OUCHHHH.
Personally, I find it hard to accept when people don’t like me. I mean, c’mon, I am like totally great, never bitchy, and overall super-dooper awesome.
Well, okay maybe that’s not entirely true.
We are human. We all make mistakes and we all have personality flaws. So, of course, not EVERY person is going to like us. Or, even jive with us.
And, that’s okay.
One of the most eye-opening things my counselor said to me recently was, “Give them permission not to like you.”
It’s easy for me to get hung up on thinking, “Why doesn’t this person like meeeeeeee?!” And, “What can I do to change that????”
But, giving permission takes the pressure off and releases my need to have that outside approval.
Because when we learn to love ourselves unconditionally, validation is no longer necessary.
But, how?
When you feel like you are just going through the motions, you know it’s time to re-fall in love with your life.
I know it sounds so cheesy, but hear me out.
This can apply to your marriage, your job, your hobbies, and even your life as a whole.
Here’s how: Think back to a time when things were really exciting and you felt really happy. What were you doing then that you aren’t doing now?
Or, better yet, what are you doing now that you WEREN’T doing then?
Maybe right now you hate your job, but back when you loved it you were learning new things all the time. Or, meeting new people. Or, taking lunch breaks. And, now you’re not.
Figure out what brings excitement, challenges, passion, and purpose in your life by looking back on what brought it there before.
Because when you are excited about your life, the external approval (and disapproval) no longer matters.
It’s that simple.