When this happens, we may feel driven to dismiss our feelings as irrational or incorrect. But reactions themselves are neither right nor wrong. The forces that sculpted our development are not the same forces that shaped the development of our relatives, friends, colleagues, or neighbors. There is no reason to believe that one person's reaction to a particular event is somehow more valid than another's. How we respond to the constant changes taking place in the world around us is a product of our history, a testament to our individuality, and a part of the healing process that allows us to address our past in a context we can grasp in the present.
Life's pivotal events can provide you with a way to define yourself
as a unique and matchless being, but you must put aside the judgments
that might otherwise prevent you from gaining insight into your distinct
way of interpreting the world. Try to recognize your feelings without
categorizing or evaluating them. When you feel unsure of the legitimacy
of your reactions, remember that cultural, sociological, spiritual, and
familial differences can cause two people to interpret a single event in
widely dissimilar ways. Examining your responses can show you that your
emotional complexity is something to be valued because it has made you
who you are today. (Daily OM)
