Almost everything that’s changed the world in a positive way has been an unreasonable idea. It’s unreasonable, until it’s commons sense. That’s how change happens and so in order to make a difference in the world, it’s incredibly important to be able to ignore the naysayers. Some of the best and brightest from our community share their stories and advice below.
Haille Baraka
Honestly those who know me know I couldn’t care less what anyone else has to say about me, I’m gonna do everything I wanna do regardless. I block the haters by hitting them with kindness and confidence. I stay focused on my goals and let my work speak for itself. We all have our down days, but I don’t give negativity a front-row seat in my life—there’s no room for that when I’m busy thriving. Read more>>
Zichun Wang
My insistence and my passion for design and storytelling are anchors. I always remember why I started and the joy of seeing my work come to life. However, not all negative feedback is bad, some can push me to improve. I wish I could absorb the helpful information, and discard the noise. Read more>>
Alexandra Meredith
I’ve dealt with haters, bullying, and naysayers my entire life. It can be hard to persist when someone openly dislikes you. However, it’s important to remember that not everyone who disagrees with you is a hater. The first step is to determine whether they’re truly a hater or simply expressing a differing opinion. Read more>>
Wayne Bibbs
Removing them from my life as much as possible. It’s perfectly fine to make access to your personal life “by invitation only”! Read more>>
Enedawry Santana
Everyone will have something to say so give them something to talk about. Read more>>
Irene Mazour
This can be tricky… when people hate on me or my work and I don’t know them, it is pretty easy to shrug it off. People who only see the part of the iceberg sticking out of the water miss the giant mass of it under the waves. There is so much richness to one person and their story, and I believe I’m no exception to that. Read more>>
Jessie Zhu
We may sometimes feel unlucky when our plans are met with obstacles. There are always people who hold negative or critical attitudes—whether they are family members, friends, or even competitors. Whether these criticisms come from good intentions or bad, they can affect us, causing our plans to stall or even fail. And even when we succeed, some people may still have something negative to say, motivated by jealousy or hostility. They simply don’t want to see you succeed. These experiences have been present throughout my life, from childhood until now. No matter what culture or environment you’re in, this is something that’s inescapable. It’s a point we all need to recognize: we can’t avoid these people; we must face their words head-on. Read more>>
Thomasina Ruth
I always seem to ignore the haters and negative talk and remind myself that when you’re very intelligent and following your dreams people will criticize you all because you’re doing something that that they want to do…The thing is they dont have the capacity or mental health to pursue their dreams. It then becomes very intimidating and people will look at you as a threat. As I remind myself daily to “Starve my distractions and feed my focus”. At the end of the day it’s all about staying true to your self, your dreams and goal and let nothing or anyone distract you from your destiny. Read more>>
Spencer Ragland
I remain focused and persistent in the face of criticism and negativity by using it as motivation to strengthen my commitment to my goals. I have a clear understanding of my value and capabilities, and I know that my progress is only limited by my own efforts. My consistency, determination, and work ethic set me apart and drive me forward. Read more>>
Cheyenne Owens
I stay persistent even with my haters and naysayers because if I was proving a point to them, I’d have already proved my point. I wake up and I set goals for myself. I write them down and focus on that. I don’t try to focus on what the haters and what they saying because I’m obviously doing something right. Read more>>
Sam Qavah John
John 15:18-19: If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Read more>>
