“A word is uttered, and we do not wait to consider its meaning; we jump to a conclusion immediately… the weaker the man, the less restraint he has… When you’re angry, reason out how some news is throwing your mind into Vritti.”
— Swami Vivekananda
Your mother-in-law says a few mean words. A colleague blames you for a collective goof-up. You hear from a third person that your friend is spreading rumors about you.
You immediately draw out your sword and go to war! I’m not going to take this lying down, you declare. How unfair of them to rob you of your dignity!
But does your dignity come from what others say? Or from whether you live up to your potential? Dignity comes from being able to look in the mirror at the end of the day and say, “I gave today my best!” If you can, do others’ opinions matter? If you can’t, of what use is all the lavish praise in the world?
Strengthen your mind. When you hear words that upset you, ask yourself: Does this change who I am? Does this reduce my capabilities? Look for the truth in what was said. If you find something worth fixing, work on it. But never say or do anything that you will regret.
The more you practice it, the stronger your mind becomes.