THE ART OF NOT TAKING THINGS PERSONALLY

We do not need to defend ourselves or our beliefs against other people’s opinions and beliefs. Our only need is self-respect. When we have self-respect, we do not take what other people say and do personally.

If we give in to the temptation to make someone else’s actions a personal affront, we have lost that self-respect by saying yes to their agreement. Once we do this, the attachment to this belief makes it necessary for us to switch our motive from one of defense to offense. With one shift, we can easily go from being victim to aggressor, which has a whole new set of consequences.

By not taking things personally, we do not give in to our sense of personal importance and can therefore make decisions based on mutual respect, which will solve problems instead of making them worse.

Practice

Like the Toltec hunter, be aware of your reactions today. Through the practice of awareness, any perceived attack on you will fall off like a loose garment.

Living a Life of Awareness

~ Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.