Why do you take everything personally

“Why do you take everything personally?” OR “Why do you stick your nose in other people’s business?”

My whole life, someone has been repeating these words to me. At school. Among friends. At work.

Every time I engaged in some debate. Every time I felt someone’s decision was wrong. Every time I saw someone doing something illegal or dangerous.

It was part of my identity, my instinct… but also my frustration, my conflicts, my problems.

All of that, until I learned about autism, ADHD, rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), and justice sensitivity (JS).

I still want to jump into a heated Facebook discussion, in the comments. I still want to speak up in some meetings and Zooms. I feel the urge to yell at the idiot driving with a phone in their hand.

But instead, I take a deep breath. I give myself time to feel that emotion fully. I move on. I conserve energy.

Is it right? I don’t know. Could it be submission and ignorance? Possibly.

I just have to choose my battles. Something most neurotypical people do automatically—“minding their own business.” For me, it’s real effort. Effort that finally helps me save fuel for the things that matter.

“You don’t always have to save the world,” I heard years ago from a kind soul (M).

You can let go sometimes too.