize: describe your best-case scenario. You’ve achieved the dream. What does that look like? Where are you? What are you doing? Who’s there? Have you received any awards?
Which parts of that prize are worth missing out on to avoid experiencing what someone else thinks?