It is wiser to not take offense at anyone for, at the moment, all are doing the best they can at a particular moment. Also, at a given moment, anything can happen.

In this same way, give yourself a break. You do not have to atone for every gaffe you have made or think you have made. No need to punish yourself for being perfectly human. If it is not one thing, it’s another that you fault yourself with, is this not so?

You may say: “God, I would never punish myself for my error or any other’s.”

What are you doing when you rue something of the past whether it was your words or actions or someone else’s? What are you doing when you are weighted down with guilt? What are regret and guilt but slow torment you subject yourself to?

You are your own victim. When you are angry, it is yourself you are angry with. Honestly, you think you are the cause of everything no matter how much you try to pin it on someone else. You may go to great lengths to excuse yourself while you wind up pinning your arms back painfully.

There is no one to blame. There is no blame to put on another or upon yourself. I suppose you can blame life if you like. You can blame the world. You can blame your parents. You can blame your upbringing. You can blame your teacher. You can blame the street for having a pothole.

Get out of the blame circle. Take responsibility for yourself. Don’t make excuses for yourself or anyone else. Take responsibility but not blame. Blame is a heavy-duty word. It doesn’t do anyone any good.

But responsibility is another story. Taking responsibility and taking blame are two very different matters. You have say over yourself. You conduct your life. You can conduct your life without carrying it all around with you the way the Ancient Mariner carried an albatross around his neck.

When you are late, you are late. Nobody made you late. The bus was late? Leave earlier. You got lost? Again, leave earlier. The weather isn’t the cause unless it’s a tornado. Consideration or lack of consideration is the cause.

When you are feeling annoyed, you find someone or something to be annoyed with.

When you are feeling negative, you caused your own negative feelings. No one imposed negativity upon you. Even when someone is rude or unfeeling to you, even when someone is caustic to you, you are the only one who can make yourself feel resentful, only you yourself.

That you are responsible doesn’t mean that you have to spend time with people who bring out the unwanted in you. It is your choice where you spend your time and with whom. You may be genuinely fond of someone who seems to lash out at you, finding fault with you or undercutting you. You don’t have to dash into the same stream others may swim in. Reflect Me, beloveds. You certainly don’t have to expose yourself to those who do not value you. No one else is qualified to take the measurement of you. I do not take your measure the way the world does. I do not write you up. I do not mock you. I do not regret you. Not for even one minute, do I regret you.

Don’t say I overestimate you. You do not see yourself. Even when you are sure someone caused you grief, you may feel some satisfaction. Better you don’t tell on others to suit yourself. Whatever you perceive as justification is not the point. There is no point in justification.

Love flows through you to you. The one who loves a lot gains a lot. Love is flowing through you right now. You are someone who loves. Go ahead and love.