It is difficult not to be influenced by the problems, emotions and negativity of others. Often, we want to personalize things that have nothing to do with us, and this can cause significant emotional distress.
The best way to deal with the negativity of others is to practice the inner strength to not let others influence our emotions, and to leave others to their problems and not make them ours. When others hate, don’t give way to hating. When others lie, don’t become involved.
It is difficult to do because we seem to be born with an emotional antenna that is quite sensitive to the feelings and opinions of those around us. Perhaps, long ago, this was once
useful, but it now serves to harm our emotional health.
When someone dislikes us, we want to take it personally. When someone lies to us, we want to feel insulted. And while there is certainly a reason to be upset, a line must be drawn. Being angry or despondent creates a negative pattern that leads to further negative emotions and can cause us harm. Their emotional problems or opinions are not our own and have nothing to do with us, so leave them be. Don’t
allow others’ troubles to become your troubles.
It is difficult to leave the feelings of others, to others. But we have a choice. We can either surrender to the feelings of others, letting them drown us like a tidal wave, or we can surrender to the fact that others have opinions and they do not matter to our lives. We can then float peacefully above this emotional current.
A willingness to surrender and let others think how they will reduces the mad dash to get everyone to like us or react to us how we wish they would. It opens the mind to experiencing greater joy in life by freeing us to focus on our own lives and happiness.
