In his book,”The Four Agreements” Don Miguel Ruiz repeats all throughout, various perspectives that depict many of us that suffer as being a paranoid lot.
We hear but assume what we hear was an attack. We refuse to hear and assume we were intentionally left out, and we concerned ourselves with what others think of us while assuming they are critical of us.
From this realization it becomes clear that peace, freedom and success is to be immune from the good opinion of others(a point my favorite speaker Wayne Dyer always emphasized) while never assuming anything and understanding that we are not important enough that others actions have been created with us in mind.
When I put it altogether it seems paranoia is our downfall which is another form of narcissism.
If I can understand that I bring others into my experience to empower me and uplift them with love, my paranoia will disappear. Any assumption of attack is born of fear and the belief that they are here to do me harm all the while I have created all experiences.