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Living your life in a public forum comes with a bunch of cool things.

Getting to share your work with a wider audience.

Receiving appreciation from peeps who are touched by what you do.

Feeling encouraged to keep going because you can see you’re making a difference.

And then there’s the other side.

The Hater Side.

Actually, everyone has haters. You don’t need to be online to experience the soul-crushing vibes of the People of the Hate.

It’s just that the flavor of the online Haters can be particularly bitter, due to the anonymity of many online forums.

Given this, I discovered a little exercise that puts the Haters in their place.

And not in the way you’re thinking.

It’s best to do this exercise with someone else’s work, as the level of objectivity can bring some really cool results. 

Here’s an example:

There’s a video online that I’m pretty much obsessed with. It’s a cover of the Bee Gees’ song “Stayin’ Alive” by a group called Scary Pockets, featuring Lizzy McAlpine.

(If you wanna see for yourself, go HERE. And I’m aware you might hate it. That’s okay. Just don’t leave a negative comment. Or do. You be you.)

I can be in a crappy mood, and listening to this video will raise my energy by at least 76%. At least!

And I can rarely watch it just once. It’s like Lay’s Potato Chips, but without the fat, salt, and artificial flavorings.

It’s an all-natural funky groove.

But it gets better.

I like to read the comments section.

Most of the comments agree with me, often adorably so.

“By the second chord of the chorus, my eyes had rolled back in my head. I love the freedom and creativity you guys express in your work.”

“I’ve been a musician for over 40 years, and I’ve never heard something so original and awesome as this.”

“I can’t stop listening to this over and over and over!!! This is soooo jam! That bass player and the drummer so in sync. The perfect wispy vocals. The smokin’ hot redhead backup singers. The clap solo. The double then triple guitar and bass runs. I just can’t even with this… I have tourettes syndrome for this cover. I just keep repeating.”

“Today I had a rough day at work…but after hearing this again, I’ve pretty much forgotten about the bad stuff. The power of GREAT music…keep up the excellent work, guys and gals!”

Awesome, right?!

I love hearing other people comment about something I love because it feels like we’re experiencing the magic together. Plus, sometimes someone else will point out a particular element of the song that I didn’t catch. So I can go back, watch again, and discover something new.

And then there are the other comments.

They are few and far between, but they’re there:

“Unfortunately this song is not for this singer! What a pitty [sic] for this fantastic sound!”

“I miss 1000% of the soul of the original version. It is too perfect to be messed with. At least, don’t change the chords so much.”

“Just an opinion…. everything about this is horrible and should have never been attempted.”

Whaaaaaaaaat?!?!?!?

As strange as it may sound, I love reading comments like this.

It reminds me that there will always be haters.

It reminds me that not everyone is going to love what you do, even if what you do is incredible to many people.

I also know that folks who are compelled to share negative comments are often not Happy Campers. Whatever you show them, they’ll find fault with it.

Which is why, instead of complaining about the Haters, I like to use their comments to put things in perspective.

My takeaway from the Haters?

1. When you create something, there will always be people who don’t like it.

2. You’re not doing it for them. You’re doing it for those who love it. Who will benefit from it. Who will be inspired to create something themselves, and spread joy in the world.

Melissa and I have had our share of haters. A small share, thank God, but a share nonetheless.

But the longer we do what we do, the less the Haters affect us.

The longer we do what we do, the more we know who we’re doing it for.

We’re doing it for you. And us. And Spirit.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go listen to that song just One. More. Time…

 

What’s your experience with Haters? Share your comments below!

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