When I was told the news it didn’t bother me at all. In fact, I didn’t think twice about it. I know I’m a good person: I make mistakes all the time but my intentions are good and I treat everyone with respect.
It was only later in the evening when I was talking to my girls about the importance of being comfortable in your own skin that I stopped and considered just how differently I handled not being liked now, compared to how I would have dealt with it before the experience that changed my perspective on life.
Before, I would have taken it personally. I would have been insulted someone had got me so wrong. Now I don’t take it personally at all. Because I believe myself to be a good person, then logically it follows that this person’s dislike of me is not about me, it’s about them.
Before, because I would have been upset, I would have started treating them with disdain; in the exact manner that would have only served to reinforce their negative opinion of me. Now I treat them the same way I have treated them in the past, and the same way I treat others: nicely!
I’m not going to change who I am and how I act because of them and their beliefs. That would be re-active. I’m going to be who I am, regardless of what others think of me, i.e pro-active.
When you feel confident in who you are you trust yourself more than you trust the opinions of others. Once you learn this you are not reliant on others to make you feel good about yourself and they won’t have the power to make you feel bad about yourself. In essence, you won’t need anyone. This knowledge is critical in learning to be awesome on your own.
A final word of advice: no matter who you are in the world, whether you are Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela, there will always be a portion of the population who will dislike you regardless of how amazing you are, or how much good you do. So be at peace with who you are, because you are awesome.
Glad you are on the positive side Ellen. Love it. Think of all the people who loves you for who you are. ??
Some people kill themselves to try and make people like them. One of the best things about old age is that doesn’t bother you any more
You are an amazing woman Ellen. I personally have still not forgotten your kindness, support and help you so freely gave to my daughter Keira and I.
Your taking in and caring for my little girl when I was hospitalised for a week at last minute, treating Keira like one of your own daughters, getting her off to school with your girls, feeding her, clothing her, making her feel at home and loved…. I will forever be thankful, grateful and feeling blessed to have met such an amazingly and beautifully kind and generous soul who I feel honoured to call my friend.
Perfectly stated Ellen! ?