Once you know your why, the eye-rolls stop landing.

Other people’s reactions carry weight in proportion to how unsure you already are. When your reason for doing something is clear and specific, a dismissive look is just a fact about somebody’s face. When the reason is vague, every reaction turns into evidence in a case you were already half building against yourself.

Write your reason down in one sentence, the honest version rather than the presentable one. Read it before the thing you are dreading. Being clear about why does more for your nerve than any amount of trying not to care.