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The sting comes fast, and it can stick around for a while unless you do something to move forward.
June 21, 2025, 9:18 AM ET
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Being offended can make a person feel powerless. Someone says (or posts) something hurtful, and the sting comes fast. It doesn’t dissipate just because you tell it to.
But there are some ways to control our experience when we feel insulted. One of the simplest is to laugh it off: “This is a very good option because it makes you the judge of how severe the offense is, rather than cede that judgment to some outside arbitrator,” Arthur C. Brooks wrote recently. Today’s newsletter collects some advice for dealing with insults and anger.
On Insults
The Strength You Gain by Not Taking Offense
By Arthur C. Brooks
We all face uncivil behavior or insulting comments at times, but you can choose how to react.
The Worst Insult I Ever Heard as an Opera Singer
By James Parker
I’m not sure how to recover from this.
I Gave Myself Three Months to Change My Personality
By Olga Khazan
The results were mixed.
Still Curious?
- Trolls aren’t like the rest of us: Online jerks and offline jerks are largely one and the same. Here’s how to keep them from affecting your happiness.
- Stop firing your friends: Just make more of them, Olga Khazan wrote in 2023.
Other Diversions
P.S.
Courtesy of Joyce T.I asked readers to share a photo of something that sparks their sense of awe in the world. Joyce T., 71, shared this image of Copalis Beach, Washington.
I’ll continue to feature your responses in the coming weeks.
— Isabel
About the Author
Isabel Fattal is a senior editor at The Atlantic, where she oversees newsletters.
English (US) ·