It's Not Personal

“It’s not personal.” This needs to be your new mantra. Because truly, nothing is personal. 
 
When you take something personally, you give it meaning that most likely isn’t even true. The story then becomes that you weren’t good enough, or not likable, or you did something wrong, etc. etc., which gives your negative ego a fertile playground in which to run amok. This can knock you into depression, self-doubt, or paralyzing fear amongst other things.
 
Ultimately, you need to realize that it doesn’t have anything to do with you. Yes you create your reality, but so do they. You can’t control anything about them; all you are responsible for is your reaction. So if someone lashes out at you, don’t make it personal! Maybe they’re having a bad day or something triggered them – it’s not about you. It’s very egocentric to think that everything is. You could argue this and say, “But Tina, my boss/sibling/coworker really does hate me!” Do they? Or do you trigger their deepest wounds and within that, maybe jealousies? Maybe you remind them of an ex or someone growing up who was mean to them. People act/react from their wounds unless they consciously work on themselves. 
 
How many times have you snapped at somebody because you were in a mood about something, and then given it no more thought? How would it feel to know that they were circling over and over in their mind what they must’ve done wrong to make you snap when in reality, it was nothing, it was your issue. So turn it back around and realize the same for yourself. You probably also have people in your life that you just don’t like. You could argue that it’s personal and yes, in that case it is personal, to you! Not to them. They simply exist in your reality, and while you could list all the ways you dislike them, it’s your story, not theirs. So from their vantage point, it’s not personal. 
 
Try practicing the mantra this week and notice where you diminish yourself by taking things personally. If you live your life from this new viewpoint, you will create so much more peace and empowerment in your reality. It’s not personal.
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