How to remain pure..

How to remain pure in this “impure” world?

How to be a loving being when our “family” of origin violated us, abused us and rejected us?

How not to be hurt by people’s cruelty or callousness or carelessness?

“To grow a thick skin” - no. Some people don’t even want to be a person who rides rough shod over others, so I’m not interested in that “advice” even if it was possible.

I like sensitive people.

Can anyone relate (to any of this)

Hugs to all

Love and light

I can definitely relate to "grow a thick skin". I can't stand when people tell me that. Yes, I'm sensitive and am affected deeply both when good things and bad things happen. I don't think it means I have to change and lose my sensitivity. Maybe I need to deal better, but I am who I am.

Sorry for the rant.

I find comments like “grow a thick skin” exceptionally boring, and not overly intelligent. It would appear to me that people who enjoy that type of comment don’t have much insight into themselves or others. JMO.

You say “maybe I need to deal better” - maybe this is what people who make insensitive or trite comments want you to feel...

No need to apologise for the rant.

Yes, I can definitely relate to you. I like to think I am a sensitive soul. I grew up in a Catholic orphanage and suffered similar abuse I believe. 40 years later, I’m still dealing with it’s aftermath. I find that while it’s difficult to forget, I try to practice forgiveness. I’m still working on that.

I think it helps to think of our actions as completely separate from others’ actions. To know that what others do or say is a reflection of who THEY are. And then, what we do or say is a reflection of what WE are. In my experience, changing the way I look at sensitivity has helped as well. This world would have us believe sensitivity is a weakness. When actually, it’s a huge strength. It takes STRENGTH to swim against the current of this world, and be kind and sensitive DESPITE what everyone else is doing. So having pride in ourselves for the beautiful sensitivity that allows us to be empathetic and heartfelt in such an emotionally barren world is so important.

I am very sensitive (all around) myself. I think that it can be a gift and there are times when I feel like it's a curse.

I've run across people at times who mouth off or say things that are not nice. I think people like that have all kinds of problems and that's why they act that way. But yet it irks me on how successful they are. And there are times they can get away with it. If I acted the way they do at my job for instance, I'd be kicked out to the curb in a heartbeat.

I guess I have felt rejected by my family. Maybe in the very early years of my life, we probably had a good family unit. I wouldn't remember. I was six years old when my sister moved out on her own. So many times around now she tells me about how great it was when were growing up. I only remember from age six to now. It seemed like after she had moved out, it wasn't that great with my family. And then we ended up all on our own when we got older. Now, my sister is the only one left in my family and she gets too bogged down to talk to me.

I don't have any suggestions on how to remain pure. When I first saw the title of this thread before reading it, I thought it meant something else. Sometimes I let the unkind remarks go by but most times I confront it. It can be amazing to me how the tough people can back down when I confront them. And I would always think that I am the weak one.