Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22

I have to admit, I have trouble overlooking words that scorch the heart and leave a bad taste in my mouth. I question the intentions of another when their actions seem so blatantly negative. Trust is a big deal to me. So when I feel vulnerable enough to offer my heart, this does not come lightly. It builds over time, and takes a while to feel that security. It’s not that I fail to acknowledge my own faults; I know they are there, yet I don’t want it to be the highlight of the conversation. Despite my trust issues, God still calls us to not pay attention to every word people say. To brush it off our shoulders as though it were a fleeting moment. How do we do that? I am still trying to figure that out.

Pray

Pray for the person who is hurting you. We really have no idea what other people are going through. Sounds cliché but it’s the truth. When I am feeling confident and surrounded by God’s strength I don’t find myself even wanting to be unkind to others. It’s when I am hurting that I am more apt to focus on another’s weaknesses, whether outwardly or inwardly. As the verse goes, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks,” and it is so true.

Focus on the Positive

No matter how much negativity is going around us we can always choose to focus on the positive. What has God blessed you with? What are some positive comments that people have said about you recently? Focus on them; let them overpower the negative, and don’t give the negative a second thought. Unless it is used for ways to grow you as a person or closer to God, you really don’t need to entertain them. They are not fruitful and can go find another home.

Forgive

If the negative thoughts linger longer more than you would like, take some time to either address the person or confess to God. Do whatever God is prompting you to and then move on. Dwelling and stewing over things for too long really is a recipe for disaster, concocting some extra nasty heart issues that you don’t need or want.

Stay Focused on What God Has Called You to Do

When I concentrate on what God wants me to do, it doesn’t leave much room to mull over nitpicky things. They are less catastrophic in the big scheme of things. What is God’s purpose and plan for you specifically? What daily activities has God placed in your path? You have value; you have purpose no matter what anybody else says. The negativity that weighs us down is a burden we don’t have to bear. That weight is for the one spewing the unkind words and actions.