Cheryl: Someone at work is focusing on me negatively. When she first arrived as a new hire she focused negatively on others, but her acid ways are now focused on me. As you know, I pay attention to my attitude and positive words and thoughts. I would have thought I was immune to this kind of thing. Apparently not. What happened?

Higg(in)s: This is an example of repelling emotional states. It is quite unconscious to the perpetrator of your discomfort, but she cannot have you around. Her response to you is not about the quality of your work, nor is it about your personality. It is about her emotional set point. You don’t match it. She is flailing about trying to make you match her emotional set point so she can feel better.