Ever wonder why so many people just follow the crowd? It’s not because they’re smart. The truth is, most people are like sheep—they’ll abandon their own values and beliefs just to fit in. Personally, I’ve never had low enough self-esteem to simply go along with what everyone else is doing, but I get it. I used to be super tribal when it came to sports, too. But as I grew up, I realized that many of the people who were all in on it, or fans in general, were struggling with low self-esteem. They rely on external things to dictate how they feel about themselves and their mood. It’s kind of sad when you think about it.

The key is to stand on your own two feet and do your own thing. There’s nothing wrong with loving sports, but when all you’re doing is beating your chest or talking trash about it, you’re really just admitting that you’re only comfortable when it’s about things you have no control over. Do better.

Note: Substitute sports with anything else external. It’s all the same.