Today we are talking about the way we think.  Going back to the cognitive behavior thinking philosophy that the way we feel is linked directly to the way we think.  So, if we are thinking positively, our lives will reflect that mentality.  Conversely, if we are thinking negatively, our lives will also reflect that mentality.  One of the issues we talk about is bullying and the way we think about it.  Bullies are people who have problems and self-esteem issues of their own which is why they feel the need to make someone else feel bad – to make themselves feel better.  So, we need to shift our thinking about bullies to nullify and diffuse the effect their behavior has on us.  One of the ways we can do this is through meditation.  Meditation is not what people normally think it is.  It's not just about quieting your mind.  We can't control the thoughts that pop into our head.  We can only let the thought pass through and let it go.  But if we sit quietly in a place we won't be disturbed, we can think of affirmations.  During meditation, if we can shift our thinking towards bullies to emphasize or sympathize with them, we take away their power.  Once we understand why the bully is doing what he or she is doing and we empathize with them, their behavior will no longer affect us.  So, the main idea is to shift your thinking towards bullies so we can completely invalidate and become immune to their behavior.