It happens to people in their lives over and over again. You might think you are safe with a certain group of friends or with your colleagues at work but all of a sudden, out of no where the tribe attacks sending you on a downward spiral of self doubt and isolation. Why?, What did I do? I didn't mean it that way? And there you are feeling shunned, unappreciated, and alone.
We have seen this in literature, think Scarlet Letter. There was Hester Prynne, pregnant and alone, in a world of judgement and ridiculous Puritan beliefs. She was wronged and if you have read the book, which I highly recommend, you know it. She is stronger than the tribe. If you have not read the book or if you cannot get past Hawthorne's Old English style of writing (or is that Olde) then watch the movie Easy A with Emma Stone. It is a witty film about the perils of Tribe Life. It takes place in High School where bad Tribe Behavior is at its peak. It's dialogue is funny and The Tribe eats it in the end. In both book and movie the heroines stare down The Tribe. They stand up for themselves.
The way to beat the Tribe. Learn to be comfortable in your own skin. Be true to your self. Be authentic. We cannot control Tribe mentality but we can control our own sense of self away from The Tribe. Look for a new Tribe. One less judgmental. One more forgiving. Be a Tribe of one for awhile. A renewed sense of self gives strength to stare down the people who are harmful in your life and helps to make way to find the ones that appreciate your talents and gifts.
Strength sometimes does not come in numbers but comes from within and from the truth of our own convictions.
Be good to yourselves.
Magda
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1282140/
