You can't be liked by everyone

Rod Bannister Photo/File

Some of us have become exhausted and anxious people pleasers who can never be liked enough; an anchor that some of us have been carrying around all our lives.

The simple truth in the matter is that no matter what you do and how you act between now and when you die, some people will not like you.

In this instance, it's not dislike because you've offended them intentionally in some way, I'm talking about when, for reasons best known to themselves, they just do not warm to you.

For your own sanity and happiness you simply need to be OK with that; it's very normal human behaviour.

If you want to take on a sleeping disorder then do not ask yourself questions such as: "Why don't they like me", "I don't think I've done anything to them?" Their dislike says more about them (their own unique perspective, their own thinking and their own issues) as opposed to what you have or have not done.

Learning to let go

Over the years, living on planet Rod, being disliked is a matter of inevitability. Like it or not, it's just what happens.

Some folk agree with your input, some think I'm a total idiot, some get inspired, some utterly annoyed and some entertained. I could send the same message on the same day to many people and get totally different responses.

Being human

With different audience members, it is possible for me to create a connection and a disconnection at the same time, because the response is more about the individual receiving it than the message itself.

Final bit

The big unrealistic and ridiculous let-down would be me expecting everyone to like me. This would highlight my insecurity and needy self. If success was based on everyone in the world universally liking us, we would never do most of the things we do every day; lucky on my behalf, the goal is to be 100 per cent me, not 100 per cent liked.

Past experiences have taught me that self-acceptance is a priority over group acceptance when it comes to authenticity and self-esteem.

Rod Bannister is an Australasian Masters squash champion, fitness expert and owner of Bannister Group, specialising in mentoring, sales and consultancy - BannisterGroup1@gmail.com