Book Freak #71: The Courage to Be Disliked
Ichiro Kishimi was born in Kyoto, where he currently resides. He writes and lectures on Adlerian psychology and provides counseling for youths in psychiatric clinics as a certified counselor and consultant for the Japanese Society of Adlerian Psychology.
Here are four pieces of advice from his book, The Courage to Be Disliked:
Do not live to satisfy the expectations of others
“The courage to be happy also includes the courage to be disliked. When you have gained that courage, your interpersonal relationships will all at once change into things of lightness.”
Withdraw from places that are preoccupied with winning and losing
YOUTH: Have you become free from all forms of competition?
PHILOSOPHER: Of course. I do not think about gaining status or honor, and I live my life as an outsider philosopher without any connection whatsoever to worldly competition.
YOUTH: Does that mean you dropped out of competition? That you somehow accepted defeat?
PHILOSOPHER: No. I withdrew from places that are preoccupied with winning and losing. When one is trying to be oneself, competition will inevitably get in the way.
Don't seek praise from others
“Being praised essentially means that one is receiving judgment from another person as 'good.' And the measure of what is good or bad about that act is that person's yardstick. If receiving praise is what one is after, one will have no choice but to adapt to that person's yardstick and put the brakes on one's own freedom.”
Encourage your children to embrace a challenge
“As Adler says, 'Children who have not been taught to confront challenges will try to avoid all challenges.'”
Buy The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi on Amazon
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