When someone sends or tells me an inspirational story, I try to consider the source. Some people really irk me, and I have to force myself to let it go, or at least keep my reaction to myself.

Most people have good intentions, to be encouraging or whatever. To them I usually say something like "Thank you for thinking of me and sharing that. If only everybody's story could end that way!"

It's the ones that I know are really saying "you don't have enough faith" or "you just need to TELL yourself you can" that test my patience. I have a family member like that. Work through it. It's all in your attitude. (He holds himself to those same impossible standards--God forbid he ever becomes seriously ill or disabled).

Once I told him, "You just keep working on that positive thinking...who knows, maybe you can grow yourself some compassion."