overcoming fear of the inevitable haters

when you put yourself out there, spread your message, and grow your platform, it won’t always be just good vibes that come back-- so let’s talk about how to deal with haters...

it goes with the territory that when you create something and share it (ideas absolutely included), it can’t (nor shouldn’t be) for everyone. and because of that, you’re bound to eventually brush up against some (or many) critics, haters, or trolls.

when someone spews their negativity at you (like a mean instagram comment or a bad review on your podcast) know this:

that’s the cost of admission for using your voice.

if you are ‘for everyone’, you’re really watering down your message and ultimately are for no one.
haters are a reminder that people are listening, which is a gift unto itself.
you can tell a lot about whether or not the criticism is worth taking based on the tone of it’s delivery.
messages worth processing and seeing where you can grow and learn from them are constructive.
messages that are meant to derail you are what block, mute, and spam buttons were made for.

here’s what’s freeing about this: you get to choose how you respond. you can choose to take it personally, let it eat you up inside (i sure used to), or get angry in return; or you can opt to keep it moving.

this is a lesson so many of us learned in elementary school with bullies, so let’s apply it here:

bullies thrive on drama. when you don’t engage or take the wind out of their sails by responding positively, it begins to bore them and they move on.

do you have zero haters? Here are a few reasons that might be the case:

you’re not creating an energy to attract them (cause for celebration!)
you’re withholding something out of fear (consciously or subconsciously) of these types of reactions and could stand to push yourself to step more into your authentic voice.
your community truly enjoys what you’re sharing, so no haters here!
a combo of the above.
none of the above.

i tend to look at it as the more i put myself out there and speak with authenticity and transparency, the more i’m bound to brush up against and trigger others’ wounds. and ultimately, that has the potential to be awakening and/or healing for their traumas. i don’t create with the hope of this, but it’s one way to look at these negative reactions.

given all of this, can you take these reminders as tools in your arsenal to help you to spread your message and grow your brand without (or with less) fear of the potential backlash?