--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I spent so much time focusing on haters…" description: "\"I spent so much time focusing on haters that I forgot about the people that actually love me. And that's who I'm focused on this time around: the peopl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/belly-46422_focused_i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters_2313981.jpg" --- # I spent so much time focusing on haters that I forgot… ![“I spent so much time focusing on haters that I forgot about the people that actually love me. And that's who I'm focused on this time around: the people that want to listen. The people that don't want to listen, don't listen. This is for the people that want to.” quote by Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/belly-46422_focused_i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters_2313981.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/belly-46422_focused_i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters_2313981.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/belly-46422_focused_i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters_2313981.jpg) > “I spent so much time focusing on haters that I forgot about the people that actually love me. And that's who I'm focused on this time around: the people that want to listen. The people that don't want to listen, don't listen. This is for the people that want to.” [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on critics blinds us to genuine support; shifting attention to those who listen nurtures relationships. **In simple terms:** Stop obsessing over haters; cherish listeners. Key Takeaway Prioritize supportive voices. Themes relationships attention self‑care Mood reflective determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - friendship - career networking Key Concepts emotional intelligence social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Who truly supports you? - How can you balance criticism and encouragement? A Different Perspective Neglecting criticism can blind you to valid feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Focusing Haters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focusing-haters-5507190/) [Forgot People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgot-people-293002/) [Haters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haters/) [Haters Forgot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haters-forgot-5507191/) [Listen People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“In a minor way it was, he suspected, like Machu Picchu, or the Great Pyramid—a place you always forgot you’d never have to yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-sakey/in-a-minor-way-it-was-he-suspected-like-machu-picchu-or-the-great/) [Marcus Sakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-sakey/) > [“Perhaps it was Helen's way of falling in love--a curious way to Margaret, whose agony and whose contempt of Henry were yet imprinted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/perhaps-it-was-helen-s-way-of-falling-in-love-a-curious-way-to/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [This happened to the people. The Constitution says of the people, by the people, for the people... but the people who got the office,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/this-happened-to-the-people-the-constitution-says-of-the-people-by/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [We just fundamentally forgot that people want to vote for something positive. They want to be shown what the good life for them personally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/we-just-fundamentally-forgot-that-people-want-to-vote-for-something/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [In the quest to be clever, I completely forgot about the people that I love and that love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/in-the-quest-to-be-clever-i-completely-forgot-about-the-people-that-i/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [“It'll get easier," Paolo said. But I knew that. That was the worst part. The worst part was that eventually you forgot about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-ll-get-easier-paolo-said-but-i-knew-that-that-was-the-worst-part/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [She often had to remind herself that she couldn't do everything alone. She wasn't always the best person for the job. Sometimes she got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/she-often-had-to-remind-herself-that-she-couldn-t-do-everything-alone/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Although Walter was the first to admit that his own memory wasn’t the best—that he forgot people’s names all the time even when he’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christa-faust/although-walter-was-the-first-to-admit-that-his-own-memory-wasn-t-the/) [Christa Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christa-faust/) > [Don't Listen to what people say Cause sometimes all they want to do is see u fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie/don-t-listen-to-what-people-say-cause-sometimes-all-they-want-to-do/) [Stephanie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie/) > [“Don’t listen to those people who suggest you should be “over” your daughter’s death by now. The people who squawk the loudest about such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/don-t-listen-to-those-people-who-suggest-you-should-be-over-your/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [Don't listen to other people, because their words don't define you and who you are!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-listen-to-other-people-because-their-words-don-t-define-you-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even when I can play Europe's most precious keyboard, to have to listen to people who don't understand, or do not want to understand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/even-when-i-can-play-europe-s-most-precious-keyboard-to-have-to/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [I am and I will remain a populist, because those who listen to the people are doing their job, whereas the radical chic who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/i-am-and-i-will-remain-a-populist-because-those-who-listen-to-the/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [I'm not always smiling when I'm on the golf course. Sometimes, hey, listen, people have regular jobs. You go to them when they're working,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-koepka/i-m-not-always-smiling-when-i-m-on-the-golf-course-sometimes-hey/) [Brooks Koepka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-koepka/) > [Don't listen to people who say trying your best is good enough, It's not. First is first! Second is last!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-ryan-of-hereford/don-t-listen-to-people-who-say-trying-your-best-is-good-enough-it-s/) [Sir Ryan Of Hereford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-ryan-of-hereford/) ## More by Belly > [I'm not trying to say I accomplished nothing, I'm just trying to say that at this point in my life, I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/i-m-not-trying-to-say-i-accomplished-nothing-i-m-just-trying-to-say/) [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/) > [I as an artist, as an individual, I have a certain affect on people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/i-as-an-artist-as-an-individual-i-have-a-certain-affect-on-people/) [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/) > [It's not like I feel like I've accomplished nothing, I just have to forget about what I've accomplished and just accomplish more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/it-s-not-like-i-feel-like-i-ve-accomplished-nothing-i-just-have-to/) [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/) > [There were a lot of days when I thought maybe this isn't what I should be doing. There've been a lot of days where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/there-were-a-lot-of-days-when-i-thought-maybe-this-isn-t-what-i/) [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/) > [What you see and what you hear on YouTube and the News and all that, it's not what it looks like, it's not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/what-you-see-and-what-you-hear-on-youtube-and-the-news-and-all-that/) [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/) > [I'm just going to do music and when I feel like I've gotten enough music to put an album together then that's when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/i-m-just-going-to-do-music-and-when-i-feel-like-i-ve-gotten-enough/) [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/) > [God built the Earth in seven days and seven nights, that's how I'm going to approach doing the album. So when it's time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/god-built-the-earth-in-seven-days-and-seven-nights-that-s-how-i-m/) [Belly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/) [Explore all 8 Belly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/) ## More Focused quotes > [They are focused on whether they can do something. They never think whether they should do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-are-focused-on-whether-they-can-do-something-they-never-think/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [All I'm focused on is playing my game. Everything else will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/all-i-m-focused-on-is-playing-my-game-everything-else-will-take-care/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) > [I get pretty focused when I start working on something. And I drink a lot of water, way more than most people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-woodman/i-get-pretty-focused-when-i-start-working-on-something-and-i-drink-a/) [Nick Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-woodman/) > [Angela Merkel has been focused on the right things. She has focused on the interests of her citizens - and not just in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/angela-merkel-has-been-focused-on-the-right-things-she-has-focused-on/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [It is ironic since whenever I have met with our elected officials they are invariably thoughtful, well-meaning people. And yet collectively 90% of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergey-brin/it-is-ironic-since-whenever-i-have-met-with-our-elected-officials/) [Sergey Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergey-brin/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I'm focused on the music. I think, as long as I keep making music just because I like to make it, people are gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bishop-nehru/i-m-focused-on-the-music-i-think-as-long-as-i-keep-making-music-just/) [Bishop Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bishop-nehru/) > [I was focused on The Hunger Games movie with my director, with the studio, and with the cast and crew. We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [Our thoughts are either focused on what's eternal, life-changing, and true, or lost in the details of our temporary, selfish, false beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/our-thoughts-are-either-focused-on-what-s-eternal-life-changing-and/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [I'm staying focused and clear about what I want in life, and I'm going to get it, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-brown/i-m-staying-focused-and-clear-about-what-i-want-in-life-and-i-m-going/) [Bobby Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-brown/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [Consider developing your whole self with the same raw focus and intensity that you develop a particular skill set. Get focused. Go out, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/consider-developing-your-whole-self-with-the-same-raw-focus-and/) [Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/) > [Because YouTube is focused on a lot of different types of content at the same time, it has many opportunities, and the hardest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kyncl/because-youtube-is-focused-on-a-lot-of-different-types-of-content-at/) [Robert Kyncl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kyncl/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Browse all 2,614 Focused quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I spent so much time focusing on haters that I forgot about the people that actually love me. And that's who I'm focused on this time around: the people that want to listen. The people that don't want to listen, don't listen. This is for the people that want to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Belly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters-that-i-forgot-about-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Focused" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters-that-i-forgot-about-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/belly-46422_focused_i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters_2313981.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/belly-46422_focused_i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters_2313981.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/belly-46422_focused_i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters_2313981.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I spent so much time focusing on haters that I forgot about the people that actually love me. And that's who…” — Belly", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Belly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I spent so much time focusing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters-that-i-forgot-about-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belly/i-spent-so-much-time-focusing-on-haters-that-i-forgot-about-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```