Personal importance, or taking things personally, is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about me.
Miguel Angel RuizSociety teaches us conditional love; i.e., "I love you if you are the way I want you to be."
Miguel Angel RuizThe best way to say, "I love you, God," is to live your life doing your best. The best way to say, "Thank you, God," is by letting go of the past and living in the present moment, right here and now.
Miguel Angel RuizIf you are not afriad, thereis no way you will get mad at me. If you are not afraid, there is no way you will hate me. If you are not afraid, there is no way you will be jealous or sad.
Miguel Angel RuizDon't take anything personally. Even when a situation seems so personal, even if others insult you directly, it has nothing to do with you. Their point of view and opinion come from all the programming they received growing up. When you take things personally, you feel offended and your reaction is to defend your beliefs and create conflict. You make something big out of something so little because you have the need to be right and make everybody else wrong.
Miguel Angel Ruiz