It Is Always Our Own Story That We Tell

Our perceptions and opinions of other people, usually have more to do with us than with them, since the best we can ever do, is speculate about someone else's life. What do these speculations reveal? They expose how we feel about ourselves. What bothers us about others, is often the very thing we dislike about ourselves. If not the EXACT thing, then certainly the essence of that thing.

For example, contemptuous judgments made against other people, often reveal an inner criticizing or ridiculing of the self. Whenever we observe people, and listen closely to how they complain, belittle or gossip about others, we learn much about the speaker.

Put simply, we are often projecting our feelings about ourselves, onto others. They become our mirror, because it is always easier to see issues outside ourselves in others, than inside ourselves.

So with this awareness, anytime someone attempts to attack us verbally, instead of reacting or taking offense, LISTEN instead to the verbiage they spew.

What are they saying they don't like about us?
What names are they calling us?
What are they accusing us of being, or not being?

Without realizing it, they are telling us oodles about how they view and feel about themselves - their fears, insecurities, issues, etc. This of course is also true, if we are the aggressor.

Remember that ol' childhood line we used to throw back at anyone who called us a name? What you say, is what you are. Well, turns out there's a great deal of truth to that statement.