"Don't take it personally."
"It's just business."
These phrases exist in our language today.
The idea of "taking it personally" is something that you may not be aware of.
The symptoms or results of taking it personally can be lack of self-confidence or low self-esteem or self-doubt.
The reason this occurs is because someone is allowing themselves to be disempowered by their environment.
Here's an example... you approach a business deal that you want.
You plan, you invest time and energy, you do everything you know how to do, and the business deal falls through.
You may immediately begin down a rabbit hole of questions...
"What did I do wrong?"
"What didn't they like about my proposal?"
"Why doesn't everyone ever choose me?"
Too much focus on questions like this is what it means to "take it personally."
What if it has nothing to do with you?
What if it wasn't a good time for the other party?
Or what if your price was too high and as a result, they're not a good fit?
Or what if the person never responded because they have a habit of initiating and not responding to proposals?
Too much focus spent on "making it personal" can cause you to stay stuck looking inward with questions that don't serve you.
What do you get out of this behavior?
Where does it come from?
Maybe it comes from the past.
Maybe you learned it and developed this habit that doesn't move you forward.
Maybe you're afraid of being seen and struggle with vulnerability because you believe if someone finds out who you really are, you won't be loved or liked.
These mental habits of taking it personally often exist at an unseen level and unless examined can dictate the path of one's life.
I invite you to not take it personally.
I invite you to not give power to what others "do to you."
Instead, you can ask yourself one question: "What can I learn from this?"
And then, move on.
