I have been a victim of this in my early days in Bitcoin. It was really tough overcoming the discouragement and negativity from friends and colleagues. Some even told me that the money I was putting in Bitcoin would have been useful for buying shares then. They were actually buying shares then but today those shares are worthless.
The worst one was when I saw a CNN supposed analyst on suit calling Bitcoin outright bubble. Frankly, I was worried at first but found way to calm myself down after all I have always been a risk taker with inspiration drawn from a statement I saw in a movie "no risk, no reward".
I'm happy I did not give up and to know that they are wrong. While some of those sceptics I called friend are already deep in Bitcoin, having firm grip of their portfolios, some of them that are adamant are still waiting for us to cry when Bitcoin supposedly fail. THEY WILL WAIT TILL INFINITY!
There is a saying that we should always listen to our hearts and put our energy on the things or investment that keeps us awake all night thinking about on how to start, we should always follow it because it will lead us to the right part, perhaps just like you said imagine if you had listened to what the news was saying about Bitcoin you would completely missed the opportunities due to speculation, this has been the regret of so many person whom were mislead while listening to bad news about Bitcoin and now they wish they had not listen to the news, perhaps that's one of the reasons why knowledge is very important because with knowledge about Bitcoin you are certain of were Bitcoin is heading to in the future and can never be influenced by any speculation or bad news about.