“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves.” -Carl Jung
For the longest time, I fell into friendships with people who seemed dramatic. There was always a fire to put out, a crisis to solve, or a looming emotional explosion to dread. Then one day someone told me that I am the constant in my relationships. If there was always drama around me, it’s likely I was seeking it–or maybe even causing it.
We might not always create the people problems we’d rather avoid, but everything we see in the people around us reflects something going on within us.
If you frequently complain to others about your sister’s neediness, you might really be bothered that you feel unable to set boundaries. If you’re always upset that your coworker seems standoffish, you might actually be acknowledging you rely heavily on external validation.
We are part of what we see, even if we feel completely objective.
We can’t change that other people will occasionally rub us the wrong way. It’s inevitable when people get close. But we can figure out why something is really bothering us, and then take responsibility for addressing it.
What irritates you today–and what can you do about it?
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