When a person takes something personally, they interpret a particular situation as saying something important and negative about them. Let’s say your boss finds sales shortcomings and you’re left with the thought that he sees you as a bad employee. Psychologists call this way of thinking personalization.
But the truth is that your boss may actually value you very much. He just pointed out mistakes so that you don’t make the same mistake next time and do things better.
Also, in such a situation, when we personalize something, another process occurs. This is called mind reading. This is when we think we know what others think of us.
One of the easiest ways to avoid personalization and mind reading is to challenge your negative assumptions about what is happening. Consider other possible interpretations of what happened. Maybe trying to put yourself in other people’s shoes will help you with this. For example, when your boss takes the time to give you feedback, it means he cares about you and wants you to improve.
Also, instead of being proud of your extraordinaryness, try to pay attention to your own efforts, good intentions, and achievements. This will make you less sensitive and less likely to take things personally.
News materials cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
