I worked with someone who told me they'd never like me. But for some reason, I just felt like I needed her approval. So I started changing myself to please her. It made me stop being social and friendly. I was so unhappy.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I became quite a diva, and intolerant, and people knew when I was not pleased. Some people were afraid of me, and other people just kind of blew me off. But I wasn't making any friends. I only had one person who remained my friend, and he was my boyfriend for a while. Even though I told him I was gay, he was like, 'That's alright.'
One of the reasons I was so unhappy for years was because I never embraced my emotions and I was trying to stay in control.
Now I worry. If people ended up liking me, did I do the job wrong? So I decided they didn't end up liking me - they ended up being able to deal with me.
I could never be with a woman who felt like she needs to change me.
I cared too much about people liking me because I didn't like myself enough.
In my early career I was like a goldfish. Rejection didn't affect me; I'd just forget how bad it was and keep going back for more.
I had years of therapy to recover from this. A lot of it had to with being a people pleaser, being the ultimate good girl. I wanted everyone to like me. I didn't really have a voice. I was afraid of growing up.
I can't control what people think of me, and I stopped really caring a long time ago.
I could never be with a woman who felt like she needed to change me.
Many people resented my impatience and honesty, but I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect.