Don’t try to squeeze yourself into the expectations of those who don’t appreciate you. It might be tempting to change yourself to fit in but they clearly aren’t your people. It can suck, but the good news is that there are people out there who will love you just as you are.
- There’ll always be something wrong with you to the wrong people. If you’re surrounding yourself with the wrong people at work, in love, or in your social group, they’re going to think there’s something wrong with you. These people won’t be afraid to tell you that they think your hair’s too short and your laugh is just a little bit too loud. They won’t accept you for you are. Being with the wrong people will always deliver these sort of results.
- They’ll think you should be different. These people will think you should change things about yourself so that they feel better about who you are. That laugh of yours should definitely be toned down and that short hair should be grown out. They’ll always have ideas about what you should and shouldn’t be like and they won’t be afraid to tell you. The important thing is not to listen to them and instead change who you surround yourself with.
- You’ll be too much or too little to them. You’re just right as you are. You don’t need to change your laugh, hair, or anything else for that matter. People who’re wrong for you are going to insist, though, that you are way too much in certain ways and way too little in others. They’re wrong. They just don’t understand the awesomeness that is you and they never will.
- You’ll never be everyone’s cup of tea. As Dita Von Teese said, “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” It doesn’t matter how lovely of a person you are, there are still going to be people who dislike you. The key is not to surround yourself with the people who don’t like peaches. Because, well, screw those people.
- People disliking you has nothing to do with you. All of this about how people think you aren’t enough and think you should be different is totally on them. It doesn’t say anything about your character or your worth. As a matter of fact, you’re completely and totally perfect as you are. You’re good enough and that never changes based on what other people think of you.
- These aren’t your people. If a boyfriend, coworker, or friend doesn’t see your worth, they aren’t your people. They’re the wrong people for you and aren’t meant to be in your life. I know it’s hard to see this and hard to do this, but it’s worth it to give ‘em the boot to make room for people who’ll appreciate you just as you are.
- There are people who are yours. Don’t worry; there are definitely people who’re your people. These folks will see you for the beautiful human you are. They see your flaws and they love them anyway. Your quirks make an appearance and these people still think you’re lovely. These are your kind of people—the ones who embrace all of the awesomeness that is you. Hold onto them.
- Your people will think that you’re just right. Whereas the wrong people think that you should change certain aspects of yourself, the right people think that you’re exactly how you’re supposed to be. They don’t criticize what you do or how you are, they embrace the loveliness that you are. They won’t think that there are things wrong with you because they’ll know you’re cool as-is.
- Your people will love peaches. The same exact aspects of you that the wrong people were saying are no good will be seen as just fine by those who are just right for you. That laugh of yours that sounded like an atrocious snort to some people will sound like a lovely laugh to your people.
- At your worst, you’ll still be right for the right person. Karen Salmansohn said, “At your absolute best, you still won’t be good enough for the wrong person. At your worst, you’ll still be worth it to the right person.” The cool thing about finding your people is that they’ll love you through the good and the bad. They won’t just disappear on your worst days. Rather, they’ll stick around and love you until you can love yourself again.
