My Mom used to drill into my head that getting mad at something someone says to you, or about you, is giving them a power they have ONLY if you give it to them. Take away that power and their verbal jabs will have no punch. Something said to you can only anger you if YOU let it.
“Something said to you can only anger you if YOU let it.”
If this was taught more often at home (and in the schools), you would see MUCH less bullying! My daughter’s started a new school two years ago - we moved for my work - and I explained that with them being the “new” kids and coming from home schooling and a “big city” before that they are going to have problems.
I told them the best thing to do is find your friends, ignore those that you can, and literally laugh out loud at all the others! They are trying to ridicule you, and the best way to turn around those ridicules is to laugh at them.
They actually got MORE friends! After they laughed at, and ignored, the bullies the other kids said, that really works - most people have problems with ....!
It REALLY works!