The Pressure to Be Liked
I recently read “The Courage to Be Disliked” by Ichiro Kishimi, a book rooted in Adlerian Psychology- a philosophy that quietly reshaped how I see myself and my relationships.
The Cost of Seeking External Approval
The book unfolds as a conversation between a curious young man and a calm, thoughtful philosopher. Together they explore some big questions: Why do we stay stuck? Why do we care so much about what others think? And what would it look like to live in a way that feels authentic and free? One of the main ideas is this: We don’t need to be approved of by everyone to live a good life. In a world filled with comparison, social pressure, and constant noise, the authors invite us to step back and remember that our job is not to please others — it’s to live in alignment with our values. Sometimes that means people won’t understand or agree with us. And that’s okay! Another theme I loved is the reminder that our past doesn’t have to dictate our future. We always have the ability to choose how we respond, how we show up, and how we treat others — starting right now.
Building Self-Worth From Within
Oddly enough, the message is both challenging and deeply comforting: We can live more peacefully when we stop trying to control how others see us and instead focus on contributing, connecting, and being fully ourselves.
%252520(1).jpeg)
