I’m not sure if you’ve experienced this yet, but not everybody online is nice.

I know, it caught me off guard too! The first time it happened, I thought to myself, “Oh fiddlesticks!”

But I’ve learned something in the years I’ve been online.

There are 10 words that erase most online hate.

I know that sounds magical, but it’s really quite simple.

The next time someone you don’t know says something ugly to you, I want you to imagine they started their hateful statement with these 10 words:

“I’m a complete stranger with some advice about your life.”

That’s all you have to do.

Someone tells you, “Your blog sucks!” I don’t want you to hear that. I want you to hear, “I’m a complete stranger with some advice about your life. Your blog sucks!”

The problem is that most of the time we take online hate as if it’s been delivered from a dear friend.

It hasn’t.

That’s a random stranger.

Even if it’s someone who is actually part of your life, their ability to hate you proves one thing. That person doesn’t really know you.

Don’t give them a speaking role in the movie of your life, they’re an extra.

Does this work when it’s a friend hating on you? Maybe not, but I guarantee you’re treating casual friends like close friends when they hate on you.

Those are 10 easy words.

Print them out.

If you spend more than 10 minutes online you’ll probably need them.