How to Relax and Let Go: 12 Ways to Stop Taking Everything Personally

How to Relax and Let Go: 12 Ways to Stop Taking Everything Personally

Do you ever feel hurt by something someone said, even when they probably didn’t mean it that way? Taking things personally can drain your energy and make everyday life feel harder than it needs to be. Learning to let go and relax can help you feel happier, build stronger relationships, and handle challenges with more confidence.

1. Build a Stronger Sense of Self-Worth

When you know your own value, other people’s words lose their power to hurt you. Building self-worth means recognizing all the good things about yourself, from your talents to your kindness.

Start by making a list of things you’re proud of, whether it’s being a good friend, working hard in school, or having a great sense of humor. Read this list whenever someone’s comment bothers you.

Remember that one person’s opinion doesn’t define who you are. Your worth comes from inside you, not from what others think or say about you.

2. Try Mindfulness to Stay Present

Ever notice how your mind races when something bothers you? Mindfulness helps you slow down and focus on the present moment instead of worrying about what someone said.

Simple breathing exercises work wonders. Try counting to four as you breathe in, hold for four counts, then breathe out for four counts. This calms your body and clears your head.

Body scanning is another great technique. Close your eyes and notice how each part of your body feels, starting from your toes and moving up to your head. This brings you back to yourself.

3. Challenge Your Negative Self-Talk

That little voice in your head isn’t always telling the truth. When someone makes a comment, your brain might jump to the worst conclusion, like thinking they hate you or you’re not good enough.

Stop and question these thoughts. Ask yourself if there’s real evidence for what you’re thinking. Usually, there isn’t!

Replace harsh thoughts with kinder ones. Instead of thinking someone’s annoyed with you, consider they might just be having a bad day. This simple shift changes everything about how you feel and react to situations around you.

4. Create Healthy Boundaries with Others

Boundaries are like invisible lines that protect your feelings and energy. They help you decide what behavior you’ll accept from others and what crosses the line.

Saying no doesn’t make you mean or selfish. It actually shows you respect yourself enough to protect your emotional space from being overwhelmed or hurt unnecessarily.

Start small by declining requests that drain you or speaking up when someone’s words bother you. You might say something like, “I’d rather not talk about that” or “That comment hurt my feelings.” Protecting yourself this way reduces stress significantly.

5. Get Moving with Regular Exercise

Physical activity is like a magic reset button for your emotions. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals called endorphins that naturally boost your mood and help you feel more relaxed.

You don’t need to run marathons or spend hours at the gym. Even a twenty-minute walk around your neighborhood can clear your head and help you stop replaying upsetting conversations.

Dancing to your favorite songs, playing sports with friends, or riding your bike all count as exercise. Moving your body helps you release tension and gives you a healthier perspective on whatever bothered you earlier.

6. Talk to People You Trust

Keeping hurt feelings bottled up inside only makes them grow bigger and more painful. Sharing what’s bothering you with someone you trust can provide instant relief and fresh perspectives you hadn’t considered.

Choose someone who listens well and doesn’t judge you. This could be a friend, family member, teacher, or counselor who genuinely cares about your wellbeing.

Sometimes just saying your feelings out loud helps you realize the situation isn’t as bad as it seemed. Other times, the person might point out angles you missed that make everything clearer and less personal to you.

7. Focus on What You’re Grateful For

Gratitude works like a spotlight for your brain, shining light on all the good things instead of dwelling on negative comments. When you focus on what’s going right, hurtful words lose their grip on you.

Try keeping a gratitude journal where you write three things you’re thankful for each day. They can be big things like supportive friends or small things like a delicious snack.

This practice trains your mind to notice positives automatically. Over time, you’ll find yourself naturally brushing off negative comments because you’re too busy appreciating the good stuff in your life to let them bother you.

8. Accept That Perfection Doesn’t Exist

Perfectionism makes you take everything personally because you expect yourself to never mess up. But here’s the truth: everyone makes mistakes, and that’s totally okay.

Mistakes are actually how we learn and grow. When you accept that being imperfect is normal and human, criticism stops feeling like a personal attack on your character.

Next time you mess up, instead of beating yourself up, try saying, “That didn’t go as planned, but I learned something.” This mindset shift helps you see feedback as helpful information rather than proof that you’re not good enough, which changes everything.

9. Build Your Emotional Bounce-Back Ability

Resilience is your ability to bounce back after something knocks you down. Like a rubber ball, the more resilient you are, the quicker you recover from hurtful comments or difficult situations.

You can strengthen this skill by looking for lessons in tough experiences. Ask yourself what you learned or how you grew, even from uncomfortable moments.

Resilient people don’t ignore their feelings; they feel them, learn from them, and then move forward. They understand that one bad moment or negative comment doesn’t ruin everything. This perspective helps you stop taking things so personally and keeps you moving ahead positively.

10. Avoid Situations That Always Upset You

Sometimes the smartest move is simply avoiding people or situations that consistently make you feel bad. If certain friends always make cutting remarks or specific topics always lead to hurt feelings, it’s okay to step back.

This isn’t about running from problems; it’s about protecting your peace. You wouldn’t keep touching a hot stove, so why keep putting yourself in situations that burn you emotionally?

Limiting exposure to your triggers gives you space to heal and grow stronger. You can always revisit these situations later when you’re in a better place mentally and emotionally to handle them without taking everything to heart.

11. Be Kind to Yourself Always

Imagine how you’d comfort your best friend if they were upset. You’d probably be understanding, patient, and remind them of their good qualities. Why not treat yourself the same way?

Self-compassion means being gentle with yourself when you mess up or when someone’s words sting. Instead of harsh self-criticism, try speaking to yourself like you would to someone you care about deeply.

Everyone has flaws and makes mistakes, including you, and that’s perfectly human. When you practice self-compassion, you create an inner safety net that catches you when life gets hard, making it much easier to let go of taking things personally.

12. Consider Professional Support When Needed

Sometimes taking things personally becomes overwhelming despite your best efforts. There’s absolutely no shame in reaching out to a counselor, therapist, or mental health professional for help.

These trained experts can teach you personalized strategies that work specifically for your situation. They provide a safe space where you can explore why you take things personally and develop stronger coping skills.

Think of therapy like going to the doctor when you’re sick. Your mental health matters just as much as your physical health. Getting professional support shows strength and wisdom, not weakness, and can truly transform how you experience life.