Have you ever paused and listened to the sounds around you? It might sound something like this.

"He is being so mean to me." or "I am just sick of bad jokes, they aren't funny." Alternatively, "I don't like it."

Perhaps what we're actually hearing is suffering. The frustrations of regular life, not receiving what we want, and people not doing what we desire.  Our children are making not just bad, but awful decisions, and our spouses are not hearing the screams from within. You know, the ones that yell, "Please hear me, please notice me, just hold me."

Through study and investigation, you will be able to locate numerous publications indicating that people do not hurt you, that they do not say and do terrible, mean, and commonplace things... oh no, it is you who wears their troubles or takes things too personally. I say hogwash, dammit! Love hurts. It just aches. 

So, how can we halt the suffering, heal, move on, and smile again? We focus on what we can do.  We can get up and devote time to self-care. We can do something small to show someone we care about them, such as putting a note in their lunch box or making that particular 50-cent pie they enjoy. Let's take a deep breath. We are capable of looking attractive. We are willing to volunteer. We can concentrate on what we believe about ourselves to be true. That we are good and worth it, and that we will conquer, grow, and go forward!