In episode 85 of the Beyond the High Road podcast, host Shelby Milford discusses the challenges of feeling scrutinized and misunderstood, a topic inspired by her personal experiences and conversations with fellow alienated moms. She reflects on her own journey, starting from a point of feeling misunderstood to focusing on personal resilience in the face of criticism. Shelby highlights two influential books: 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' by Mark Manson, which helped her adopt a carefree approach to criticism, and 'The Courage to Be Disliked', which premises on Adlerian psychology, advocating for the detachment from others' opinions for personal happiness. The episode further delves into the importance of not allowing fear or the need for external validation to dictate one's actions, encouraging listeners to pursue their passions despite the potential for scrutiny or disapproval. Shelby's message is one of empowerment, urging her audience to embrace their unique identities, pursue their passions, and not to be silenced by fear or judgment. Finally, she addresses an incident where she was publicly criticized on social media, using it as a case point to illustrate how to deal with negative scrutiny without compromising one's self-worth.