Just as sure as the sun rises each morning, you will cross paths with rude and mean people.
In the words of agent Smith from The Matrix, “It is inevitable.”
You might even work with some of them or for one of them.
Consider the possibility that someone could be having a bad day. They could be emotionally distraught and just not thinking or so upset at their situation that it is coming out everywhere. Or maybe the person is just a jerk.
Regardless of the reason, you need to remember that how they treat you is not a reflection of your character or your self-worth.
If you are in a toxic relationship, you should leave because you deserve better. If you are in a toxic work environment, you should leave because you deserve better, but sometimes you can’t.
What do you do when you must interact with a rude person on a regular basis? You cannot control how they choose to treat you. What you can control is your own emotions and response to them.
First, you must decide if you want to stoop down to their level to respond to them in kind. Or do you maintain a level of respect toward them regardless of how they are acting. How you respond and treat them is a reflection of YOUR character. Treating someone with respect when they are being rude to you shows the strength of your character.
Second, you must remind yourself that what they say and how they treat you is not the de facto truth regarding you as a human being. You have value, you are important, and you are not the sum of what they say or how they treat you.
Remember that when they try to make you little, they are in fact the ones that are little, not you.