Don't Ever

Don't ever allow anyone to bully you into believing their interpretations of your intentions. And don't explain yourself more than once. 

Sometimes people see you through a certain lens, and no matter what you do or say, they'll refuse to see you otherwise. It's their problem. Not yours.

The moment a person's words make you doubt yourself, walk away. Some people raise their self-esteem by putting others down. They look for external sources of empowerment. And that just reflects their inner weaknesses.

Don't allow yourself to feed their weaknesses. Don't allow yourself to be a victim of that. 

Don't let your heart become numb. No matter how much pain you're going through, the solution should never be to become numb. The solution is to accept that any harm that was aimed at you is not your fault. And the pain that others choose to inflict on you is not because of who you are, but because of who they are. If you become numb just to avoid the pain, then you won't be able to feel happiness either. 

Feel the pain and resist the temptation to avoid it. If you can do that, you're a hero.