The Art of taking offence Many of us feel HURT or get triggered by certain actions of people!

It could be their words, their tone, the pedestal we put them on in our lives, or simply our own expectations.

Have you ever wondered why it hurts so much?

Many believe that BEING STRONG MENTALLY means suppressing emotions and putting up a brave front. That’s what we were taught too!

But only COWARDS run away from their emotions. Every emotion is okay,anger, sadness, anxiety, chaos, extreme joy,even stupidity. The key is knowing how to manage and move between them. The ultimate goal? To be happy and peaceful.

What does it mean to be mentally STRONG?

It’s the ability to confront your raw emotions, journal how you feel, and instead of using a painkiller approach, find the root cause and deal with it. Once you process it, the emotion loses its power, and you are back in control.

Many of our battles are fought internally, and our reactions often come from deep-seated feelings we’ve carried for years.

Example 1:

Once a girl texted me, “Hey Chris, I’m sorry if I hurt you!”
I asked, “For what?”
She said, “I called you a fake noodles in one of your anonymous links 2 years ago.”
I told her, “Oh yes, I remember it… But don’t be sorry. I wasn’t offended.”
She asked, “No??”
I said, “No! Because I didn’t believe I was fake,I read it like just another criticism.”
She said, “Nevertheless, that was mean of me to say.”
I hugged her and loved the heart behind her apology.

Example 2:

Once, an uncle said, “You were a bad mother…”
It hit me so hard that it took years to recover. The words kept ringing in my ears! My husband and closest friends said, “Why do you care what he says?”
I kept replaying it in my mind: Was it because I was successful in my career that I couldn’t do what an “ideal mom” does? But what even defines an ideal mother?
The uncle apologized on the 3rd day, but it took me 3 years to fully move past it.

Looking back, I realize I had been struggling with mom guilt. I was a passionate sales enthusiast,day or night, rain or shine, targets always mattered. I had been hard on myself for not staying at home. I questioned whether I was good enough for my child. I bathed him, told him stories, cuddled him, fed him,but still felt “not enough.”

So when that uncle made that statement, it triggered something deep inside me. I took offense because, in my darkest self, I believed motherhood did not come naturally to me.

So, if anything upsets you, go to the root.
Sit with yourself and ask:

Am I conditioned to believe this?

Am I scared and running from reality, so one comment hits me hard?

Do I need love?

Do I crave acceptance?

Am I trying to please people?

Do I believe that people always leave me, or that my luck and karma fail me?

Do I feel I need to work extra to be considered enough?

Am I afraid of being open or vulnerable even with my spouse?

Am I trying to convince myself I am perfect?

Do I constantly need others’ validation?

When you ask these questions, you bare your soul to yourself. You see the real you,the strengths, the weaknesses, the insecurities, the fears, your worth, skills, and capabilities.

ACCEPT YOURSELF. WORK ON YOURSELF.

Once you understand this, working on yourself becomes easier.
With constant positive affirmations every day, you will bloom like a butterfly,colorful, free, and strong.

Proverbs for Reflection:

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”  Proverbs 14:30