We do not lack ability. We just lack courage. It all comes down to courage.
—Ichiro Kishimi
We want to be liked. I know I do.
Whether for financial security or just fitting in, we shape our choices in ways we don’t always notice. Little by little, we trade pieces of ourselves for acceptance. We try to say the right things, wear the right clothes, and sometimes signal belonging by what we drive.
It’s instinct. A thousand years ago, getting kicked out of the group could mean death. That fear is wired into us. But here’s the irony:
The people who make the biggest impact—and are the most free—aren’t the ones trying to please everyone. They stop shaping themselves around what the world expects and start shaping their world around who they really are.
Sometimes the hard part is realizing you’re conforming. But getting comfortable with not being liked is a powerful shift. If someone dislikes me, it probably means I’ve stopped outsourcing approval—and I’m more free.
Real freedom doesn’t come from money. It comes when you dare to be disliked.
Something I’m working on and thought I’d share.
Take care, friend. Be good.
—Kelly
