Hey there. Do you ever catch yourself getting offended by something someone else says or does? Maybe it’s a passing comment, an opinion you don’t agree with, or an action that doesn’t sit right with you. If you take a step back and think about it, why is it that we let other people’s words and actions control our emotions, dictate our mood, and sometimes even change our own opinions?
I’ve done it before. We all have. But when you start to break it down, you realize how much energy is wasted on being offended. Think about any time your computer starts lagging, making weird noises, or just running slower than usual. When you check the settings, you can see which applications are draining the most power. What if we did the same thing with our mental energy? What if we took a moment to see what’s consuming our thoughts and zapping our energy throughout the day?
Being offended is an easy trap to fall into, but it’s also one of the easiest to step away from once you recognize what’s happening. Most of the time, when we feel offended, it’s not really about the other person, it’s about the story we’re telling ourselves about their words or actions. And here’s the kicker: that story is always incomplete. We don’t know all the details. We don’t truly know what’s going on in their mind, why they believe what they believe, or what’s influencing their choices.
Even if they were to explain it to us, our perception might not align with their explanation, and we might still not believe them. That’s why getting offended is such an energy drain, it’s an emotional response based on an incomplete narrative we’ve created.
So, what do you do about it? You observe it. The moment you start feeling that irritation or frustration creeping in, take a pause and recognize it. Instead of letting it consume your thoughts and dictate your actions, remind yourself that their actions are about them, not about you. They are living their life based on their own experiences, just as you are living yours.
The more you practice this, the less power you give to being offended. It won’t happen overnight, and you’ll probably still catch yourself getting caught up in the moment sometimes, but the key is recognizing it and pulling yourself back before it takes over. Your energy is valuable, don’t waste it on things that don’t serve you.
Everything in life starts from within. Your mindset, your beliefs, your reactions, it’s all an inside/out process. When you focus on being connected with yourself first, you’ll start to see how little external opinions and actions actually matter in the grand scheme of things. Instead of keeping score on what others are doing, put that energy into yourself. That’s where real growth happens.
If you’re ready to start focusing on what truly matters and shifting your mindset to an inside-out approach, join The YLF Experience. It’s designed to help you create lasting habits and build a strong foundation for personal growth. Sign up today: The YLF Experience.