When we teach ourselves to recognise the highs and lows as passing phases, not conflicting, but complementary, we become less embroiled by elation, excitement, frustration, self-loathing, or anxiety. These are all just how we were programmed to react as we grew into being “grown ups”. A sign of maturity is the ability to acknowledge our emotional reactions (especially in intense, difficult or heated moments) but not allow them to steal away our free will and poise. If someone gives you a rough time, think of them as sand paper, smoothing your edges, or edginess (if that’s a word!).