How to mind your own business? You probably have told someone before to face his/her business. Or chances are that someone has said that to you at one time or another.

While that expression may sound a bit harsh and unfriendly, it’s a careful reminder that people should mind their own business— that’s stay in their lane.  

However, it’s interesting that many, both young and old, find it somewhat hard to mind their own business. But why? You’d ask.

Simple. That’s because it’s quite tempting for some of us to get engaged in matters that are not necessarily of direct and profound effect on us, especially if one is extroverted.

But in this article, you’ll learn what it means to mind your own business and how to do just that in practical and simple steps.

 

Mind your own business meaning

Before we define what the phrase “minding your business” means, let’s take a quick question: how would you feel when people pry into your matters without an invitation from you? 

Unhappy, right? Sure, everybody will feel the same way. While that question wasn’t to spark up negative emotions, it’s to take us closer to what it means when you think people should mind their own business.

Minding your own business is valuing your mental health and respecting the privacy and freedom of others. By so doing, you avoid the unnecessary drama that may arise from being busy analyzing, assessing, and passing judgment on what is going on in the lives of others. They could be your family members, colleagues at work, or general interpersonal relationships with your friends. 

In other words, you can say that people who mind their business know how to tame their tongues and follow peace, especially in their interactions and conversations with those around them.

Now, look at:

Examples of people’s behaviors who need to lean how to mind their own business 

1. Quick to judge others
2. Treating people without love and diplomacy
3. Criticizing others because of personal biases 
4. Trying to control what goes on in the lives of others
5. Attempting to assume the position of a “physician” in the lives of people around them
6. Derive an inexplicable joy from poke-nosing in the personal affairs of others

 

How to mind my own business? Just in 3 Practical Steps 

While it may appear easy to tell others to focus on stuff that concern them, it’s true that everyone needs to mind their own business.

Inspirational author and therapist Shannon L. Alder once commented, “People having trust issues only need to look in the mirror. There they will meet the one person that will betray them the most.”

On that note, below are practical steps on how anyone (including you) can mind his/her business:

Step one: How to mind your business

1. Realize that everyone cannot be like you

That may sound like a hard truth many still struggle to absorb, even in our relationships with others. But that’s an unarguable fact. People can never be like you; thus, you must be ready to accept others for who they are.

As you take the last sentence in, it’s essential to note that that is where many get it twisted. Note, to accommodate or accept others does mean you allow shits they throw at you; neither does it mean giving them moral justification to be irresponsible or keep acting in untoward manners. 

2. Listen without prejudice 

We live in a time of human history where everyone is waiting for their turn to talk. Aside from that, many listen with prejudice. But those who know what it means to mind their own business listen with no intent to be judgmental. 

Therefore, when people around you communicate their challenges or problems, you should listen actively and not be in a hurry to stop them and start pointing accusing fingers.

Step two: How to mind your business

3. Carefully screen what you want in your life

Many people have brought distress and trouble into their lives because they’ve, at some point, invested their time in conversations they shouldn’t have joined.

That’s why you should examine matters people try to get you involved in, often by gossiping. Thus, you may want to ask the following questions before allowing some things to get your attention or active involvement:

• Why should I contribute to such a conversation
•  What’s the goal of the conversation? Is it to run someone else’s reputation or self-esteem down? Or to lift them with graceful words?
• Is my engagement going to provide value? 

4. Take responsibility for yourself

Do you take responsibility for the happiness of others or attempt to fix their world? If that describes you, then you need to quit. 

Yes, you don’t (and shouldn’t) try to control what’s happening in the lives of others, especially when not invited. Even when they call for your attention, one needs to be discreet in making suggestions and not attempt to superimpose one’s thinking and ideologies on others.

 That’s because you’re primarily responsible for yourself, though you can help others in various ways. But you want to do that not as a controller that expects the accountability of everybody. 

Also, in taking responsibility for yourself, you become accountable (to yourself), and when things go wrong due to your actions, you don’t blame others. 

“Accepting complete responsibility for your life means that you refuse to make excuses or blame others for anything in your life that you’re not happy about.” Says Brian Tracy

 

Step three: How to mind your business

5. Practice self-awareness

Self-awareness is scaling your thoughts and actions towards others to ensure they align with internal and external standards. It means you are conscious of yourself and others you interact with. Hence, this leads us to the next point.

6. Live by the golden principle with gratitude

Remember the golden principle? It states: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” In simple terms, don’t meddle in the affairs of others if you don’t want them to intrude into yours. But to do that well, taking up the lifestyle of gratitude is something you should commit yourself to.

 

Mind Your Own Business Quotes 

• “Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours.” — Epictetus
• “Make somebody happy today, and mind your own business.” –– Ann Landers
• “Let people do what they need to do to make them happy. Mind your own business, and do what you need to do to make you happy.” — Leon Brown
• “I don’t know how people get so anti-something. Just mind your own business, take care of your own affairs, and don’t worry about other people so much.”— Betty White
• “There are three proven rules for good teeth: brush after every meal; see your dentist twice a year; and mind your own business.”— Henry Boyd
• “You would be very surprised with how much positive changes that you could make in your life, if you could make it your top priority to mind your own business.”—Anonymous
• “What people in the world think of you is really none of your business” —Martha Graham
• “Mind your own business and don’t eat junk food. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated, work hard and love what you do.” — Besse Cooper
• “Mind your own business. But love your neighbor as yourself.” — David C. Hill
• “Ninety percent of all human wisdom is the ability to mind your own business.” —Robert A. Heinlein

Conclusion

Frankly, minding your own business is easier said than done. It’s hard for many people. But if you’ll learn how to tame your tongue and apply the practical steps discussed above, you’ll realize how soon you’ll start commanding the respect of others for minding your business.