How to Handle Insults Gracefully and Grow Stronger
“What people say about you is a reflection of them, not you. How you respond is a reflection of who you are.”
~ Anonymous
We’ve all had that moment. Someone says something –
maybe it’s a joke. Maybe it’s not.
But it catches you off guard. And for some reason, it hits a nerve.
You play it cool in the moment. Smile. Laugh it off.
But later?
You’re lying in bed thinking about it. “Why did that bother me so much? ”Was there any truth in it?”
It doesn’t matter how confident or self-aware you are.
Insults have a sneaky way of getting under your skin.
Because they don’t just land on the surface.
They land where you’re already a little unsure.
They tap into stuff you thought you had figured out.
Riya’s Story–
When One Comment Changed Everything.
Riya was the “nice” one. Supportive. Reliable. Always there.
At work, she was known for being kind and calm under pressure.
But one day, a colleague said –
“She’s too soft to lead. She doesn’t have the edge for tough decisions.”
It didn’t seem like a big deal to anyone else.
But for Riya, those words stuck.
They made her question herself.
So she started trying to be “tougher.”
She worked longer hours. Spoke louder. Tried to be more “boss-like.” But it felt fake, and exhausting.
That’s when she decided to work with Vandana Srivastava, a spiritual healer and life coach.Through honest conversations and deep healing, Riya realized something big: That insult wasn’t really about her. It was about the other person’s narrow view of what a leader should be.
Riya stopped trying to prove herself.
She started leading in her own way with empathy, clarity, and quiet confidence.
And here’s the beautiful part –
That one harsh comment didn’t ruin her.
It became the turning point that brought her back to herself.
Why Do Insults Cut So Deep?
Because they make us feel exposed.
They point to places we haven’t fully owned or healed yet.
Sometimes, they echo things we’ve secretly worried about.
Or remind us of voices from the past.
But here’s the thing:
You don’t have to believe everything someone says about you.
And you definitely don’t have to carry it.
Try This the Next Time:
– Pause Before You Take It Personally.
Ask yourself: Do I really believe this is true?
Sometimes it’s not about you at all – it’s about their own stress or baggage.
– Feel It—Don’t Bottle It
It’s okay to feel hurt. But don’t let that moment define who you are!
– Find Your Own Voice Again.
What do you know to be true about yourself? Go back to that.
– Heal instead of hardening.
You don’t need to become colder or meaner to protect yourself.
Real strength is in being soft and grounded.
The Role of Healing
Working with someone like Vandana Srivastava can help you see these patterns clearly. Not to re-live the pain – but to release it.
So you stop reacting from old wounds and start responding from your real self.
You will begin to…
Understand your emotional triggers.
Let go of other people’s judgments.
Turn pain into purpose.
You are not what they called you.
You are what you choose to become.
And the next time someone throws shade your way, take a breath and remember:
That moment doesn’t define you.
But it can refine you.