When you make the decision to “put yourself out there” on the fitness stage, Internet, television and in magazines, it is inevitable you will be faced with negative feedback. Two and a half years ago, I decided to “put myself out there.” The first thing my sister said to me was, “Sara, you better have thick skin.” I was definitely not prepared for what was about to happen next.

At first I was hurt and devastated by the daily hate mail and cruel comments I received. But now I perceive it as a good thing. In fact, I get a good chuckle for a few seconds before I continue moving forward with my daily goals. Here are my tricks for dealing with haters:

1. For every 10 people who love what you do, there will always be 1 person who hates everything you represent. Focus on the people who do appreciate your contributions. My objective is to educate and inspire receptive people. I don’t want to lose sight of the people who do benefit from my work because of a few negative Nelly’s. Focus on making an impact rather than trying to obtain approval.
2. Take it as a compliment. Having haters is actually a measure of success. It means you are doing something right! And the more successful you become, the more jealous haters you will have. I have haters throughout all 7 continents!
3. “If you are really effective at what you do, 95% of the things said about you will be negative." (Scott Boras)
4. Although you may be tempted to react to a negative comment, do not stoop to their level by responding. IGNORE THEM! My policy is “block and delete.” They want you to react. Do not give them the pleasure of letting them know their attack had any impact on you. If you respond, you will open yourself up for more attacks, thereby perpetuating the cycle of hatred. The faster you block & delete them, the faster you will forget about them. Don’t waste your precious time responding to criticism because you have much bigger fish to fry!
5. “The best revenge is letting haters continue to live with their own resentment and anger, which most of the time has nothing to do with you in particular.” (Tim Ferriss)
6. Remain focused on achieving your goals. Don’t waste your time worrying about people who will never be your fans. As George Herbert says, “living well is the best revenge.”

Please share additional coping strategies in the comments section below.

For your better health and well-being,
Dr. Sara Solomon