I came across a quote on Pinterest today that stuck with me. “I do not want to be liked. I want to be myself.”

Why is “being liked” so important to people? Yes, we all want to be accepted, but how far do you go to be likeable until you stop being yourself? The more you bend and conform so that people like you, the more you lose yourself and what makes you unique.

Why conform to what other people want you to be? Yes, there is a time and place to simply get along, but there’s a difference between playing nice and being walked all over. The people-pleasers are overrated, not respected and generally fake. When you take on the opinions and thoughts of everyone else, simply to fit in, you lose all individuality. Isn’t it difficult trying to be different people around different friends?

The approval of those around you shouldn’t dictate your life. It’s OKAY to not agree. It’s OKAY to stand up for yourself and it’s OKAY to have your own opinion! Even if the life you want to live isn’t the popular choice, it’s uniquely yours and fulfilling.

I’ve started to care less about people liking me and more about staying true to myself, and to be perfectly honest, I’m not missing the people that I’ve lost along the way. Here’s why: I’m not having to be fake around those people simply to get along and fit in. And I’m happier! I’m not perfect, I’m not even close. I mess up and make mistakes. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and I’m at peace with that. I’m me, so take it or leave it.

Stop trying to make everyone else happy and start making yourself happy. It’s okay to be selfish and stand up for what you believe in. It’s okay if not everyone likes you. It’s pretty liberating to do what you want regardless of what other people think. And through that process of becoming your true self, you’ll find your true friends that love you for you, the real person inside, no matter how weird and wacky you might be.

Take a risk of being unliked and you might actually find yourself.

“If your number one goal is to make sure that everyone likes and approves of you, then you risk sacrificing your uniqueness, and, therefore, your excellence.” -Unknown