When people disrespect or mistreat you, it is easy to take it personally. And in that spiral, you will begin to blame yourself for other people’s behavior. But ruminating over other people’s behavior and blaming yourself will only drain you emotionally and make you revaluate your self-esteem now and then.
You may think you are self-reflecting, but if this evaluation does not lead to productivity and self-improvement, likely, all you are doing is constantly questioning yourself after taking things personally. Doing the opposite helps you gain control of yourself in terms of your responses, emotions, and even energy levels.
If you want to take control of your life again, keep on reading our list of how not to take things so personally:
- Realize Your Worth
When you know who you are and enjoy who you are, you won’t believe what other people think or say about you. Everything else is built based on self-confidence and recognizing your self-worth: your successes, relationships, and ability to keep going when life and work get tough. The best task you can do is work on your self-confidence and self-worth. The benefits will be evident in all aspects of your life, both personally and professionally.
- Don’t Stress Over What Other People Think
What other people think of you or anything else is none of your business at the end of the day. You should only be concerned with what you feel about yourself and what the people you love and care about think of you. Strangers and acquaintances giving you their opinions have nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. The sooner you stop caring what other people say, the more liberated you will feel and the stronger your sense of self will become.
Only if the approval of the person you’re interacting with is essential to you will you take something someone says about you. Take note of the following:
You’ve been socialized-read: brainwashed-to believe that you must fit in and be accepted by others since birth.
The truth is that you do not have to be liked and accepted by everyone.
Furthermore, you do not influence what people think of you. Even if you follow all of the “rules” and do everything “correctly,” how other people react to you is beyond your control.
You’ll attract individuals who accept you for who you are if you accept yourself and act the way you believe is right.
- Do Not Stoop To Their Level
When someone treats you badly or disrespects you, the worst thing you can do is respond with more negativity and toxicity. Do not fall down the rabbit hole and become a contributor to the problem. It may be satisfying in the short term, but it will not be in the long run, and you will most certainly regret it. Take the high path and let the dirt wash away.
- Confidence Is Key
Confidence functions as a barrier between you and other people’s words and behavior. The thicker the buffer, the surer you are. Consider the following:
If you lack confidence, you’ll be irritated by any unfavorable remarks made about you since a part of you is worried that what they’re saying is true.
If you have a high level of confidence and someone says something negative about you, you know what they’re saying isn’t true; that it’s a little problem that won’t hold you back in any way; or that it’s something you can solve. As a result, it’s much easier for you to dismiss it.
- Become So Busy That You Do Not Have Time To Take Things Personally
It can be difficult to think about other people and what they think when you’re busy. Fill your life with people who bring you joy, such as family, friends, and job, and prioritize accordingly. Strangers and acquaintances who are casting judgment and voicing criticisms are unlikely to enter your consciousness.
You have too much time on your hands if you have time to dwell endlessly on what so-and-so said about you. Find something to occupy your time. Master some phrases in a foreign language on Duolingo, join various courses to learn new skills, or read a book.
“I’m too busy for this,” say yourself the next time you’re tempted to repeat a conversation that left you feeling dismissed. I could be doing something more productive with my time than thinking about this.”
- Let Things Go
Make painful experiences into lessons on how to be stronger and better deal with adversity. Allowing them to make you angry or resentful is counterproductive; instead, utilize them to improve yourself and move on. Holding on to pain causes you more harm than it does to the other person. So, learn to let go of the things that no longer serve you and make more places for joy and happiness.
When we believe we are being judged or chastised by someone else, we are frequently mistaken. We’re all painfully aware of our shortcomings, weaknesses, and insecurities since we’re each inside our heads.
Other folks, on the other hand, aren’t. As a result, you may believe you picked up on some criticism from a coworker when, in fact, they were not speaking about you at all.
Consider this: there have undoubtedly been occasions in the past when you took something personally, even if what was said wasn’t even about you. Remember that the next time you’re tempted to take things too seriously.
If you start adopting these tips in your daily life, not only will you succeed in your goal of not taking things too personally but you will also notice that you have unlocked the next level of self-growth. This is your chance to edge further toward being more self-actualized; avail it!
