SKIN PROBLEMS: WHAT ABOUT MALEVOLENCE AND SARCASM?

Apr 07 2009

If somebody makes a hurtful and sarcastic remark about your skin take it as a compliment because that is what it actually is. To evoke such a remark from someone means you have evoked enough interest for them to put you at the centre of their attention, which means at that point in time they consider you to be more important than they are. So bad skin notwithstanding there is something about you that is appealing. The best way to handle these situations is to keep your dignity, ignore the remark and keep away from that person. These people are attention seekers who are annoyed that they are not getting enough attention from you to boost their own ego, advance their career, justify their existence or whatever. They are not worth being around as they will sap your vitality over time. They are poor communicators. People are poor communicators for many reasons which we won’t go into. Suffice to say, it’s heavy going being around them and you just don’t need that. Poor communication is a sign of immaturity. Kids will often punch or insult someone they fancy as they lack the more sophisticated communication skills and confidence that comes with age and maturity.

Malicious gossip and rumours about you or your skin are also a tremendous compliment. You really must be an interesting person if people are going to that much trouble. Enjoy it while it lasts. Hollywood stars and starlets work over-time to keep rumours and gossip about them alive, so aware are they of its complimentary value.

If you are lucky enough to have someone question you or make a remark about your skin be careful of the way you interpret it. The majority of those who are outer centred enough to make an issue of your skin would be genuinely concerned. Don’t interpret what they say negatively, this will only incite anger and aggravate the skin. Be thankful they have taken the time to notice, hear them out, answer their questions and thank them for their advice even if you know it’s wrong. Be thankful that someone out there cares enough to actually say something to you about it. Such people are few and far between. A negative response to this type of overture indicates shyness and lack of confidence. Best you join toastmasters and/or a debating society now.

Remember: There’s an up side and a clown side to everything. The up side to having a skin problem is that you have had the issue of inordinate attention seeking brought to your notice and have been able to avoid falling into its trap forever. You have had the opportunity of recognising and removing malevolent, poor communicators from your life. You have learnt more about diet and health than you otherwise would have. The spin-off effects from this in terms of health and happiness will significantly raise your levels of well-being.

Humility will set you free. Most importantly you have embarked on this treatment regime to achieve optimum health for yourself and to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity for growth and development it offers. You have not embarked on it to win the approval of others.

My observation is that adversity causes personal growth. This is nowhere more clearly demonstrated than in those who cure themselves of skin complaints and other allergy symptoms. These people all have one thing in common. They view their problem as a challenge rather than an affliction. Instead of bemoaning the fact that they have it, they get excited at the prospect of overcoming it. They make a project out of curing their skin complaint/allergy and work as diligently and patiently at it as they would any other project. They acknowledge the great truth that the best way out of a difficulty is through it. In my experience, the only people who fail to get well are those who give up. Those who persist will always win in the end. In the words of Honore de Balzac: ‘All human power is a compound of time and patience.’ And Benjamin Disraeli said: ‘Adversity makes a man wise. There is no education like adversity.’