In the past, I’ve shared a bit about dealing with the haterade that comes with living on social media. But now it’s time to address how to handle haters in general and what you can (and should) be doing about it.
This is basically me. Especially when I’m with my cousin/sister, Sarah. I’ve said it before and I’ll remind you again – I am….an original. And sometimes, I am too much for people and they are not my biggest fans. In fact, they would never buy a ticket to see me live, they would rather I disappeared from the face of the planet, and their face is in a permanent state of rolling eyes at my antics.
These people are not my people. So how do we handle when we are too much for people? How do we handle the “haters” in our life?
1. Ignore the Invisible Competition
Sometimes, you’re in a competition that you are not even aware you are in. The comparison game is intense, but don’t get swept up in all the ways they think you do not measure up. You are in a competition with yourself – to be the best you that you could possibly be. Spending time in a comparison game says more about them than you. You do you.
2. Be insufferably sweet.
Nothing makes haters twitch more than when you give them every reason not to dislike you – kill with kindness, knock them over with niceties, and do everything they say you don’t. This will probably be the hardest thing you do on this list. It takes time, it takes effort, and it takes fortitude.
3. Hustle + WERK
If you are busy hustling, you won’t have time to get caught up in the dramaz of this lifetime. Hustle like your life is on fire, WERK like life is a dance, and fill your life with progress – so much so that you cannot possibly begin to spend time on worrying about who cannot stand you. In the meantime, now would also be a good time to support others and lift them up. Spend time lifting people up and you won’t have time to participate in tearing people down.
4. Deep Breaths and Retreat
So someone isn’t your biggest fan? Consider why it bothers you so much. Life isn’t about making sure that everyone likes you. It’s about being the BEST YOU in spite of what others may say about you. You can spend lots of your life dissecting why someone isn’t a fan – use that time to perfect yourself before you wreck yourself.
I am a work in progress and need to actively try to take my own advice. I don’t always get it right, but I am working hard to find my way. You don’t have to be loved by everyone to have a good life, but don’t spend more time than necessary worrying about what others think.
In the words of T. Swift, just Shake It Off.
And while I’m at it, do your best to not have any time to be someone else’s hater.
Because THAT is just plain exhausting and unwarranted.
Sooo right on. I care way too much about other people liking me. Sometimes to the point of being too accomodating and getting used. I am starting not to care as much, but it is definitely a work in progress.