If you're not living a "please like me" life, then what are you living?
 

...the title, I hope, speaks for itself.

If you're living consciously (and I know quite a lot of you are), then what message are you relaying relationally in this domain?
a) I don't like me, but please like me
b) I like me, but I want you to like me too (*ego alert* :eek:).
c) I like me, but I need you to like me. (*super ego alert* :eek:).
d) I don't like me and I need you to like me. (:confused:)
e)..the ultimate, I think -> I like me, deal with it!! :rolleyes:

I'll be honest, I'm still trying to morph from option b to e and this is since realising that I had to consciously act out option e in my life. Who can confess to morphing from option d? If you live option e, ever been accused of being arrogant?

If you have more options to add to the list, please feel free or if you can come up with a better (perhaps a humbler version :o) of option e, that would be cool too.

Striving... :D

how about f) I like me and I like you. It's up to you what you like.

I guess I would be at 'I like me and I'd like you to like me too... but if you don't I'm not gonna cry about it.'

Is that egotistical? I'm not sure. I think mostly I'd prefer people to like me rather than not because that seems to make things work better... more opportunities for friendships, learning, collaborations etc.

I think Fritz Perls said it brilliantly in his Gestalt Prayer:

„I do my thing and you do your thing.
I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,
And you are not in this world to live up to mine.
You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it’s beautiful.
If not, it can’t be helped.”

- Fritz Perls, 1969

"Your thing" being whatever you enjoy for itself, not because it makes people like you.

A sentence that ends in two exclamation marks probably isn't a good philosophy to live your life by.
It's defensive.