Has anyone ever said to you, “Don’t Take It Personal”?
“Don’t take it personal”
Often times when people say “Don’t take it personal”, people get annoyed, like “But it IS personal!”
Navigating Personal and Impersonal: A Perspective
It’s a concept that’s worth exploring, especially in our daily interactions and reactions.
When we talk about taking things personally, it’s like a directional shift. It’s about external factors impacting us, and suddenly, we’re caught up in taking it all too personally. But what if we flip the script?
Making Things Personal: A Different Approach
Think about it directionally. Taking something personally is one way, it’s coming from outside and affecting us deeply. On the other hand, making something personal is a different direction, it’s about creating a connection, investing ourselves in the moment, whether we’re at school, Starbucks, or anywhere else.
Creating Connection: The Power of Personal Choice
Just like how you can make a simple interaction personal, like thanking someone for a drink, you have the power to create anything and make it personal. But here’s the twist, none of it is actually personal in reality. It’s simply words, and actions.
Roles We Play: Engaging Without Taking It Personally
We all have our roles, typing, talking, expressing ourselves. That’s what we do, right? We engage, communicate, and connect. It’s not inherently personal to anybody, but we have the choice to make it personal as a creation or take it personal as a reaction.
Personal Passion, Not Personal Reaction
Like a a basketball player who gives their whole heart to the game, leaves it on the court so to speak, if someone from the opposing team fouls them they don’t take it personal like that person is out to get them….They make the game personal by giving their heart….they create that this is everything, this is personal yet when the game is over they don’t ruminate on the crowds boo’s or cheers. It is NOT personal.
So, how do you navigate these waters? What’s your take on making things personal versus taking them personally? I would love to hear from you.