“The courage to be disliked” by Ichiro Kishmi & Fumitake Koga

The authors 🖋

Ichiro Kishimi is a philosopher, professor at Kyoto University and director of the Japanese Society of Adlerian Psychology.

Fumitake Koga is an award-winning Japanese writer known for his bestselling works in both business and general non-fiction.

Key takeaways 🎓

1. Don't let others control you

The desire for approval and validation from others is a significant barrier to happiness.

We shouldn’t allow other people's opinions to dictate our life.

When we’re able to accept that not one single person is liked by everyone, we can truly be ourselves and follow our own dreams without worrying about what others think.

2. The past doesn’t define you

Most of our worries and anxieties come from being stuck in the past.

The authors suggest focusing on the present moment and only on what we can do right now.

It’s been proven to lead to a more peaceful and content life.

3. Choose happiness

We have the power to change our lives at any moment.

Past experiences do not dictate our future - it is only the meaning we assign to them that influences our present actions and mindset.

In other words, we’re usually only a decision away from shaping a happier, more fulfilling life.

Closing thoughts 🧠

The book draws heavily on the theories of Alfred Adler, a respected Austrian contemporary of Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud.

Through a series of dialogues between a philosopher and a young man, the authors encourage us to embrace our individuality and pursue a fulfilling life free from the need for external validation.

Ultimately, it’s a call to have the courage of living our life on our own terms..