“Freedom is being disliked by other people. It is proof that you are exercising your freedom and living in freedom, and a sign that you are living in accordance with your own principles.” – The Courage to Be Disliked

At some point, you have to make a choice:

Live for approval… or live for freedom.

Most people choose the first. They shape their actions around what will keep them accepted, liked, and unchallenged. They avoid conflict. They conform.

But freedom requires the opposite—it requires the courage to be disliked.

Here’s why this is the ultimate cheat code to unlocking success:

1. Freedom Through Detachment from Recognition

If you need validation, you’ll always be controlled by those giving it.

That means every move you make—whether in business, relationships, or personal growth—is dictated by how others will react, not by what you truly believe is right.

💡 Mindset Shift: Recognition is a trap. The moment you stop chasing validation, you start making moves that actually matter.

🚀 Try this today: Identify one area where you’ve been playing it safe out of fear of judgment—then break the pattern. Post the opinion. Have the hard conversation. Make the bold move.

2. Personal Responsibility Over Victim Mentality

Most people walk around like prisoners of their past.

• “I can’t do X because of what happened to me.”

• “If only I had better opportunities.”

• “If my situation was different, then I’d be successful.”

But here’s the truth: The past is an excuse. What matters is what you decide to do right now.

💡 Mindset Shift: Your future isn’t dictated by past experiences, but by your present choices.

🚀 Try this today: Write down one problem you’ve been blaming on your past. Now, instead of asking “why did this happen?”—ask “what am I going to do about it today?”

3. Mastering Relationships Through Task Separation

All struggles in life stem from how we think others see us.

We try to control their perception. We adjust our behavior based on their reactions. We get caught in power struggles.

Reality check: It’s not your job to manage how other people feel.

💡 Task Separation: In any conflict, ask: “Whose task is this?”

• If it’s yours, own it.

• If it’s not, let it go.

🚀 Try this today: Identify one conflict in your life. If it’s not your responsibility, drop it. If it is, take action without worrying about how others respond.

Final Thought

The fastest way to break free is to stop making decisions based on how others will react.

The fastest way to level up is to own everything in your life instead of blaming the past.

The fastest way to win at life is to stop caring about approval and start operating from principle.

This is what true freedom looks like. Not comfort. Not consensus. But the courage to be disliked.

Start today,

George

PS – Most people spend their whole lives trying to be liked… and still end up getting roasted in their group chats. Might as well be free.