Would you resist this and try and stop it?
To what extent would you prevent this from happening?
We would naturally fight for our life to prevent the above from happening. There is no way we would voluntarily allow our bodies, and therefore ourselves, to be used or violated by another human being for no good reason.
If anyone were to assault us, strike us or hurt us physically we would react very strongly against this and condemn the act as criminal. This is not a controversial viewpoint.
Why would we prevent this from happening?
We have a rule in our head that states that if someone were to do this they would be violating our human rights and we would feel terrible as a result: angry, ashamed, upset, etc.
So let me ask you a different question:
Would you resist this and try and stop it?
To what extent would you prevent this from happening?
When someone physically hits you it is very clear. It is a binary action, they either struck you or they didn't. It is obvious to all even without any sound.
It is very difficult to talk away a punch that drops someone down to the floor or breaks a nose. Verbal insults on the other hand are far more tricky to interpret.
It is sometimes hard to tell the difference between banter and a sleight or insult and feedback. The verbal terrain is less obvious and trickier to prove or disprove.
Even though emotional abuse is extremely destructive, the number of individuals who are sent to jail because of it is tiny compared to those who are sentenced for physical assault.
Use Reason as Your Armour
It is worth making the mental decision now as you read these words to stop granting others the power to abuse your heart and mind. Do not automatically hand your emotions over to others who choose to insult you.
The next time someone provides what you consider to be an insult, simply stop and repeat the following mantra to yourself:
Just as I would not give you my body to abuse as you wish, I will not give you my mind.
There are various techniques and tools discussed in this podcast to help you on this path: