Very thought-provoking post, Jane.

I appreciate your willingness to use a personal example to illustrate some very important points.

My reaction would initially have been the same as yours:  "What did I do wrong?", followed at some point by "How dare they do this to me?"   We are so often captive to our own misconception that it's all about me.

I used to work therapeutically and have experienced folks who were so wrapped into this worldview that they honestly felt a car accident on the Interstate happened just to make them late to work.   These folks are diagnosable, but the tendency toward this type of reaction exists in most of us.  We are just able to moderate it and think it out.

I like your "water" analogy.  Water is soothing, flows everywhere, and helps one chill out.  Then the reframing can begin.

I am struck by the application of what you describe to recent discussions around Milennials in the workplace and their tendency to exhibit this type of self-focused behavior.    We had all better pay attention.

Thanks for posting:

John