Kiran,
People like the one you describe can make life really difficult, especially when we aren't feeling confident. I just wanted to say that taking care of yourself (for instance, doing the journal) is not being self absorbed, because if you aren't taking care of yourself, you can't be there for others in a healthy way.
Allison

: Dear Marlia,
: Yes, I can relate to this, wanting to
: be perfect and tracking
: everything. And hearing
: discouraging words that journaling
: was "self-absorbed" was
: really hurtful. So I gave up. But
: I have started again, after many
: years.

: I feel this too, by writing the
: emotion down, it helps to detach.
: I must admit to being pen and
: paper old school, and recently I
: concentrated on writing slower to
: improve legibility, and that
: helped my mind slow down and
: focus.

: Using emotion words in my journal has
: helped me to express how I feel. I
: have been frustrated by the same
: person who called me
: self-absorbed, this person makes
: other subtle digs that shift blame
: to me, get over it, am I to do
: _____ myself? that sort of thing.
: I wanted to wait to deal with this
: on Step 7, but I had a recent
: experience with a friend where I
: was able to express my true
: thoughts when given the space to
: do so. So I think I am ready for
: this, to say how much these
: comments hurt. We will see how it
: goes. Grateful for the journal!

: KirAnn