Here’s a thought. Maybe the whole thing is YOUR fault and not their’s. They are guilty of nothing. The whole problem is you.

You’re upset. Are you sure you’re entitled to those feelings? Are you positive that you’re the injured party? You’ve forgotten the other person is also a person. They feel things too. They are forgetful, impatient, rude, thoughtless, and selfish. Just like you.

Are you suffering consequences of selfishness? People get angry when things don’t go their way. People blow things out of proportion. Maybe this isn’t a big deal and you’re overreacting. Maybe you’re too sensitive. You’re making it personal. You took an innocent word or gesture as a declaration of war. You drew first blood and called it “self defense”. Now you’re bombing civilian targets because you think they’re the enemy.

Maybe you’re rejecting these suggestions because you enjoy outrage. You’re the center of attention when you’re upset. You like when everyone thinks about you. Everyone is concerned about you. Everyone is apologizing to you. Everyone is sympathizing. Your loved ones falling over themselves to make you feel better…and failing. You never feel better. Maybe because it’s your fault. You’re the one who should apologize. You’re the source of misery.

You.

Nobody likes apologizing. Especially when they’ve done nothing wrong. Notice how often people say, “I’m sorry,” to you. You hear those words every day. You hear them multiple times every day and that’s a problem. It’s YOUR problem. It’s YOUR fault. When you force people to express sympathy all the time, they’ll quit hanging around you. They’ll avoid you. And then you’ll blame them for your loneliness.

You decide when the pity party ends. You decide whether or not to take some responsibility for your relationships. You have the power to let things go. You can shrug and get over it. Or not.

You can wallow in your anger and hurt feelings. But that’s YOUR fault.