If you feel shame, recognize that no one else can shame you; only you can make yourself feel ashamed. Only you have the power to create your emotions-positive, negative, helpful, or unhelpful. The Stoics Hundreds of years ago, the Greek and Roman Stoics advanced that insight. In his treatise the Enchiridion, Epictetus wrote: Men are disturbed not by the things that happen but by their opinions about those things. In his Epistles, Seneca stated: Everything depends on opinion.
Some people have an uncomfortable work environment because their coworkers treat them poorly, and even worse, some of these people disturb themselves about it. To address this problem, first apply the Problem Separation Technique (PST). Ask yourself, do I have a practical problem, and if I do, am I creating an emotional problem about my practical problem? The Practical Problem If you are disliked at work, this may present a Practical Problem: Ask yourself these questions: 1. What are my goals each day at the office?