Raele Altano offers a reframe for passive-aggressive comments: the person making them is trying to heal themselves, not actually hurt you. She recommends pausing, asking "Are you okay?" or noting "That's an odd comment" rather than reacting, and staying confident and compassionate instead of overanalyzing.
Listen, anyone who is attempting to humble you, especially unprovoked, is really just trying to heal something within themselves. Let's repeat that anyone who is attempting to humble you is really trying to heal something within themselves. Humbling can look like Making certain comments to try to make you feel small. Being dismissive, making jokes at your expense, minimizing something about you or something that you're doing. It shows up in so many ways, and it's not for you to analyze what the person is trying to heal within themselves. You also don't have to stay completely quiet just because you are aware of this bigger picture. You can pause for a few extra seconds to make your silence be felt. You can say something like are you okay? I'm gonna let that slide. Or one of my personal favorites. That's an odd comment. But instead of doubting yourself and what you bring to the table and wishing you clapped back sooner and had some catchy comeback, rest easy in knowing that their attempts to humble you is actually them trying to heal something within themselves. That simple mindset reframe will elevate your confidence and the way you operate. No matter what kind of interaction you're in, don't feel like you have to be reactive, just have sympathy for them and move on.
