too personal

I take things too personally. When someone tells me they don't like my photos, my brain says, "I'm such a bad photographer." When someone says, "Your outfit is so plain today," my brain says, "I have no style, I look ugly." When someone points out a pimple, my brain says, "I AM UGLY."

Something happened today that made me reflect on this tendency:

Me: "I like our apartment."
Mom: "I'm so glad you said that. It's been so hard to rent it out, and other people with higher prices have rented their places. I thought I did something wrong or made a bad choice with the apartment."

I noticed she was taking it too personally. People might not be renting because the apartment isn't furnished, because they have other needs, or because it still needs repairs, but she chose to see it as her mistake, as there was something wrong with her. It's more obvious when someone else does it, but I do it too. It's just harder for me to notice it in myself—although nowadays, I do notice it, but I still can't let the thoughts go.

It's hard for me to let things go.