Marami sa atin ang gagawin ang lahat magustuhan lang tayo. Kaya yung iba naaabuso, kinakawawa at ginagawang basahan. If people don’t like you and don’t want you, let them go. Marami pa rin naman nagmamahal sa iyo.

I was on a train when I read a quote saying: “The greatest prison people live in, is the fear of what other people will think.” This is true, isn’t it. Masyado tayong nagiging conscious sa sasabihin ng iba na nawalan na tayo ng panahon magawa ang dapat gawin dahil sa takot na mapahiya o magkamali. Trying to please everyone will bring you stress and frustration. In the end, whatever you do, there would come a time that they will still blame you for that ‘one thing’ you have not done for them.

Even when Jesus was unable to do so many miracles in Nazareth where He was born. He decided to leave that place and instead went to Capernaum where he healed many sick people. Jesus, the God himself understood the principle that He cannot be God when people don’t like him.

I saw a blog of a Clinical Psychologist, Ben Michaelis, Ph.D.

“I want to do it, but I’m afraid.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“I’m afraid that people won’t like me.”
“And?”
“And, that’s it. I don’t want people not to like me.”
“Let me let you in on a little secret: If everybody likes you, you are doing it wrong.”

I am not saying that you must aspire for people to like you or you don’t do your best to improve your interpersonal skills. What I am saying is not to overly anxious always of what people about you do, when you know what do is good. What you need is to have more people like you. Look at those who win an election; they don’t normally have to have 100% of the electoral to vote for a candidate to hold the coveted post. What it needs is to have at least majority of votes in favor.

In the same way, when people don’t like you, they may not like you as a person, maybe they don’t like your name or even your face. There could be many reasons why people don’t like you, but it should not stop you from you doing what needs to be done. After all, there is no point getting stuck when you can decide to carry on for those who believe and like you.

Do not live to please everybody because it may impossible. Just be yourself and do what you think is best: one day, even those who don’t like you will appreciate you and see things you have achieved. This is what Proverbs 16:7 says: “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.” Pagka naging happy sa atin ang Lord, kahit ang mga nagagalit sa atin, makikipagbati sa atin.

In the book of Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” Do everything to please God. In 2 Corinthians 5:9 it reminds us: “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.”

Don’t change the way you are so people will like you. If you know that what you do is right and you believe it, the people who like you and trust you and care about you will be there with you no matter what. Just don’t live your life to please others.