Awareness, Devotional

Are We Easily Offended?

Timothy R. Berman

The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.

~ Proverbs 12:16, ESV ~

A mindful and spiritual recovery moves us away from our sense of self-importance. This is because it is our greatest threat to living out our authentic sense of being. Carlos Castaneda shares this insight: Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone. How much wasted time and energy is it to be easily offended and angered by our sense of being offended?

By being offended, we become irritated, angry, and resentful toward the one causing an offense. Whether or not we are able to justify reasons for being offended, does it really matter? Or, are we more protective of our ego and false self where our self-importance demands a sense of justice? If we are emotionally reactive, we are wasting our own time and energy by puffing ourselves up.

When we puff ourselves up, we are revealing our own foolishness that is within our own self-righteousness. This self-righteousness leads us away from our spiritual perception and outlook. And, it diminishes our strength.

We will always find something that may cause us to be offended. However, a prudent and wise person will not respond out of sheer emotion and self-righteous indignation. Instead, we ignore the insult – whether unintentional or intentional. Instead of revealing ourselves to be foolish, we are prudent in that we have insight. For, we ourselves have caused offense in words and deeds. Whether our causation was unintentional or intentional.

Therefore, it is better to let go of our self-righteous and accept the reality that we are just as imperfect as others. What we are focused on is gaining greater spiritual insight to be better individuals. By accepting imperfections in ourselves and others, we will have moved ourselves from emotional reaction. Instead, we show stalwart wisdom.

Today, let us accept the imperfections of others instead of our need to be right.

 

 

Published by Timothy R. Berman

Timothy R. Berman possesses over 14 years of content writing, editing, proofreading, and publishing to various communities, websites, and blogs. He possesses over 7 years of experience as a substance use disorder professional specializing in medically assisted treatment. Provided evidence-based practice toward a holistic recovery for individuals suffering from opioid substance use.

8 thoughts on “Are We Easily Offended?”

  1. Love this proverb! Agree that reactiveness comes from a focus on self. Great insight.

    For me, ignoring offenses from others in the moment is still key (I don’t always do it, but it is my goal). At this point though I find I must still sit down after such moments and journal it out, refute any shame that came up and talk it out with God in prayer, or a trusted other, and then I can truly ‘ignore it’. Often then I see that it was just ‘me’ overreacting. Sometimes I see that someone is a brute or I need a better boundary in place, etc.

    Maybe someday I can get strong enough to truly let such things shed off my back, immediately, without the added processing time.

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    1. Each one of us process things differently. Regardless of how we process and deal with our own imperfections, it comes down to how consistently we are in recognizing and dealing with them.

      Thank you for your insightful comment and sharing your thoughts and how you process ways to recognize your own imperfections in dealing with being offended.

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      1. Thank you for your writing. It is very helpful to me in my recovery process!

        And yes, we are all different. I prefer to write it out/talk it out when I find myself offended. My husband exercises or goes for a brisk walk to get in the right frame of mind again.

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        1. You are welcome. This is the hope and purpose of these devotionals and articles. To inspire people to explore their own path toward a more fulfilling and enriching relationship with Christ and our Heavenly Father.

          I appreciate your comment and hope you continue to draw inspiration each day. Continue to share your thoughts as well.

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      2. And to you too, Brother, elated over your true care without the whining complaining attitude we all feel and sometimes still need top get out. Me Learning to do that exactly with Father of in Risen Son, Jesus myself. As I stand in trust to for others to turn over to him willingly too.
        Acts 20:21

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    2. That was honesty and a well led break down of let go and let God. Thank you. I see this too and do not always do, and looking forward to not be offended at all in all that goes on with this emotional body, and yet care so much deeper than I am offended.
      You know I never saw Jesus respond in being offended, He did respond when those came against him and just told the truth about them.
      Woe is me for I have in past been one too.

      Trusting in constant prayer, to continue in being taught truth over error f this world we all are in first.

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  2. So much truth. Pride and self righteousness often cause us to be offended instead of ignoring insults. Walking away and forgiving ignorance seems foolish but we gain a lot. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Definitely, pride is egocentric and protects our self-importance and self-righteousness. Yet, when we let go of our need to be right and our need for justice, we free ourselves from the emotional trappings of resentment and bitterness.

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