You may be inclined to either defend yourself or attack when others say negative things about you. You might also actually start to believe the bad things that have been said about you, take them in, and start to punish yourself by becoming self-destructive.
Instead, realize that people rarely attack others unless they are hurting and in pain themselves. The person who has attacked you is expressing his own fear and pain. You do not have to accept this person's hurtful comments as the truth. Refuse to take in the other person's poison, and stay planted in truth of who you are. You do not have to be dependent upon others for your sense of self-worth.
— Brenda Shoshanna in Fearless