Has something ever happened to you that you know really isn’t that big of a deal but for some reason you get so bent out of shape over it and can’t get your mind off it?
Let me give you an example. Yesterday I got sucked into an online ticket scam. I Zelled the money and then got ghosted. Fortunately, these “tickets” were such a good deal (red flag #1) that I didn’t lose out on too much money. And yet money aside, I was SO upset. I felt naive, stupid, manipulated and overall, just icky. And quite frankly I’m still upset!
How is it that someone that just committed fraud is probably sitting behind their screen smiling while I, innocent and wronged, am the one being punished?
And that right there is my answer!
Because I would never do something like this and have a hard time understanding how someone else could.
When we have such strong values and morals that we live our lives by, we expect others to do the same, and when they don’t… we are rocked.
In this moment I had so much I wanted to say to this person that would have gone completely against any of those said morals and values and so didn’t. We can often become influenced by our emotions in a situation fueled with anger and react in a way that is out of character for us. When this happens, our reaction ultimately makes the situation and the way we feel about it even worse because we are no longer being our authentic self.
Let me give another example that I am sure almost everyone reading this can relate to in some capacity.
Can you think of a time where a boss, client, or some individual that feels entitled has spoken to you as if you were less than?
Well, I can! And in these moments, there is nothing I want to do more than put them right back in their place, but I don’t. Why? Because then I would be as low as them and my conscience would regret it even though theirs will remain unaffected because that is the norm for them.
So, I bring us back to the title of this journal - Why do we get so worked up over the smallest things?
Because we have a moral compass and live our lives with integrity and expect the same of others. Unfortunately, the world is filled with disrespectful, dishonest, immoral individuals that will get under our skin from time to time.
So, what can we do?
Control what you can control.
Report wrongdoings in hopes of enforcing appropriate consequences and promote accountability. Speak up for yourself while maintaining humility and respect with the intent of lessening further incidences. Do your part and then move on because life has a funny way of giving back what you give out.