Allergic to Victimhood

The language we choose to use can be powerful—acting like a spell that can manifest the good or conjure the bad. Do you need to upgrade your self-talk?

Recently, I had a bad experience with an energy vampire. You know the kind. It's the person that brings all of their woes to you. Worse, there is nothing you can say or do to break them of their funk. In fact, the more you try to help, the more they double down.

I told a colleague about this and said, "I'm allergic to victims." I intended to convey that I try to shun and shut them out of my life. But there's another aspect of allergies I was ignoring. Allergic reactions can be violent, requiring hospitalization and sometimes leading to death.

Even when I'm careful around energy vampires, my energy gets zapped. I care about people, and that can be leveraged against me.

This realization made me decide on a new phrase. I don't want to be allergic to victimhood thinking; I want to be immune to it. I've already had my fair share of being a victim in life and experienced others going through rock bottom. I have the antibodies and can see/sense victim thinking coming a mile away.

It's incredible how much better I feel with this tiny reframe. I've already practiced a few times at home and work. As soon as I feel it coming on, I remind myself I'm immune to it. And just like that, I stand and act differently.

What about you? Do you need to upgrade your self-talk?