Let’s face the facts – you are not for everyone.
This is pretty cliché and you’ve probably heard it a thousand times whether from a parent or teacher about “accepting yourself for who YOU are!!” and “don’t change for anyone else!!” or “love you for you – not who anyone says you are!!” If you have heard those sayings, you have also probably heard this one: You can’t please everyone. This, friends, is honestly the hardest thing in the world to accept.
There are poems and testimonies galore of people who have “weathered the storm” and become “more confident” and “self-assured” in who they are. These storms may consist of financial struggles and self-testing challenges, as well as people who you will not be able to handle. Now, these storms may seem unreal to you and a distant fantasy. Thoughts like “my storm will come later probably” or “what storm?” may cross or have crossed your mind at some point, but riddle me this. Your whole life may be a storm, you may be in the calm before it, or just taking a quick break in the eye of it, or you may be caught in the gales. Or perhaps you have just survived your first storm, but hurricane season isn't quite over yet.
People will misunderstand you and take you just at face value; they will make snap judgments about you that will, in fact be the exact opposite to who you are. This will hurt, it may make you want to prove them wrong, or it may drive you to make them like you. You think that because you are friends with them, or that they are the cool guy, that you must please them. You must be on their good side, you must make them happy always.
Do not let these people falter you – you are strong and you are wonderful and you are you. My piece of advice is to not live to please people. This is something that I struggle with personally, and something I have to remind myself not to do basically daily. Instead of living to please people, I want to be overflowing with love; love should be oozing out of me like honey from a bottle (gross image I know, let's move past it). Love will keep you grounded, and if it is at your foundation then you can grow to be impenetrable. Cacti are plants that grow in the worst of conditions, they may face extreme drought or flooding, but they still thrive and flourish. Why? Because their roots are growing through solid rock, they cannot be moved. Embrace the storm, because you can handle it. Be cacti, friends.
Do not let the world condemn you for being too expressive, too shy, too loud, or too excited. Refuse the world that expects you to be perfect instead of real – this world is not worth your energy and time. The world may not accept the "real" you, but that is okay. Give it time. Be drawn to the people who love the realness that is you, and love the people who reject that.
“The world is filled with people who, no matter what you do, will point blank, not like you. But it is also filled with those who will love you fiercely. They are your people. You are not for everyone and that’s OK. Talk to the people who can hear you.
Don’t waste your precious time and gifts trying to convince them of your value, they won’t ever want what you’re selling. Don’t convince them to walk alongside you. You’ll be wasting both your time and theirs and will likely inflict unnecessary wounds, which will take precious time to heal. You are not for them and they are not for you; politely wave them on, and continue along your way. Sharing your path with someone is a sacred gift; don’t cheapen this gift by rolling yours in the wrong direction.
Keep facing your true north.” – Rebecca Campbell
You are not for everyone and that’s OK.
