Have you read The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga?
This book introduces many of the central ideas of Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology (Adlerian psychology) in a surprisingly accessible way.
Some of the central ideas include:
• Our past influences us, but it doesn’t have to determine our future.
• We are motivated by goals and the meanings we give our experiences.
• We have the capacity to choose how we respond to life’s challenges.
• Belonging and connection are fundamental human needs.
• We are responsible for our own choices, not for controlling how others think or feel about us.
• Healthy relationships require boundaries, mutual respect, and recognizing the difference between our responsibilities and someone else’s.
• Courage means being willing to live authentically, even when that means not everyone will approve of us.
One of the most interesting concepts is the idea of separation of tasks: learning to distinguish what is ours to manage from what belongs to someone else. You cannot control whether someone likes you, agrees with you, or approves of your choices. You can control how you show up, what you value, and how you choose to live. Being disliked isn’t necessarily a sign that you’re doing something wrong.
Sometimes it’s simply part of having the courage to live a life that is genuinely your own. A thought-provoking read for anyone working on boundaries, relationships, self-worth, and personal growth.
If this made you think differently and you want to continue the conversation, contact Christa McCrorie, LICSW-S, PIP; CD (DONA); CST (SHA) with Creative Therapeutic Solutions.
🌐 https://creativetherapeutic.solutions/
📞 205-578-2692
📧 christa.mccrorie@therapysecure.com
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