This can be a tough question to ask yourself, but are you? Few people can really assess themselves in this, so ask a few ultra-trusted friends if they think that you take offense too easily at things people say, what others do and don't do. These have to be very trusted friends who you know would be honest with you, and who would keep this question private. (You know who you can trust!).

These wonderful friends may shoot you back an e-mail saying, "Yeah, sometimes it seems like you take what (friend) says too seriously" or "In the past few months, your e-mails have had a lot of complaints about your sister, and it *does* seem like your fuse is a little short." It's important that you don't get offended by *these* honest reports, because YOU asked for a course correction. And it is a course correction that's going to return you to greater peace!

When your friends agree that you have been a little oversensitive, here's where you take over in your own interest. Write down the things that have offended you in the past few weeks, and then think about the energy you wasted being upset over them. Did you lose half a day's work because you couldn't stop stewing over that nasty comment a friend made? Did you lose sleep over a jealous cousin's no-show at your bridal shower?

The truth is that you can choose not to be offended at anything. If someone is being insensitive or unkind, you can chalk it up to their not having anything better to do. Or that they didn't express themselves well in that e-mail. Or that they're extremely busy, so they weren't really thinking when you called to ask a question, and they just said 'Whatever.' You can attach an innocent explanation to anything, which removes the offense.

And without explaining what you're doing to others [habits can be hard to break], just try not to get offended at The Usual Stuff from the cousin, or that offhand remark from your future in-law. After a few victories, your groom will see that you're a much happier person, that comments aren't getting to you like they had been, and you'll be a happier, more balanced person when you're not getting deflated by every little remark. Again, this is going to take some practice, because you might be used to yourself in offended mode. Just give it your best efforts and you'll see the difference very soon...