I teach students of a wide range of age, of both sexes, drawing and painting. One day, one of them asked me a question, after some hesitation, as it was not related to art. I did not mind answering it. I am reproducing the conversation below, not verbatim, but the essence of it.
My Student: Sir, may I ask you a question?
I: You have already asked a question. You mean to ask me one more question?
MS: Yes.
I: Go ahead.
MS: If someone were to badmouth you, how would you react?
I: There are two ways one could be badmouthed, and for two reasons. Someone could badmouth me to my face. If the person did that out of ignorance or because of being misinformed, I would attempt to convincingly convey facts which should set things right. If they still would not, one could, with a reasonable degree of certainty, assume that the denigration was deliberate for other reasons. Then, whatever I might say would not be heard. In such a case I would quit. It is also pointless to retaliate in the same coin, because it will only lead to an escalation of the abrasive situation. It is a waste of time and energy. I need them to do a lot of things which await my attention.
Secondly, one could badmouth me indirectly. If a third person informed me of it, I again would attempt to set things right by feeding him or her with correct information, which he or she might use to confront the person who maligned me. If the maligner still persisted, I would advise the third person to quit.
If, however, there was some truth in the allegations, I would confess to it and correct myself.
All this would be possible, only if the ego were positive. A negative ego would only worsen the situation. A negative ego is a static image I have formed of myself.
MS: What is a negative ego? In other words what is a static image of the self?
I: Shall we continue the conversation tomorrow?
MS: Sure.
