It’s very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that criticism or verbal attacks you receive are about you or something you did.

And so we usually release some pent up emotions and tensions at somebody who is simply in the wrong place at the wrong time

Remind yourself of this when you wind up in a situation where you are likely to take things personally.

When something gets under your skin and you start to take it personally then you can get stuck in a negative spiral of sinking self-esteem that just gets stronger and stronger.

Break out of that or prevent it by letting what happened out into the light. Talk it over with someone close to you and let your friend share her perspective on what happened.

Maybe she knows something about how the person that verbally attacked you is going through a tough time.

This one can be a tough one to ask yourself. And it may not always lead to something.

But by asking it you can sometimes empower yourself.

Instead of getting stuck in inaction and in replaying what happened over and over again in your head.

...is to be kinder to the people in your own life.

The way you treat other people is how they will most often treat you too in the long run.

You may find that as we don’t take them so personally and we keep a healthier perspective and distance to them.

And so they tend bounce off quicker and not drag my day or week down.