One of the most difficult challenges
in life is learning not to take things to heart and hold on to it.
Especially when we're younger, or if we're very sensitive, we take so
much of what comes our way to heart. This can be overwhelming and
unproductive if it throws us off balance on a regular basis. When we are
feeling criticized or attacked from all directions, it becomes very
difficult for us to recover ourselves so that we can continue to speak
and act our truth. This is when we would do well to remember the old
saying about letting certain things roll off us, like water off a duck's
back.
Most of the time, the attacks and criticisms of others have much more to
do with them and how they are feeling than with us. If we get caught up
in trying to adjust ourselves to other people's negative energy, we
lose touch with our core. In fact, in a positive light, these slings and
arrows offer us the opportunity to strengthen our core sense of self,
and to learn to dodge and deflect other people's misdirected negativity.
The more we do this, the more we are able to discern what belongs to us
and what belongs to other people. With practice, we become masters of
our energetic integrity, refusing to serve as targets for the disowned
anger and frustration of the people around us.
Eventually, we will be able to hear the feedback that others have to
offer, taking in anything that might actually be constructive, and
releasing that which has nothing to do with us. First, though, we tend
ourselves compassionately by recognizing when we can't take something in
from the outside without hurting ourselves. This is when we make like a
duck, shaking it off and letting it roll off our back as we continue
our way in the world.(Daily OM)
