So whether you’re feeling good or not, try to extend goodwill to all. That way, you feel like less of a victim. You’re more in charge of your situation. And that’s what the practice is all about: putting you in charge of your mind, the situation inside.

"There was one time when the Buddha was wounded by a stone sliver. That rock that Devadatta hurled down a mountain didn’t hit the Buddha but it did smash into slivers, and one of the slivers went right through the Buddha’s foot. So he had to lie down and rest.

Mara came to taunt him saying, “Are you lying there moping?” And the Buddha said, “No, I’m not moping. I’m spreading thoughts of goodwill [mettā] to all beings.”

When you can think that way, you get yourself out of your personal narratives about: “Why did they do this? Why did they do that? And why am I hurt? Why am I suffering? Why am I in pain, when other people are walking around okay?”

The Buddha didn’t have any thoughts like that at all. It was simply, “Goodwill for all beings.” That helps to lighten a lot of the loads on the mind.

So whether you’re feeling good or not, try to extend goodwill to all. That way, you feel like less of a victim. You’re more in charge of your situation. And that’s what the practice is all about: putting you in charge of your mind, the situation inside."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "The Antidote for Victimhood"

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