How to Act Around Someone Who Doesn’t Like You: 15 Tips

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Imagine you’re at a work meeting, and every time you speak, a particular colleague rolls their eyes or cuts you off. Or perhaps there’s someone in your social circle who always seems distant or dismissive. It can feel unsettling, but these situations happen to all of us. 

Knowing how to act around someone who doesn’t like you can be tricky, but it’s a valuable skill. 

Rather than letting their attitude get to you, it’s crucial to stay calm and composed. 

If you’re wondering what to do if someone doesn’t like you, the key is to focus on your own behavior. Handling such encounters gracefully can help protect your peace of mind and maintain professionalism without escalating tension.

Why can being around someone who doesn’t like you be challenging?

Being around someone who doesn’t like you can be emotionally taxing and uncomfortable. It creates an atmosphere of tension and often triggers feelings of self-doubt or defensiveness. 

Such situations are particularly difficult when you’re required to interact regularly with the person, like in a workplace or social setting. This can affect your mood, productivity, and sense of security. 

Knowing how to act around someone who doesn’t like you is crucial for maintaining your own well-being and peace of mind.

Here are some reasons why it’s challenging:

• Emotional discomfort: It can feel awkward or tense being around someone who dislikes you.
• Fear of judgment: You might constantly worry about being judged or criticized.
• Self-doubt: Negative interactions can cause you to question your own worth or abilities.
• Communication barriers: The lack of mutual respect can hinder effective communication.
• Stress and anxiety: The anticipation of conflict or negativity can increase stress levels.
• Difficulty in collaboration: Working or collaborating with them can feel strained and unproductive.
• Undermined confidence: Repeated exposure to negativity may gradually erode your self-confidence.

How to act around someone who doesn’t like you: 15 tips

It’s a fact of life that not everyone we encounter will like us. Whether it’s a colleague, acquaintance, or even a family member, we may find ourselves in situations where we have to interact with someone who doesn’t like us. 

It can be an uncomfortable and even stressful experience, but there are things we can do to make the situation more manageable. Here are 15 tips on how to act around someone who doesn’t like you.

1. Be good to them

What to do when people don’t like you? Just be nice to them.

Negative emotions come forth when we realize that we are with someone who doesn’t like us.

They either might be rude, might like to exclude you from their circle, or might want you to feel bad about yourself. In either case, if you get to indulge in these emotions, you are not doing anything good to yourself.

So, the best way to deal with someone who doesn’t like you is to be positive and good. Treat them well. Greet them when they walk into the room and make sure their experience around you is comforting.

Don’t expect similar reactions from them, but you do your best. This way they may not hurt you even if they may have an intention to. 

2. Accepting different opinions

To hope that everyone likes you and to expect everyone to like you are two different things.

It is your task to be nice and gentle with people around you and make them feel good when they’re with you. However, some people are just not going to like you, no matter what.

The moment we want everyone to like us, we put ourselves in a situation wherein we are ready to go to any extent to get their attention.

This isn’t right at all.

The best way to make peace with it is to accept the fact and move on. After all, even celebrities have divided audiences. 

3. Be around those who like you

While you figure out how to deal with people who don’t like you, it’s imperative that you simply avoid their company.

Our body and mind pick up energies pretty fast and they do leave a long-lasting impact on us. When you’re surrounded by people who like you, you would feel happy and motivated.

These people encourage you to be the best version of yourself.

When you’re more focused on people who don’t like you, you lose on those who like and appreciate you. You get more involved with them and surround yourself with negative energy and thoughts.

So, instead of thinking of those who don’t like you, be with those who like you. 

4. Don’t let your self-esteem take a backseat

You expect people to like and appreciate you, but something opposite happens; you go into panic mode. 

You look for options on how to act around someone who doesn’t like you since you want them to like you. You start self-doubt that you’re not good enough, and others who like you may be faking it.

It’s normal, but do remember one thing, you don’t deserve someone’s approval to be you. Be confident, and don’t let your self-esteem take a backseat just because someone doesn’t like you.

You’re not supposed to be liked by everyone. You’re supposed to be you. 

5. Self-scrutiny won’t hurt

When someone doesn’t like you, they might try to show what exactly they despise about you.

On the contrary, if you think people who don’t like you outnumber people who like you, self-scrutiny won’t hurt. Sometimes, people give us a hint if we are good or bad. There might be certain habits or behavior patterns that are not liked by most people.

This can be identified by how many people dislike you. If you think the number has been outnumbered by those who like you, self-scrutiny can help you become a better person.

So, identify that habit or behavior and work towards it. 

6. Does it bother you much

Every person in our life holds someplace. Some are just acquaintances, and there are some whom we adore. Some are our models and then there are some whose presence never bothers us.

So, who’s the person who doesn’t like you?

If it’s someone you adore or consider your role model, then you must find out the reason for their dislike and work towards improving it. 

If it’s someone whose existence or opinion doesn’t make a difference in your or their life, then it is better that you ignore them and focus on people who like you. 

7. Rise above issues and don’t be judgmental

We discussed being honest and making peace with the situation, but there are situations when you’re bound to work with someone who doesn’t like you. You simply can’t ignore their presence or let the issue slip under the radar. 

You have to rise above the situation and stop being judgmental like them.

Keep aside your conflict with them and look for a peaceful solution that won’t affect their behavior and won’t impact the working conditions at all.

If you’re able to do it, you’ve become a better person.

8. Be respectful

Even if the person doesn’t like you, it’s important to maintain a level of respect toward them. Being rude or dismissive will only escalate the situation and make things worse.

9. Don’t take it personally

Remember that someone not liking you doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It could be due to a variety of factors, such as different personalities or past experiences.

10. Avoid unnecessary confrontation

If the person doesn’t like you, it’s best to avoid confrontation or arguments. This will only make the situation more uncomfortable and potentially damaging to your relationship.

11. Stay calm

When you notice the signs someone doesn’t like you, try to maintain your composure around them.

If the person says or does something that upsets you, try to stay calm and composed. Responding to anger or frustration will only escalate the situation.

12. Be kind

When a person doesn’t like you, it’s possible that they found you rude or unpleasant at some point in time.

Even if the person doesn’t like you, it’s important to be kind and courteous towards them. Small acts of kindness, such as holding the door open or offering to help with a task, can go a long way in diffusing tension.

13. Find common ground

Look for areas of common ground that you can connect on. This could be a shared interest or hobby or even a mutual acquaintance.

14. Avoid gossiping

Gossiping about the person who doesn’t like you will only make things worse. It’s important to take the high road and avoid speaking negatively about them.

If you keep complaining to people about certain ‘people don’t like me,’ it can also reflect negatively on your image.

15. Be professional

If you have to work with a person who doesn’t like you, it’s important to maintain a professional demeanor. Focus on the task at hand and try to keep any personal issues out of the workplace. 

Another way to deal with this situation professionally is by seeking suitable relationship counseling to understand the issues that need to be addressed.

5 ways to deal with people who don’t like you

Dealing with people who don’t like you can be a difficult and unpleasant experience. It’s natural to want to be liked by everyone, but unfortunately, it’s not always possible. 

Here are five ways to deal with people who don’t like you:

1. Focus on building relationships with people who do like you

It’s important to remember that not everyone will like you, but there will also be people who do. Instead of dwelling on those who don’t, focus on building positive relationships with those who do. 

Spending time with people who appreciate and value you can help boost your confidence and make you feel good about yourself.

2. Be yourself

While it’s natural to want to be liked by everyone, it’s important to stay true to yourself. Don’t compromise your values or change who you are just to please others. People who appreciate you for who you are will gravitate toward you, while those who don’t will likely move on.

3. Avoid engaging in conflict

If someone doesn’t like you, it’s important to avoid engaging in conflict with them. Responding in anger or frustration will only escalate the situation and make things worse. Instead, try to stay calm and composed, and avoid confrontational situations.

To learn more about how to fight smarter, watch this video:

4. Try to understand their perspective

While it’s not always possible to change someone’s opinion of you, it can be helpful to try to understand their perspective. Perhaps they have had a negative experience with someone similar to you in the past, or maybe they are struggling with their own personal issues. 

Understanding where they are coming from can help you approach the situation with more empathy and compassion.

5. Don’t take it personally

It’s important to remember that someone not liking you doesn’t necessarily reflect on you as a person. Everyone has their own preferences and biases, and it’s impossible to please everyone. 

Instead of taking it personally, try to focus on the positive aspects of your life and the relationships that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Not everyone will like you, but you should be on your best behavior 

When faced with someone who doesn’t like you, how you respond makes all the difference. Instead of letting negativity affect you, take control and act with confidence. 

Learning how to deal with someone who doesn’t like you can improve your emotional resilience and allow you to focus on what truly matters. 

According to the psychologist Silvana Mici:

When dealing with people who don’t like you, it’s important to focus on your own self-worth and well-being. Don’t let their opinions affect how you see yourself. Surround yourself with positivity and support to help maintain your emotional resilience.

By staying calm, being kind, and setting clear boundaries, you not only protect your peace but also demonstrate emotional intelligence. 

Remember, how you act around someone who doesn’t like you says more about your character than theirs. Focus on surrounding yourself with positive influences, and don’t waste energy trying to win over everyone. Stay true to yourself, and let others’ opinions be just that—their opinions.