Sol Brah argues that offense is a choice. When someone attacks you, they're revealing their own insecurity or unhappiness, not a truth about you. Responding with calm instead of matching their hostility often makes them recognize their own foolishness.
Don't take it personally. Offense cannot be given to us, we can only take it. Whatever someone says about you or to you, whatever BS they say, it can only affect you if you let it inside. Taking it personally is assigning value to the emotional outbursts of other people, which always have nothing to do with you. They are triggered by their own egos, their own emotional state, or you as a scapegoat because you're highlighting their insecurities. Because of this, never dwell on what others think or say about you, and don't take it personally. Have compassion for those feel the need to bring others down. Usually it's because they're unhappy with their own life and need to feel better about their own choices. When met with a smile and without an equally hostile reaction, people realize their own foolishness and back down.
