SOMETIMES I NEED TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT ME

Sometimes we'll encounter people who don't like us. We don't need to prove ourselves, or try to be who we're not - we can let it be okay.

AN UNSETTLING ENCOUNTER

A while back I encountered a woman who I knew by association. She knew some of the people I knew, and I thought that she might be someone I might like to get to know better. How wrong I was...

For some reason, this person chose to cold shoulder me, she wasn't rude or confrontational, she just didn't want to interact with me or engage. It really threw me because I can't remember encountering anyone who was so standoff-ish, so I immediately went into damage control mode. You know what that's like...the inner voice starts nattering away in our head with all the usual questions.

THE INNER DIALOGUE

Here we go with the questions...
What have I done? - Nothing that I was aware of.
Did I say something to offend? - No, because I'd never spoken to her or about her.
Is there something about me? - Not that I'm aware of.
Why doesn't she like me? - How do I even figure that one out?
How can I make her like me? - Why do I want to make someone like me?

QUIETENING THE INNER DIALOGUE

To quieten the inner dialogue meant approaching the whole thing rationally, and the most heartening thing to begin with was that I had said and done absolutely nothing that would cause this person to dislike me. So, I was able to self-differentiate (for a change) and step back from it all far enough to see that this is on her, and she can decide who she wants to engage with, and if it's not me, then that's okay.

I can remember the adage that says "I don't like everyone I meet, so why would I expect everyone to like me?" She gets to decide who she wants to be friendly with, who she wants in her circle, and her criteria for that is completely up to her - and that's okay.

MY INHERENT VALUE 

My inherent value isn't based on one person's opinion - it's based on who I am in myself - and not the version of me someone might hold. For all I know, there may or may not be a reason for her standoff-ish-ness. She might be a cold person, or an introvert, or have enough friends already, or whatever.... it doesn't matter because - as my husband sometimes says - "it's not always about you, Leanne". And he's right, it's not always about me - in this case it's about her and her alone, and I can let that be okay.

I like that I can use my blog to work through stuff like this, it helps me rationalize behaviour that I don't really understand, and it allows me to find my centre again. I can make peace with the fact that someone has a version of me in their mind that I'm not responsible for, and that I can't do anything about. And it has nothing to do with my inherent worth - unless I let it get to me.

DON'T STRESS, JUST DO YOUR BEST

It's also tempting to decide to dislike someone who dislikes me - it feels like it's balancing the vibe....but, I don't want to be like that, I don't want to dislike someone for no apparent reason - that's not who I want to be. I love this quote from Kate Winslet (link is underneath):

You cannot control or dictate the attitudes and opinions of other people. All you can do is live your best life, be a decent person, and live and speak with integrity.

I want to be someone known for their kindness, decency, and integrity - and if I don't want bitterness to take root, there will be times when I just have to let someone have an opinion of me that I don't deserve. I need to let it be about them and not about me... because it's not always about me....

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Have you ever encountered someone who didn't like you? Are you able to recognize a lack of connection and not let it drag you down? Do we need to have everyone like us or can we just let them be and look elsewhere for friendship?

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12 comments

  1. I automatically fall into the I'm obviously not worth knowing trap.

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    1. It's so hard isn't it Jo? I did a lot of soul searching over something that I have absolutely no control over, that little inner voice loves to have her say...

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  2. Long ago I had a friend who cut me off dead without any explanation. Looking back, I can see now how I offended her but at that time I did not realize it. My phone calls and emails to her went unanswered. No cellphones back then so no texts. I guess it was an early form of Ghosting and a definite friendship ender. No apologies accepted. I have thought off and on of her, but I truly can no longer recall even her name or what she looked like. Sometimes it is best to just move on. You cannot right every wrong. But you can hold your head up high and admit how you were to yourself, forgive yourself (and them), and know that that person was never meant to be a continuation in your life. On your life journey you will meet many persons and not all will become cherished. Some are the bits and pieces that make up life's roadway but they all have their own exits to take. We meet many like that. So we must drive on.

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    1. Hi Allison - very wise words indeed - and having experienced that sense of being cut off, it helps you understand why I was so thrown by this encounter. I genuinely thought we'd hit it off, and when she just cut me dead, I realized that some people are just not meant to be part of our journey. I'm very grateful that there's absolutely nothing that I said or did to cause it - that stops me churning and trying to rewrite history, but it still messes with my head when someone behaves in a way that's so outside my realm of understanding...

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  3. oh my goodness. I don't think i have EVER read a blog that so exactly as in within the last few hours, matched what I just faced. Although this person and I have spoken and I did share very vulnerably with them--still, I was left cold, when I expected a hug, and now I keep replaying the dialogue! After leaving my job, very similar reasons as you leaving yours, I have been more and more aware of my desperate desire for others approval and am slowly seeing God break me of it. This is such a great reminder: "there will be times when I just have to let someone have an opinion of me that I don't deserve". Thank you!!

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    1. Hi Lizzy - it helps to know that other's have had encounters that didn't turn out as expected. This person who cold-shouldered me ended up working for my old employers a couple of years after I left. All I can think is that she decided I was at fault in that horrible workplace and therefore not worthy of her attention. Regardless, in a church setting, and with all that we're called to be as Christians, it was a situation I had no parameters for - and after doing my best to be pleasant, I'm now okay with it being what it is - not my problem...

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  4. Hello Leanne, not recently, but I remember encountering a few people whom I wanted to get close to but for reasons I can't figure out they chose to keep a distance. It was a bit unsettling at first; but later I spoke to myself and realised that it wasn't because of anything I spoke or did; it's just that the other person had different priorities. Fair enough. I was at peace.

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    1. Hi Pradeep - I think I've finally come to the same conclusions that you did - that it's their problem and not mine - it's good to know that I behaved honourably, and they get to hold responsibility for their lack of kindness and connection. I guess there will always be cold people in the world and we can maybe be grateful we don't have them in our friendship circle.

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  5. Hi Leanne, another way to look at your encounter is that you thankfully found out immediately what kind of person they are, you didn’t become friends only to find they later ghosted you for no reason! On a slightly different note, I have a neighbour a few doors away who blows hot and cold, she never holds a conversation and sometimes she acknowledges me and sometimes she outright ignores me! What is that about? I can’t work out if I should speak and be snubbed 75% of the time or feel like a fool for acknowledging her only to be snubbed… Chrissie x

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    1. Hi Chrissie - great point about not investing into something that might have eventually become worse. I think it's easier to handle a rebuff when we haven't given too much of our heart to someone - but regardless, even like with your neighbour - it's hard when we come across people who relate on a completely different wavelength to what we see as normal - or even just basic politeness. I'm going to keep on smiling but save my energy for the people who return it. :)

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  6. Sometimes, I wonder if the person might have something going on in their life that is mentally draining, and they just don't feel that they have the energy at that moment for an encounter. I also wonder if some people have been so badly hurt during a relationship in the past that they become guarded, so as not to be hurt again. Your husband is right. It might not have anything to do with you. I don't think that most people think or pay attention to us as much as we think that they do. I think most people are self focused.

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  7. This is a great topic, Leanne. I tend to work harder when someone doesn't seem to like me - daughter of a narcissist syndrome. There are times this works, but not often. It is hard to accept that sometimes people don't like you (meaning me), and going on about your business. Sometimes, there is a reason, and that's hard, too. If you are lucky, you find out that reason. Most of the time, no one confronts you. Other times, as you pointed out, the reason has nothing to do with you. I've never really figured it out, it doesn't happen too often in real life anymore, but it definitely does on my mailing list. I feel bad when people unsubscribe even though I know that our emails get way too clogged up. So, great topic. When you get it all figured out, I'll buy your book. LOL :)

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.