I’ve loved Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” theory since the first time I heard it. The idea is simple. Stop trying to control how others act, think, or feel. If people want to misunderstand you, let them. If someone chooses not to invite you, let them. If they gossip, let them. It’s freeing. It reminds us that our peace isn’t tied to someone else’s choices.

But lately, I’ve been thinking about how we can take “let them” a little too far.

See, sometimes we use “let them” not as a tool for peace, but as a shield for pride. When someone offers feedback or challenges something we’ve said or done, it’s easier to shrug and say, “Oh well, let them feel that way,” instead of leaning in and listening. It’s safer to assume they just “don’t get it” than to sit with the discomfort of realizing they might be right.

And yet… that’s where the growth is.

Growth doesn’t come from being surrounded by people who always agree with us. It comes from the ones who care enough to hold up a mirror and gently say, “Hey, have you thought about it this way?” Sometimes the people we want to dismiss are actually the ones offering us a gift. The chance to grow, to see a blind spot…to get better.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Not everyone’s opinion deserves equal weight. Some people are just loud, not wise. There’s a difference between helpful feedback and harmful noise. But if our first instinct is always to shut down and walk away, we miss out on the lessons that discomfort can teach us.

If we’re going to practice “let them,” maybe we also need to practice “listen anyway.”

Listen to the people who’ve earned your trust. Listen to the voices that challenge you with kindness. Listen to the truth, even when it stings a little.

Because growth doesn’t happen in comfort. It happens when we stay curious long enough to ask, “What can I learn from this?”