YOU ARE NOT A VICTIM

Nobody can "make" you angry, or sad, or afraid.
Nobody can "make" you feel deficient, small, less-than-whole.
Now that you are an adult, please don't give away your power, your responsibility, your sense of agency and stability to another.
Don't make anyone into your authority. Listen, but don't devolve your power.
You are consciousness itself.
Nobody breathes for you. Nobody's heart beats for you. Others' words or actions may trigger feelings of pain, sorrow and shame (or happiness) in you, but they are only feelings that were already within you. They have not been "caused", but triggered. Feel them fully, let them flow through; they want to move.
You are innocent; feelings are not punishments, though they may be intense or uncomfortable and feel "unsafe" as first.
Watch the mind now; it wants someone or something to "blame" for these difficult feelings, somebody to make "bad" or even "evil". The mind will quickly spin a victim story, and you'll disconnect from your feelings, your breath, your precious body and its home, the present moment, seeking causes, retribution, revenge. The mind will attack others, or turn and attack your own core. Neither is necessary; but allow the urge too.
For now, please do not abandon your precious body. Do not disconnect and leapfrog over your own experience. You are not worthless. Stay grounded in the breath. Offer sanctuary to the triggered feelings, the sore place inside. Make room for the frightened one, the sad one, the disappointed one. Expand so you are an ocean, and let the waves of feeling come.
Now, you are truly responsible; able to respond to the feeling and the situation consciously and with presence, rather than reacting automatically, habitually, without awareness. From this place of presence, you can still speak your truth, say yes or no, ask for what you want, leave, stay, share your experience or not, all without guilt. But now, nobody is controlling you and you are not trying to control anybody. There is nobody to resent and nothing to be ashamed of. You are not a victim; you stand in your own power, on the Earth.
Your sense of self-worth is not dependent on what anyone else does or says or thinks or wants. You are neither worse nor better than anyone on the planet; you are the same Life, as alive as anyone, connected to what's real.
You are not a victim since you are deeply connected to yourself, welcoming your thoughts and feelings, honouring your path, bowing humbly to the place where you stand Now.
Owning the ground, lightly.
- Jeff Foster

Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s Guru Ashtakam (गुर्वष्टकम्):

Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s Guru Ashtakam (गुर्वष्टकम्):

शरीरं सुरुपं तथा वा कलत्रं
यशश्चारू चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यम्।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्।।1।।

Sareeram Suroopam Thadha Va Kalathram,
Yasacharu Chithram Dhanam Meru Thulyam,
Manaschenna Lagnam Gurorangri Padme,
Thatha Kim Thatha Kim, Thatha Kim Thatha Kim. 1

Even if you have a pretty body, a beautiful wife,
Great fame and mountain like money,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वं
गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम्।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्।।2।।

Kalathram Dhanam Puthrapothradhi Sarvam,
Gruham Bandhavam Sarvamethadhi Jatham,
Manaschenna Lagnam Gurorangri Padme,
Thatha Kim Thatha Kim, Thatha Kim Thatha Kim. 2

Even if you have a wife, wealth, children grandchildren,
House, relations and are born in a great family,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

षडंगादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या
कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्।।3।।

Shadangadhi Vedo Mukhe Sasra Vidhya,
Kavithwadhi Gadhyam, Supadhyam Karothi,
Manaschenna Lagnam Gurorangri Padme,
Thatha Kim Thatha Kim, Thatha Kim Thatha Kim. 3

Even if you are an expert in six angas and the four Vedas,
And an expert in writing good prose and poems,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यः
सदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्।।4।।

Videseshu Manya, Swadeseshu Danya,
Sadachara Vrutheshu Matho Na Cha Anya,
Manaschenna Lagnam Gurorangri Padme,
Thatha Kim Thatha Kim, Thatha Kim Thatha Kim. 4

Even if you are considered great abroad, rich in your own place,
And greatly regarded in virtues and life,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालवृन्दैः
सदा सेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दम्।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्।।5।।

Kshma Mandale Bhoopa Bhoopala Vrundai,
Sada Sevitham Yasya Padaravindam,
Manaschenna Lagnam Gurorangri Padme,
Thatha Kim Thatha Kim, Thatha Kim Thatha Kim. 5

Even if you are a king of a great region,
And is served by kings and great kings,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापात्
जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे सत्प्रसादात्।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्।।6।।

Yaso Me Gatham Bikshu Dana Prathapa,
Jagadwathu Sarvam Kare Yah Prasdath,
Manaschenna Lagnam Gurorangri Padme,
Thatha Kim Thatha Kim, Thatha Kim Thatha Kim. 6

Even if your fame has spread all over,
And the entire world is with you because of charity and fame,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौ
न कान्तासुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तम्।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्।।7।।

Na Bhoge, Na Yoge, Na Vaa Vajirajou,
Na Kantha Sukhe Naiva Vitheshu Chitham,
Manaschenna Lagnam Gurorangri Padme,
Thatha Kim Thatha Kim, Thatha Kim Thatha Kim. 7

Even if you do not concentrate your mind,
On passion, Yoga, fire sacrifice,
Or in the pleasure from the wife
Or in the affairs of wealth,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्ये
न देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनर्घ्ये।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्।।8।।

Aranye Na Vaa Swasya Gehe Na Karye,
Na Dehe Mano Varthathemath Vanarghye,
Manaschenna Lagnam Gurorangri Padme,
Thatha Kim Thatha Kim, Thatha Kim Thatha Kim. 8.1

Even if your mind stays away in the forest,
Or in the house, Or In duties or in great thoughts
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

अनर्घ्याणि रत्नादि मुक्तानि सम्यक्
समालिंगिता कामिनी यामिनीषु।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्।।9।।

Anarghani Rathnani Mukthani Samyak,
Samalingitha Kamini Yamineeshu,
Manaschenna Lagnam Gurorangri Padme,
Thatha Kim Thatha Kim, Thatha Kim Thatha Kim. 8.2

Even if you have priceless jewel collection,
Even if you have an embracing passionate wife,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत्पुण्यदेही
यतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही।
लभेत् वांछितार्थ पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञं
गुरोरुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम्।।10।।

ॐ गुरु ॐ गुरु

Phalasruthi:
Guror Ashtakam Ya Padeth Punya Dehi,
Yathir Bhoopathir, Brahmacharee Cha Gehi,
Labeth Vanchithartham Padam Brahma Sangnam,
Guror Uktha Vakye, Mano Yasya Lagnam.

Result of reading:

Whoever reads, studies and recites this Ashtaka on the Guru and remains devoted and attentive to the sayings of the Guru, he, no matter if he is a holy person, ascetic, king, neophyte, or householder, attains his coveted object, namely the supreme abode of Brahman, the unassailable seat of immortality.

Link to Guru Ashtakam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqCji-oDTlA