I think that when people are trying to be liked, there is this underlying sense of desperation that others can feel, and it doesn't get good results. But if you focus on just being calm, kind, and loving, and projecting that out to ALL those you meet, you will find more and more and more people gravitating towards you.
Kindness is the way!
Absolutely. But in this world, you can't have a rose-tinted view; seemingly the idea is everyone for themselves, or more often than not ... anymore, at least.