Book Bonanza Wednesday! Chapter 12: I am not green

Each week we give away the next chapter of our book for free. We hope you enjoy it! Here’s this week’s chapter:

Chapter 12: I am not green

We often find it difficult to believe compliments. Someone offers one and we make excuses or noises of embarrassed gratitude. A compliment to our clothing results in “This old thing?” A compliment to our hair produces a startled, “I didn’t do anything to it!” We brush it off. We don’t believe it. We don’t take it to heart.

On the other hand, someone throws a critical comment at us and it sticks like glue in our minds, often long after our critic has forgotten the off-handed remark. A casual “What happened to your hair today?” can make us want a haircut immediately. “Have you gained a little weight?” sends us spiraling into doubt and fear, and can even spark self-abusive weight loss cycles.

It’s not just our appearance that’s subject to such frightful scrutiny; our personalities are just as vulnerable. We get into an argument with a partner, and they spout a particularly hurtful comment. Suddenly, we’re hurt or angry; whatever we were feeling has been amplified. Doubt creeps in, and we think, “Am I really like that?”

The answer is simple: no, you’re not.

…and here’s the rest:

• Read The Usual Error ebook, Chapter 12: I am not green (web page)

Related posts:
• Book Bonanza Wednesday! Chapter 15: What did you intend?
• Book Bonanza Wednesday! Chapter 13: “I” statements
• Book Bonanza Wednesday! Chapter 24: The William James zone
• Book Bonanza Wednesday! Chapter 33: Teasing
• Book Bonanza Wednesday! Chapter 21: Trust your future self