Why do people freak out when they come to hear bad stuff said about them? While there are some who derive a sense of existence from the validation of others and negative gossip tears through their foundations like a train out of control, I believe many, if not most, have the little alarm bells in them going off because they inherently know what frauds they are—and people are catching onto that.

We all have a perception of who we are and who we want to be. There are precious few amongst us who are truly content and at One with themselves, and even fewer fortunate who have expectations of themselves lower than reality is hitting. But here’s the key: We all think we’re the only ones who know what shams we are, and we think everybody out there thinks we absolutely, well, rock.

So when the slander creeps and twirls all over you, you panic; you rush to find the exact root of the cause, the nefarious seed planted whoknowshowlongago that, in your mind, has begun eating away at your cracking facade. And you need to destroy it. Or better yet, poison it with its own venom. That is, alleged venom.

Better yet if you can burst into a flood of victimised tears, so that you can claim innocence. Cue thunder clouds, kneeling down and crying in the rain. Don’t forget the outstretched arms heavenward. Why…Why…Whyyyy!!

Many a wise person has said that the only true path to happiness is if you can reconcile within yourself that not everyone is going to like you. I’d agree, though it’s one of those truisms to which an end might not exist. As for you, however, I understand your pain. You might accept that not everyone is going to like you, but I can see why it’s hard realising that the entire world (save for perhaps just one person and your offspring) just plain, freaking hates your guts.