You’re trying too hard
Popularity is the be-all and end-all when you’re in high school. But is it possible you’ve carried that over for the rest of your life? Even as aging adults, we can still feel the pressure to “fit in.”
You might think that the best of earning respect from others is to get into other people’s good books. That could mean being friendly, fun, agreeable, helpful, calm, and so on. But guess what? This backfires most of the time.
There is such a thing as trying too hard. When we do so, we tend to come across as desperate. Also, it loses sincerity because you’re less likely to be yourself, and it puts others off.
Think of it this way: When you come on too strong, it’s like being a salesperson too ready to make a sale. You can almost smell the desperation, right?
