The Gorgeous Reality of Not Being Well-Liked by Everyone

We want everyone to like us, but we shouldn’t.

As social creatures, we are concerned, often to a fault, with whether or not we are enjoyed, appreciated, and respected by those around us. We pander to the whims of others, hoping to please everyone (or at least find few enemies). We try to behave affably, make the correct remark, and laugh at the appropriate times, all for the sake of winning the fancy of our company.

The approval of others becomes a top social priority and dictates many of our actions. At some point or another, most of us succumb to this tendency to butter the rest of mankind’s bread, which is fine. It’s natural to do so. But, we must exercise caution. You see, investing ourselves too fully into how others perceive us can have terrible consequences.

When We Care Too Much About Others’ Opinions of Us

People who frequently seek the attention and praise of others are looking for an external validation of themselves. They want something outside of them to deem them worthy, able, and good. Usually, this is because, at their core, they are filled with self-doubt. So they do what they can to increase positive feedback and eliminate negative feedback.

But here’s the problem with this way of thinking: When we act in such a way that eliminates negative criticism, we also eliminate many, many possible lifestyles, actions, and directions from our realm of possibility. We become slaves to that which we believe others will approve.

This is a tragedy! Within all of us, there are numerous things we really, deeply wish we could do — travel the Earth, start a business, build an Earthship, become a stand-up comic/vagabond, etc. etc. But the vast majority of us don’t do these things because we’re worried about what others will say or think. We end up sacrificing our selves and our dreams to try to appease those around us.

Furthermore, it has been well-documented in psychological research studies (like this one or this one) that social anxiety directly correlates to an exaggerated desire to increase validation from others and decrease criticism. This means that the more you care about how others will react to what you do, the more likely you are to be socially discontented and uncomfortable. Instead of suffering these consequences, we should adopt a different attitude.

Let’s Embrace Those Who Judge, Scoff, and Speak Ill of Us

Caring too much about what others think of you stifles your ability to take risks and disrupts your social satisfaction. The funny thing is — whether we invest energy into making others like us or not, there will always be people who don’t. 

Historically, many of the most loved people were also among the most hated while they were alive. Jesus Christ, Abraham Lincoln, and John Lennon were all assassinated for spreading messages of love and understanding. So, I’m suggesting that we’d all be much better off embracing those who will find reason to despise us.

It’s so much easier to do this than to waste our lives allowing the faultfinders to dictate our actions. Moreover, being disliked by people is actually a sign that you’re doing something worthwhile.

Being Disliked Means You Stand for Something

When you simply mimic the values of your current company, your opinion stops being yours. You become a hypocritical piece of clay, molding yourself constantly to try to fit in everywhere, and in doing so, retaining no shape to call your own.

Conversely, being courageous enough to “do your thing”, stand by your values, and live your own lifestyle (even if it isn’t popular) is empowering because you develop a strong identity. Gradually, you become satisfied and confident in your own skin.

Your Friends Will be True Friends

When your top priority is to gain the approval of everyone, you’re inviting people to befriend a sham. You’ve developed a façade disguising your complex, idiosyncratic, untidy self. Most people won’t know the you that’s buried beneath, and you may begin to forget that person too.

On the other hand, habitually presenting your genuine, vulnerable, weird self does nothing but strengthen your acceptance of who you are. The people who call you friend will actually care about and believe in you, not some charlatan.

How to Stop Caring So Much About Others’ Opinions

I may have convinced you that you shouldn’t care as much about what other people think, but perhaps you have no idea how to go about doing that. Here are a few tips.

1. Stop Playing the Critic — Before you’ll be able to care less about others criticizing you, you must do your best to stop criticizing people. Realize that the act of judging others reflects your own intolerance. By rising above the behavior yourself, you can realize how juvenile it is in the first place.

2. Take Minor Social Risks — Start doing a few things that you normally wouldn’t do because of your fear of what others would think or say. Dance wildly at a show, voluntarily speak up in class, wear something edgy. Doing little things such as these will help you to understand that disregarding your fear of judgment and rejection is liberating! Others may have given you a harsh glance or whispered haughtily to a friend, but it was okay. You’re okay, and you did it. Your fears may never entirely cease, but you will learn that acting in spite of them was more important. The more social risks you take, the less you will care. That’s the God-honest truth. (For more on this, read “The Adventuring Method and 6 Other Ways to Overcome Fear“)

3. Live by Your Deeper Values — Do you know what you stand for? If you’re still discovering the answer to this question, that’s okay. However, from a young age, we all develop some form of a conscience. We inherently sense what paths are right and wrong for us. Start saying what you really feel and doing what you sense is right for you. We can develop a deeply rooted self-esteem by diligently upholding the values that most deeply resonate with us. The more you seek to align your actions with what you feel in the heart of your being, the less you will invest in the opinions of the mud-flingers.

4. Focus on Actual Outcomes — If you’re feeling anxious or afraid of someone who may be directing condescending energy toward you, ask yourself: What is the worst thing that can come of this person’s distaste? What am I really afraid of? Usually, it’s nothing more than a bruised ego. In some cases (such as bullying, harassment, etc.), more severe damage can be inflicted, and action must be taken, but most of the time, we’re just afraid — afraid of not being the best, the smartest, the prettiest, the fastest, etc. It’s okay to not be these things.

5. Love Your Good and Bad — Give yourself permission to not be the things you wish you could be. Embrace the fact that all of your qualities — both your boons and shortcomings — are essential to the equation that is you. As Kanye West once sang, “Everything I’m not made me everything I am.” Insults damage us most when we define ourselves based upon our perceived flaws. Take time now and then to number the ways in which you’re halfway swell, and embrace the not-so-swell too. Or, perhaps look into the idea that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are cultural or psychological constructions. They may not exist; we frame the world within the good-and-bad dichotomy because our minds naturally process things in terms of what they are not.

One Word of Caution

Sometimes, people who dislike you have legitimate reason to do so. Being genuinely yourself doesn’t do much good if you are genuinely an ignorant prick who refuses to change anything. Don’t forget to keep an open mind to constructive criticism and realize you still have plenty of shit to learn.

What Will This Mean for You?

This can mean about as much or as little for your life as you like. The message boils down to this: Your top priorities should be saying what you feel, and doing what flows organically from you (and c’mon, hopefully helping others here and there).

If you do this, more people may end up disliking you, but you will likely be more content, stand for something (not fascism, please), and derive a sense of meaning from your identity that is arguably hella valuable.

“Don’t pay any attention to what they write about you. Just measure it in inches.”

― Andy Warhol

“I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.”

― Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

P.S. Follow me on Twitter here. I tweet each weekly post, thought-provoking quotes, and more.



If this essay resonated, you'll enjoy my Dead Honest Newsletter, my list of Cage-Melting Books, and following me on on Facebook and Instagram.



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About Jordan Bates

Jordan Bates is a Lover of God, healer, mentor of leaders, writer, and music maker. The best way to keep up with his work is to join nearly 7,000 people who read his Substack newsletter.

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Nzancy
Nzancy
11 years ago

This is a great post. Thanks for sharing 🙂

Jordan Bates
11 years ago
Reply to  Nzancy

You’re very welcome! Glad you found it valuable. Hope you’ll stop back again sometime. 🙂

Dan Bates
Dan Bates
11 years ago

Great post Jordan! Good points for almost everyone! To thine ownself be true!

Jordan Bates
11 years ago
Reply to  Dan Bates

Definitely, Dad. Thanks for the comment! Glad you enjoyed this one.

Ryan Trimble
10 years ago

Great post. After my own heart, for sure. And a good reminder about reigning it in: Being true to oneself does not mean being inconsiderate to others. Great writing, man.

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Trimble

Sounds like we’re flying on the same wavelength, Ryan. Thanks much for appreciating the message and the writing.

Haley O.
Haley O.
10 years ago

Hi Jordan! I actually just discovered your blog and I am an enormous fan already. I must say that this is by far one of the most meaningful and resonant articles I’ve ever read on self development. As someone who’s struggled to make everyone happy and be well-liked, I truly feel that what you’ve written here is something that everyone with my same “problem” must read. It is exhausting trying to be liked by everybody, and in the end I am only causing myself anxiety and losing sight of my own needs and values. I think I’m going to print… Read more »

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  Haley O.

Wow, Haley, thank you for the generous praise. I’m so glad to hear that the writing was meaningful for you. I can really relate to what you said, too. It’s so darn difficult to not be sucked into the game of living our lives to gain the favor or approval of others. It feels gratifying, at least at first, to do what will make other people happy. But it’s a slippery slope, and pretty soon, like you said, you wind up with self-conscious anxieties and no life to call your own. It’s so liberating to claim your life as your… Read more »

Fiona
Fiona
6 years ago
Reply to  Jordan Bates

I have been suffering with anxiety due to a few people at work being bullying on and off for nearly 3 years, I’m a shy and quiet person until I get to know people better, I now know I was a target to these bully’s as they saw my weaknesses, sometimes this has been the case with social situations outside of work but very minor, after reading many articles on how to self improve myself to not be a target for bullying behaviour and to not care about what others think of me, your artical is by far the best… Read more »

KB
KB
10 years ago

I’m a pretty reserved person, and don’t have friends. I constantly think people are judging me negatively, and I tend to take everything very personally. I really need to work on changing this mindset. Thanks.

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  KB

KB,

That sounds totally frustrating and exhausting. I’m really sorry to hear it. People judge people — this is a fact of life. It might be unreasonable to try to not let it bother you at all, but it’s definitely feasible to at least stop caring as much. If you can do that, you’ll feel more comfortable with yourself, and if you put yourself out there a bit, friendships will come. Positive, hopeful thoughts from me for brighter days. Keep going.

Aishwarya
Aishwarya
10 years ago

great post! totally relate to it..

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  Aishwarya

Aishwarya,

Thank you kindly! Awesome to hear that it resonated. Don’t be a stranger!

Anca
Anca
10 years ago

Jordan, I have been reading your posts all day today. I find them wonderful, witty, compelling and thought-provoking. You definitely have a knack for this, and I, I am thankful I stumbled upon someone’s work that speaks to me. You are bettering this world, one by one, and I am one today. Thanks to you, I am on my way to that better self. You’re an inspiration! Thank you and keep pouring yourself into this.

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  Anca

Anca, Thank you so much! Really humbled to hear that. Makes me smile. 🙂 I will keep on going with it! Say, since you’ve read a bunch of the site, maybe you’d like to give me a bit of feedback on something. Perhaps you noticed that as the articles get closer to the present, more and more of them include content from other authors/thinkers/sources. I still dispense my perspective, but I’m sort of moving in a direction of including content from other thinkers in most every post. I’m interested to hear how this sounds to people who read my site.… Read more »

Anca
Anca
10 years ago
Reply to  Jordan Bates

Jordan, I think you do a beautiful job of blending other resources and your own perspective. It is important to include research that goes beyond the subjective, as that expands on ‘reality,’ and it does increase credibility. Reality is so vast, and the more thinkers, the more ground is covered.

Also, some of the content you are referencing, is translated by you into something that is easily digestible. Personally, I will always look forward to hearing your opinion, as it speaks to me. Continue to enlighten us with both!

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  Anca

Anca, brilliant feedback. Thanks so much for it. I love trying to find a balance between other thinkers and my own interpretations/ideas, so it sounds like we’re on the same page. Cheers. 🙂

Niranjan
Niranjan
10 years ago

Thank you for the wonderful article Jordan! Loved the way how the article is written. While I was reading, I was thinking that you were not mentioning about the credibility of others’ criticism and voila! It was mentioned in ‘One word of Caution.’ Personally, I tend to act based on how my life should be viewed by others. But that causes dissatisfaction and stress often.I realize that I wish to act unique but have a tremendous amount of self-doubt in my actions because it raises doubt whether I am just trying to be different from others or it is my… Read more »

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  Niranjan

Niranjan, Ah, interesting point. It can be difficult sometimes to know if what we’re doing is because it’s really our identity or just a kind of shallow attempt to appear original or unique to others. I think the way to find out what you truly enjoy doing is to just try a lot of things. Try them on your own terms, and see what things you tend to lose yourself in. Self-doubt and fear of others’ opinions can certainly be crippling. I think we all have it to an extent, but I find that the more I do what I… Read more »

erin
erin
10 years ago

Thank you. Good timing.

That is all.

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  erin

You’re welcome! 🙂

Nikeororo
Nikeororo
10 years ago

Jordan 🙂 This must be the best article I have read on this issue of trying too hard to be liked, and being ok with not being liked. I just went through a life changing week where I stood up to the people who were bullying me for a long time. These bullies (one a close family member and the other a colleague at university) have been giving me sleepless nights for months because of their actions and words towards me. Other people never saw them doing this to me (they were wonderful to everyone else), and it was killing… Read more »

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  Nikeororo

Nikeororo, Thank you much for the generous praise on my article. I’m really sorry to hear about the struggles you’ve been having with your family member and colleague. They sound like very inconsiderate people, and I’m glad you stood up to them. Sounds like you had an important realization: that some people simply won’t like you. This can for sure be difficult to accept, but in a world of 7 billion people, it’s simply inevitable. If I know someone doesn’t really like me, I’ll still be cordial to them, but I’m with you: I mostly just forget that they exist.… Read more »

devo13
devo13
9 years ago
Reply to  Nikeororo

I am glad you found some inner peace. No one has time to waste convincing people to like them. Some people, like the one you mentioned, don’t even have a valid reason, so no need to stress about them. I try to keep this in mind at work where I am generally liked but don’t get along with some people. I guess I am less concerned with being BFFs with everyone and having lunch with a certain clique in the lunchroom and content with doing my own thing. I am an outgoing person in general but some people and I… Read more »

Murderous1
Murderous1
6 years ago
Reply to  Nikeororo

Congratulations

Beth Johnson
10 years ago

You took the thoughts right out of my head. I wish you could implant them in my teenager’s minds, however. I hope they will come to this realization eventually and accept themselves. it is not easy, as you have stated, but completely necessary. Thank you for your words! Love your blog!!!

Jordan Bates
10 years ago
Reply to  Beth Johnson

Many thanks, Beth! I think it’s particularly difficult to feel this way as a teenager when most of your peers are so caught up in what is “popular”. I certainly didn’t. Give them time. All the best!

disliked person
disliked person
6 years ago
Reply to  Beth Johnson

this past weekend, I had a great time with the ones I love dearly … but yesterday, come to found out that my own children dislikes me, that I am only a benefit to them and I’m an embarrassment and look ignorant to them. I knew this long before it was said, I’m sorry, god made me this way. I know who I am and I try to always be respectful and say the right words to not hurt their feelings, they are an adult now with children’s. I should be saying what I feel and it felt like they… Read more »

Murderous1
Murderous1
6 years ago

You are not as disliked as you think I wish you the best just continue to love yourself

Lee
Lee
10 years ago

Amazing article, direct and to the point

Jordan Bates
9 years ago
Reply to  Lee

Thank you.

Tanvika Singh
Tanvika Singh
9 years ago

well whatever u have written is pretty much true….life long we kill ourselves to confirm and we end up being in a habitual, meaningless life…….

Jordan Bates
9 years ago
Reply to  Tanvika Singh

Glad you found something that rang true, Tanvika. Cheers.

jj
jj
9 years ago

I’d rather be labeled a ‘hater’ than a ‘sheep’.

Jordan Bates
9 years ago
Reply to  jj

I’d rather not be labeled anything, personally.

jj
jj
9 years ago
Reply to  Jordan Bates

Well that’s not really an option.

Jordan Bates
9 years ago
Reply to  jj

I’ve been in social contexts that seem to have transcended labeling, but on the whole, you’re right—labels are very much built into the way we communicate with one another.

devo13
devo13
9 years ago

Thanks Jordan. I enjoyed your article. I feel like it is nice to be well-liked but not to the degree where I am going to worry and be stressed out wondering why someone doesn’t like me. Some people click and some don’t. Some people are jealous. Some people have so much going on in their lives. Who knows what their deal is. Perhaps my lack of sugarcoating stuff rubs people the wrong way as well, or my no-nonsense personality. At work, for instance, there are some people who I don’t like (and who don’t seem to like me), so I’ve… Read more »

Jordan Bates
9 years ago
Reply to  devo13

Thanks, devo13. Keep doing your thing.

Notselrach
Notselrach
9 years ago

If there’s any positive side to aging it’s precisely what you mention in your article. Over time, what people think really matters less and less as long the the path I take is an honest one. That there’s not as much energy as we age, and the time is running out (so to speak) so I find that I choose my “battles” more carefully. Do I care what people in general think of me – Hell no! Do I care about what I think of me – Hell yes! For me getting honest is the best skill I have still… Read more »

Jordan Bates
9 years ago
Reply to  Notselrach

Thanks for the encouraging and insightful comment, Notselrach.

Deanne
Deanne
9 years ago

This is a great post. I do wish, however that the goal wasn’t always so high. What about just being normal but different? “Within all of us, there are numerous things we really, deeply wish we could do — travel the Earth, start a business, build an Earthship, become a stand-up comic/vagabond, etc. etc. ” these are all really high achievements. What about the regular everyday achievements? Or what about just being different? As a woman who really enjoys sex, I have many sexual partners. But I feel I need to keep this a secret from most people in my… Read more »

Jordan Bates
9 years ago
Reply to  Deanne

Yeah, Deanne, I’m with you—think I got a bit lofty and misty-eyed with that particular line. I also wrote this a long time ago. I think that I picked some extreme examples but was mostly just suggesting that people should “do their thing”, whatever that may be. Maybe “just being different” is a “really high achievement”. Who’s to say? It is certainly a damn shame that our culture shames people for freely expressing their sexuality and fulfilling their natural physical urges. I hope you at least have some people whom you feel you can be totally open with about sex.… Read more »

lalala
lalala
9 years ago

I went to study abroad this year, at first people are quite nice and willing to talk with me, asking me about my homeland. Eventually, after they known me for a few days, they started to ignore me, they would just spend their time with their friends. I have talked this to my another friend before who was also a new comer to this school, she said she also experienced that before because the locals are not quite open minded and they are not too willing to try new things. I then understood that but soon after I found that… Read more »

Jordan Bates
9 years ago
Reply to  lalala

lalala,

thanks so much for sharing your experience. i’m sorry your fellow students were so obnoxiously and toxically disrespectful and vapid. inspiring to hear how you approached the situation and have not been discouraged from doing your thing. keep going. thanks.

Ama
Ama
8 years ago

Intetesting to see someone saying this. I’m not one of the most liked, because I don’t care too much what people think! The difficulty then comes – if X says I behave or react “wrongly” – how to tell if that’s me being a prick and I something I should work on, or them being harshly judgemental of something which does not fit their idea of right?

(I also think that sometimes where getting work is concerned, being liked can be important unfortunately)

utplagal
utplagal
8 years ago
Reply to  Ama

I was just thinking the same thing. What my fallback has been for those types of situations is to take a step back and objectively ask myself, “Why do they think that?” And once I have some ideas about that, then I ask, “Now that I know what this person thinks, do I agree with them and that I need to change my behavior?” If the answer to that is yes, then I make the conscious decision to change that for my OWN sake—not to appease the other person, but to appease my own conscience. It takes the focus off… Read more »

janjan115
janjan115
8 years ago

Excellent post….I just recently for the first time in a year, spoke my mind about a family member that asked to stay with me for a couple weeks, but turned out to be a full year !!! Since having him here he has obtained himself a job, which is great, he has boughten himself a motorcycle valued at 3000.00 dollars, bought the cycle outfit, insured the damn thing, replaced a tire specially ordered, gotten loans from loan businesses, had numerous woman and dates out, many many many cases of beer, also while taking care of 1 bigass dog and 2… Read more »

John Wilmerding
8 years ago

I don’t want everyone to like me — haven’t since Kindergarten. But I do need friends who are close enough that we support one another in our diversity and in our rightly-led activities. And I wish to find one very special woman who is enough like me that we can put up with one another and both accomplish what we want to in life!

Samantha Cloutier
Samantha Cloutier
8 years ago

This was an amazing post, I can some-what relate to this and I decided to use some quotes from this post for an essay in school. Thank you and keep up the amazing work 🙂

Roan
Roan
8 years ago

Excellent article! Really love it that your dad posted a comment! LOL

Malavi
Malavi
7 years ago

Most uplifting article of the day!!. I was having a rough day at office where I feeling like a complete looser and this article really brought me out of my doom. I am in the process of self discovery and this thought struck a chord in me. Maybe I am not truly showing my real self to people and that is why I sometimes have issues in connecting with people. Its best to speak your mind about certain things that goes against what you are and what you stand for. Starting today I am going to strive to do things… Read more »

s
s
7 years ago

its not so much what they say, its also what they do. 🙁

Alton
Alton
7 years ago

Haven’t even finished the article and I am already in tears, the fact that this article hit everything that has been bothering me is amazing. After reading this article, I am much more confident to start putting myself out there and laughing at anyone who doesn’t accept me for me!

SkyDriver
SkyDriver
7 years ago

Thank you so much for this! I really needed this, and I got a lot from it.

Chris
Chris
7 years ago

I have certain cousins who post hateful things on facebook on my messenger but can’t speak to me face to face.I find the psychology of this and other things,quite odd.People who don’t like what you stand for or what you say,so they try to substantiate it by saying that “everyone” feels that way.It’s weird how I was the cool cousin up until I said things that people didn’t like.So nowadays,I don’t even care who I offend.I’m talking to you,Jessica.

Kristine Bayog
Kristine Bayog
7 years ago

Thank you for your words Jordan 🙂

Frank Morris
Frank Morris
7 years ago

I turn to a vampire any time i want to. i become a vampire because of how people treat me, this world is a wicked world and not fair to any body. at the snack of my finger things are made happened. am now a powerful man and no one step on me without an apology goes free. i turn to human being also at any time i want to. and am one of the most dreaded man in my country. i become a vampire through the help of my friend who introduce me into a vampire kingdom by given… Read more »

bri
bri
6 years ago

I have never commented on any of the blogs/post before. Hopefully it makes sense to what I am writing here. I was very upset today instead of crying alone somewhere I came and searched on google why am I not liked by others and I see this as first hit. I read the whole article and felt very consoling as if blogger was talking to me in person to person. Thanks for such a wonderful article.

John M
John M
6 years ago

Excellent post. I quoted a bunch of and am adding it to my quotes list.

Disagree a little with the end, though. I’m not a nice guy, for example, so, people aren’t going to like me unless I talk to them? Well, sorry, but that’s their problem. I’m not a talkative guy, that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with me (but it also means there’s nothing wrong with them disliking my silence.)

Cheers! 🙂

Arnold Octavius
Arnold Octavius
6 years ago

True, but like every truth it can be carried too far. If we had a Rhinoceros hide, social feedback could not reach us and we wouldn’t learn. No one can learn everything by sitting on Mount Everest in isolation from others.

Good article, with that proviso.

mplo
mplo
2 years ago

Generally, if one is disliked by lots of people, it’s because the people who dislike them often either dislike themselves, or they’re not able or willing to accept differences in people. The best thing to do is to cultivate one’s own interests, stick up for oneself if and when necessary, and not worry too much about what’s happening throughout the rest of the world.

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