Thinking what others think about me is a good thing?

Try to remember that other people's opinions do not define you. It's not easy, especially when you are very young. I wouldn't go out of my way to unnecessarily offend others, but if others choose to be offended if you are just making your own life choices, don't get sucked into the criticism. They are living how they see fit.....give yourself permission to be yourself and make your own choices.

Do you hink about others ? If not, what makes you think others are interested in you ?

If I were to make a wild ass guess, I'd say that some people believe they must tell others what they think about them because they need to feel superior. Even when they're not.

I'm hoping to encourage the OP not to worry about others viewpoints about the OP. By the way, we all notice others, but most of us do not feel a need to impose our standards . Are you oblivious to the people around you? Probably not , maybe you are just trying to practice rookie therapy .

The problem with this 'question' is that at the simplistic level the (negative)answer is obvious even from a waste energy pov.
But at deeper levels, issues about 'self' as multifaceted, inconsistent, societal product and even illusary can be raised which tends to dissolve the 'I' who asked 'the question' in the first place !
Hence my rhetorical question above is simply an invitation for the OP to think a bit deeper on the basis that 'wisdom' is experiential rather than gained by 'hearing an answer'.

Let me put it this way. Everywhere I go, people love me. Everywhere I go, people hate me. Is it me?

What I mean is -
Is it my problem if someone has a problem with me? I don't need that many problems.

Original title question:

Only if it’s exaggerated...

According to my therapist? This kind of thinking usually involves the art of projection. You (I especially mean me) project your own poor self-esteem and self-destructive, self-deprecating, self-harming thoughts onto the possible thought process of others.

How can you get rid of this terrible practice? I don't know. Still trying to figure it out myself. Here to read others thoughts and advice.

Being human and wanting to connect with people? I don't want to be a dark ages hermit, intentionally ignoring everyone and the rest of the world. I don't want to be so completely dismissive of other's opinions and perspectives and ... well I figure figuring out what people think of me? Might help me connect with people I want to become close friends with.

That said? I'm not particularly successful at this ... given my own errant nature to project my own negative thoughts back on myself. So, I know I have a long way to travel socially.

Thanks, that motivates me to be whom "I'm". There is no need to please anyone...hmm