Does it really matter if other people like you?
Making friends is hard work.
You have to put yourself out there and risk rejection.
This fear of rejection, like all fears, makes people do stupid things.
In this case, it makes you focus on the wrong thing.
Instead of worrying about whether other people will like you, you should be worried about whether YOU like them.
If you don’t like them, then it won’t matter if they don’t like you.
If you do like them, chances are, they will like you too, because people like people who like them.
And if they don’t, so be it.
The more you can focus on liking other people, the less weird you will act because you won’t be consumed by your own irrational fears.
It will also prevent you from chasing after friendships that are toxic.