Why do some people dislike people who are ambitious and always seeking improvement?

[Prof_Don]

Ironically, the answer for a ? I wrote right before this one inspired me to ask this one lol.

I mention striving for self-improvement and excellence in my most recent answer.

Then I thought about there are those people who seem to dislike, or even HATE, people who are ambitious and aim for self-improvements all the time.

----

1) In short, why do you think these people dislike or even HATE people that aim to consistently better themselves in all phases of life?

2) Have you ever been one of those people?

------

Answer in as much detail as you like; thanks for answering!

[harveykinkle]

I think it's just jealousy. So many people sit and daydream about things they would like to do/accomplish but never get to courage to actually get up and go do it.

They seem to be jealous of those who actually do go and do things. It's kind of weird.

I've recently got quite ambitious and I find some people so strange. I recently won a science competition and someone said I only won because I was wearing a "slutty" gold sequin dress. (It wasn't slutty and anyone who knows anything about life in sciences would know that that would work against me.)

It's also gotten to the point where when I do accomplish something cool I don't even tell people anymore because they turn it around into a "poor me, I could never do something like that" woe fest for them. I'm not bragging or anything either.

The thing that these people don't see is how I do fail at things every once in awhile.

[Anonymous]

I don't dislike people who are ambitious, not at all. They're often inspiring examples of taking the bull by the horns.

But those who take their ambitious natures too far? I dislike them. The greedy people, the ones who step on others to get ahead, that kind of thing. Some people might think all ambitious people are like that, so they don't like ambitious people. I, myself, don't think they're all like that.

[Betwyn]

People are threatened by people with ambitions..

If they are ambitious themselves, they see a rival, one potentially better then them... an enemy..

If they are not ambitious, they see someone who tries hard, shows them up..

[Prof_Don]

Well stated, Bet :)

[Sparrow24]

Great answer +1

[blackkid2]

1. There are multiple viewpoints, some more valid than others, one key connection however is how the person who is improving views themselves. Some use the proposition of self-improvement as a guise for simply funding their self-important stances in life. Others are genuine and humble about it, usually not making an effort to make it public. Those who are public about it can be intimidating to some or remind some of their own failures or lack of improvement thus instead of inspiring them giving greater reason for self-hindrance. There are other alternative reasons as well but the list is too long.

2. Yes, of course.

[sketchy]

They don't.

What they hate, is arseholes who are prepared to treat others like sh*t in order to fulfill their own ambitions, people who constantly go on and on about how they have these great ambitions but then don't actually *do* anything about them, and people who talk a lot of hippie-bullsh*t they got out of some stupid self-help book.

[Prof_Don]

lmao there are definitely those types in the world...at my uni I met plenty of those ppl! :-P

[shadowscapes]

Some people just don't want you to succeed:

1. If you could do it, so could they and they need an excuse to sit on their ass

2.They can't do it, so they don't want you to do it either, so you are at their level

For the most success in your life, I suggest to eliminate these people who don't encourage you to succeed out of your life (even if they are family) as they will do you no good and only set you back.

[SillyG0000se]

I don't really hate people who are ambitious or pursuing their dreams, I'm actually pretty jealous haha

I do hate people who have unrealistic ideas about what they can accomplish. They live in a fantasy and seem surprised when their life doesn't go the way they planned. I've met many people who talk about how they are starting their music, modeling, or art careers without any real knowledge.

[kambo_trick3y]

Because people are sheep and hate to see someone who dares to break the mold, that's essentially the equivalent of admitting someone is better than they are, which is pretty much true.

[Anonymous]

1. Because they think they are failures themselves and the don't have a better tomorrow

2. Nope. I like people who are very positive in life.