Highly successful people who remain unfazed by hostility usually share the same inner trait: a rock-solid sense of internal validation. GMA premium artist and Sparkle talent Alden Richards might be at the center of a storm that is fast fizzling out but he remains unperturbed, and it reflects the kind of person he has beautifully evolved and toughened into.
It’s true that Richard’s self-worth might have taken some time to solidify, but it is now obviously rooted in the values he formed in his extremely calculated climb to the top. And with the inner strength he slowly amassed in his core, any external insult thrown toward him will lose its power to disrupt his focus.
I recall during a previous interview with Richards, he told me that, as far as his professional career is concerned, he keeps his eyes fixed strictly on medium to long term executions rather than on short-term public perception. ‘At this point in my life, what is more important are the goals I set for myself, and the direction I need in order to pursue them. As long as I work hard to reach these goals, and for as long as my intentions are pure, and I do not use or step on anyone, then what others perceive of me is of less importance.’
Richards is no man of steel or king of ice. For sure, these bashings hurt, and some will really hurt bad. But I don’t think Richards would want to waste his precious time reading through all these put-downs and the comments generated because of one ill-executed accusation, especially coming from someone who deserves no space in Richard’s continuously flourishing career.
I am quite sure that Richards has mastered the art of ignoring bashers and online insults, and he has long realized that digital hostility is never about him. For this particular tirade from someone based overseas that thrives and survives from the monetization he gets from careless gossip-mongering and irresponsible character assassination, this recent hostility is more a reflection of the basher’s internal frustration, a result of his overflowing insecurities, and his constant need for attention and control.
Insulting and bashing others online is never okay. If it’s not something you’d do in the real world, then it’s not something that you should do online to someone you do not fully know. Sadly, the reality remains that not everyone subscribes to being respectful or ethical in this day and age.
Especially in the entertainment industry, there will always be persistent bashers who seem to have nothing better to do than to annoy others, so treat them like cowards and disengage them by silencing them through ignoring. Lucky for Richards, he has a lot of friends, fans and followers who have stood up for him and continue to band together for him.
Friends and colleagues from the industry continue to rally behind Richards. Kim Atienza posted that Richards anonymously gave a million when he was raising funds for a friend afflicted with a terminal illness. Ai Ai de las Alas recalled that he loves to surprise people with kindness. Arnel Igancio described him as a rare gem. Jerald Napoles vouched that he always shows kindness in silence. Partners in life and in business Nelson Canlas and Chef Miggy Cabel Moreno also came to Richards’ defense in their respective social media accounts.
I remember a line in the hit series Game of Thrones when Lord Tyrion Lannister told John Snow, ‘Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like an armor, and it will never be used to hurt you.’
Life can be tough, but it is the same life that has toughened Alden Richards over the years. For sure, he will continue to wear his armor that has courage, kindness, generosity and love all at its core. He no longer easily crumbles to criticism that carries no weight, and his good heart remains untainted, unbothered, unruffled when he is faced with hostility in whatever form and intensity.