Not Taking Things Personally

“Don't Take Anything Personally. Nothings others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering." ~Don Miguel Ruiz
 
How many times in our life have we said that someone did something to me and now I am sad, mad, or angry?  For most of my life, I took things personally.  I had a boss and she would say things to me and I would take them personally and be upset for hours, days, and sometimes a week.  What a waste of time and energy. 
 
With the practice of meditation and mindfulness, I have come to see that I have a choice when someone says something to me.  First, I try to become reflective and not immediately react.  This doesn’t happen all of the time, but much more frequently now because of the mindfulness practice.  Then, I examine if the statement rings true for me.  If it is true, then I choose a course of action and resolve the situation and move on.  However, as Don Miguel Ruiz states above, most of the time the statement is their issue and based on their projections of the world.  Since the statement is usually about them, I let go of it and don’t suffer. We must realize that everyone is doing the best job they can at their current level of consciousness and they might not be as conscious as you. 
 
It is always important to remember that no one does anything to us.  Something might happen.  A person might say or do something.  But we get to choose how to respond.  You can choose to be sad, angry, or depressed because of what they said, but it is totally up to you.  You are in the driver seat and the more you see the beautiful person you are on the inside, the less likely you will let the opinions of others ruin your day. It takes practice, but it is well worth the effort to bloom and live from this place grace and happiness.
 
Do you take things personally?
 
Do you blame others for how you feel?
 
What can you do to become immune to the opinions of others?