How do I get a rude coworker out of my head?

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I have a coworker who has made several rude comments about religion and specifically about Catholicism. Most commonly this comes up when I mention religion in a neutral way e.g. talking about what we did for New Year’s Eve - I attended a church service, or mentioning that I’ll be in a little late on a specific day for a religious obligation. It’s not really a big deal; I’ve kind of filed this coworker as someone who hasn’t learned “if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.” I don’t think it’s at the point where I need to go to management or anything.

My issue is this guy is, for some reason, taking up a disproportionate amount of space in my head. I just keep thinking about, and being annoyed by, his remarks. So my question here is more how do I get him out of my head?
 
DarkLight said:
I have a coworker who has made several rude comments about religion and specifically about Catholicism. Most commonly this comes up when I mention religion in a neutral way e.g. talking about what we did for New Year’s Eve - I attended a church service, or mentioning that I’ll be in a little late on a specific day for a religious obligation. It’s not really a big deal; I’ve kind of filed this coworker as someone who hasn’t learned “if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.” I don’t think it’s at the point where I need to go to management or anything.

My issue is this guy is, for some reason, taking up a disproportionate amount of space in my head. I just keep thinking about, and being annoyed by, his remarks. So my question here is more how do I get him out of my head?
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Pray for him, and pray that you can be Christ to him.
 
Peace be with you Brother/sister Darklight.

I can relate to what you are going through. It is a little like the fox, who could not reach the bunch of grapes. Are you familiar with this “Sour Grapes” story? Read it here: www.storyit.com/Classics/Stories/sourgrapes.htm

Your co-worker cannot understand the joy and peace you have found in God. He has no way to reach it, or is unable to try to reach it. Hence he pulls down those that try to find or have found God.

It is like finding a great flavor of ice cream and trying to convince him of this taste. Not believing that such a flavor exists, he ridicules you for even mentioning it. Still, never will he be able to taste it. We can pity him/her because of this.

How to get it out? It takes a while. (I should know) You need to talk to someone about this. Best if it a Spiritual Director, where you can have one-on-one interactions as well as plenty of time to discuss.

You will triumph, even though it will take a little time. The next time your co-worker retorts, just be sad for him as he will never know that joy and love that YOU have found. Pray that he will also find it.

I do this on a regular basis, and I tell you…it does work.

Dominus vobiscum.
 
Maybe hes had some bad experience with religion?
Next time he says a negative comment maybe you could ask in a friendly manner what his views are on religion and whats his experiences have been.
If hes had negative ones,maybe you can use this opportunity to show him a better light on Christianity and to see Jesus through your actions.
If hes had no negative experiences and is just hateful and intolerant for no reason,then i can only think to pray about it and ignore his comments.
 
If he’s “in your head” you need to be praying for his soul! I say this seriously. Also, look for opportunities to show the love Christ has for him/her whenever you are given the opportunity…and do so quickly. Trust Christ to so the work as you are faithful to your Lord!

mlz
 
Ask God to count your association with this person toward your penance.

ICXC NIKA
 
My mother said I’m very sensitive and to “develop a thick skin” is what she would advise me. So, I’ll pass that on to you. I would try not to mention religion in front of him at all. If he asks what you did for Christmas, instead of saying you went to mass, say everything else you did. You ate with family and friends, you saw a movie, whatever.

Another way is to develop a truce on religion, to agree to avoid talking about it since it only leads to conflict. You could say, “I know what you believe, and you know what I believe, so how about we call a truce and talk about something else”.

You can change the subject immediately.
 
As to getting the rude coworker out of your head, force yourself to think of other things and try your best to let it go. Try not to allow external events disturb your inner peace.

You can picture a shield between you and him with his words sliding off it like water off a duck’s back.
 
Don’t give him permission to move rent free into your head. Easier said than done.

I have protestant neighbours on one side who dislikes Catholicism, the Pope, Catholics and anything associated with the Catholic Church.

Hubby and I always wave and say hello to them, even if we only receive a scowl in return.

It takes a lot of energy to hate, not worth it, treat everyone politely and with respect even if they don’t deserve it.
 
Saw this on Pinterest:

Never retaliate when people say unkind things about you.
Pay them back with a blessing…
and God will bless you.
1 Peter 3:9
 
Litany of Humility

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Amen

-Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val

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KendraDZ1902 said:
Are you being serious? Because if so, I’m going to start doing this.
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Absolutely! When God places people in our lives that are irritating, it is like having to put on a hair shirt. We can offer up the annoyance of it in prayer like we would a hot, itchy garment.

Also, we can learn a lot about ourselves from the people and things that irritate us. Often the irritation has more to say about ourselves than about what is outside of us. People that irritate us often represent parts or attitudes in ourselves that we do not like and accept in us. It is easier to see these faults in others. This is the whole foundation of removing the log in ourselves before approaching the speck in others.

So we can offer up penance for the parts of ourselves that are like that hostile voice also.
 
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