Kayla Itsines on ignoring critics and staying mentally strong

Executive overview

Online criticism feels louder than it is. A handful of negative voices can drown out thousands of supporters — but only if you let them.

Focus on the majority who support you, not the vocal minority who never would. Keep non-negotiables close — family, values, hobbies — so outside opinions lose their grip.

The people who don't know you can't define you.

Don't cater to the minority

• Negative comments feel universal; they rarely are
• When Sweat introduced subscription pricing, backlash came from roughly 100 people — not "everyone"
• The rest responded positively, but the minority dominated attention
• Reacting to 1% means ignoring 99% of supporters

Build immunity through identity and gratitude

• Knowing your own values makes baseless criticism easier to dismiss
• People who don't know you can't accurately judge you
• Non-negotiables (family, relationships, hobbies) provide an anchor when criticism lands
• Gratitude journalling makes support visible and concrete — write down positive feedback to read back later
• More love for what matters means less weight given to strangers' opinions