Hi cherryblossom,

It’s interesting ~ usually I don’t care what other people think because I feel equal to or above them (and if below, then only in a couple aspects). But this guy, YES, I DID care what he thought of me. Very much so. Thus the “Is this a past life run-in?” query.

In my family (distant) there were clergymen’s wives. And they would often be as much a minister as their husbands, back in the days when women weren’t ordained and when religious elders ran the community. Interesting re-reading how I used the word “community” as opposed to “congregation”!

And the authority ~ yes, not only was she the wife, BUT was an authority in the professional world. So he heard an earful about me and then suddenly never saw me.

So it’s Humiliation and Shame I’m dealing with.

And protecting me and others from my own anger ~ I never thought of that before!! If I get angry and express it, further opportunities for Shame. (Even though I heard he was kicked out because of impropriety, so why is he still on my mental pedestal??)

So how do I assert myself AND protect myself at the same time? Avoid all such events like I had an allergic reaction? Or go and risk getting a reaction (or having one!!)