Good morning, question asker!
My name is Yi Ming, and I work as a heart exploration coach.
I commend you for your awareness.
It might be helpful to view every grievance and anger we feel as a reminder that we could benefit from making some adjustments.
Although the current feeling may be somewhat uncomfortable, when we recognize that we may unconsciously accept the accusations of others against ourselves, it suggests that you have identified the root of the problem and are open to addressing it.
I hope this offers some inspiration.
1. It might be helpful to try to understand yourself first, rather than getting angry with yourself.
Sometimes, we engage in behaviors that may contribute to feelings of depression.
Even though you are confident that you have not done anything wrong, when someone suggests that you have, you find yourself reflecting on whether there might be room for improvement. As you consider this, you discover more and more evidence that suggests you may have taken on blame that is not yours to bear.
I imagine it would be challenging for anyone to accept such a situation without some sort of reaction.
And do you find yourself questioning whether you should have stuck to your principles and positions?
Perhaps it would be helpful to try to understand why we are acting this way, rather than blaming ourselves.
It's possible that you're a self-reflective person who values the relationship with your roommate. In that case, you might consider looking at the situation from the other person's perspective.
While her comments may not have been entirely comprehensive, there may be some truth to them.
As a result, you may find yourself unconsciously cooperating with her, apologizing to her, and paying more for the electricity bill.
Could this process perhaps be perceived as being somewhat akin to being PUA'd?
Some people tend to stick to their own perspective and may accuse others of being wrong.
It is not uncommon to feel affected when we are on the receiving end of criticism, particularly when faced with a problem where it is difficult to say for sure who is right and who is wrong.
I admire your willingness to empathize with others and to put yourself in their shoes more often.
This approach will likely result in more harmonious interpersonal relationships, with minimal risk of inadvertently causing harm to oneself.
2. It may be helpful to be aware of your emotions and to take a moment to reflect before reacting.
It may be helpful to recognize that we can sometimes be misled by other people's accusations.
As an example, when we are confronted with accusations in the future, we might consider pausing for a few seconds to reflect on our emotions.
Why? Sometimes we may find ourselves getting angry and arguing or having conflicts with others because facing accusations can be a challenging experience for many of us.
It's natural to feel defensive when faced with accusations from others. We all have a tendency to protect ourselves and get angry when we feel attacked.
However, after becoming upset, she will take a moment to consider whether her actions were appropriate.
It may therefore be helpful to consider learning to deal with emotions before dealing with things.
When faced with accusations, it may be helpful to first take the time to calm your own hurt feelings.
Perhaps it would be helpful to consider whether what she says is always right.
Could it be that she is looking for someone to blame because she didn't expect the electricity bill to be so high? Perhaps she doesn't want to pay such a high bill and is looking for a way to feel better about herself.
It might be helpful to remember that her accusations are just her thoughts from her own perspective, and they are not necessarily objective.
Perhaps it would be best not to follow her train of thought.
It may be helpful to take a moment to understand our own emotions before responding. This can help us to be more objective and less influenced by others.
3. It might be helpful to view this challenging experience as an opportunity for personal growth.
One way to deal with unhappiness or a sense of failure is to learn from our experiences, which can help us grow and improve.
If we are aware of this pattern in ourselves and are used to thinking, "I may be wrong," we can improve our awareness and prevent this from happening again.
It would be helpful to remember that "I feel I may be wrong." This is not a feeling; it is an evaluation.
Could you kindly clarify what the standard for right and wrong in something like the electricity bill might be?
It's possible that she's expressing her disappointment because you didn't do what she wanted.
It's likely that she'll find some reason why you might be using more electricity.
It might be the case that what she said has some merit.
Perhaps that's why you agreed with her for a while.
Perhaps we can find a way to make ourselves more comfortable in the future.
For instance, given that we are sharing the flat, it is somewhat challenging to ascertain expenses with precision. I will endeavor to monitor electricity consumption, but it may be more prudent to divide the bill in a fair manner.
It may be worth considering that a harmonious relationship with your partner could be more important than the electricity bill, etc.
It is possible that we may encounter similar situations in the future. In such instances, it would be beneficial for us to learn how to take care of ourselves and to guard our own boundaries.
Perhaps it would be helpful to try to remain calm in the face of some conflict situations, and to try not to be influenced by other people's accusations or ideas.
Perhaps it would be helpful to take a moment to slow down.
Perhaps it would be helpful to trust yourself.
Please feel free to share these if you think they might be helpful.
If it might be of interest to you, you may wish to consider reading "The Courage to Be Disliked," which offers guidance on distinguishing between other people's problems and your own.
I hope this finds you well.
Comments
I can totally relate to how you feel. It's frustrating when someone makes you doubt yourself, especially over something as personal as your habits. You did nothing wrong by using appliances that everyone should have access to. It's important to stand firm on what's fair and not let others make you feel guilty for normal usage.
It sounds like you were caught in a moment of selfdoubt, which is completely understandable. But you've realized that you shouldn't let someone else's accusations define your actions. It's good to be mindful of energy use, but also fair to split costs equally if both parties are using the space and amenities. Communication is key; maybe talking it out with your roommate could help clear the air.
Reflecting on the situation, it seems like you went through a lot of unnecessary stress. Trusting your own judgment is crucial. If you're using electricity reasonably, there's no reason to feel bad or pay extra. Sometimes, bills can spike due to factors beyond our control, and it's not always one person's fault. It's great that you researched and found peace of mind.
Feeling aggrieved after doing the right thing is tough. Your initial instinct was correct – sharing the bill equally is fair. It's easy to fall into the trap of selfblame, but you've done the hard work of checking facts and realizing you didn't need to. Moving forward, perhaps setting clear expectations and agreements about utility usage and costs with your roommate can prevent similar issues.