Whether you like it or not, you own your emotions.  It’s so easy to say “she made me mad,” but it isn’t accurate.  People do things to us, and then we get to choose how we react to those things.

Most people will blame others for their own emotions, because it’s much easier this way.  If I blame you for how I feel, then I don’t have to take any responsibility to make myself feel better.  But as soon as I accept that my emotions belong to me, and I get to choose how I feel, then all of the responsibility is on me.  And once you know this, it makes it harder to going back to blaming others for your emotions.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be mad if someone does something bad or hurtful to you.  It’s okay to get mad.  It’s okay to have an emotional reaction.  We are emotional beings.  But, once you get past the emotional reaction, then it’s time to evaluate your feelings, and decide for yourself how you’re going to handle the situation.  Most importantly, once you get past the emotional reaction, that’s when it’s time to choose your own emotions, and take responsibility for them.

There will always be people in your life doing things, or saying things, that are hurtful to you.  How you feel when these things happen is up to you.