How important is being liked?

Wanting to be liked is part of the human condition. No matter how much we are willing to admit it, and how much that desire has evolved for us over the years, rejection always has a sting. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking, sometimes it’s just a slight annoyance along the way, or even just another obstacle to contend with, comparable to many others.

One antidote for most of life’s challenges is humour. A very wise person once told me,

“Not everyone will like you, you’re not money.”

I laughed but it also got me thinking.

What do you think? How important is it to be liked? And what does it bring out in you when you’re not liked?