Abantu bazothini is an isiZulu phrase meaning what will people say. Although I am a Clinical Psychologist with years of experience, I learn a lot from my clients. One of the profound statements I heard in therapy was a client of mine saying, “I will no longer shrink myself.” How many spaces do we often shrink ourselves? We shrink how we talk, laugh, show up etc., because we are worried that people would think we are too loud. It does not matter if you position yourself along the dichotomous construct of loud-quiet. People will always have an opinion of you. So you will find yourself immensely frustrated if you immerse yourself in the notion of abantu bazothini.
