Difficult People

Have you ever wished that there was a healthy way to let frustration out so that it doesn’t build up to the point where you’ll explode and combust? Well after pondering this for some time myself, I have come up with 10 steps to achieve and re-gain the peace and contentment while dealing with difficult people.

1. Kill them…with kindness that is. This one works 80% of the time. At first it will be difficult task since all you’ll want to do is scratch their eyes out but as you develop a kind heart you’ll be able to break the person and hopefully drive them insane, just kidding. You can turn a bad situation to your advantage by disarming people with kindness and allowing them to feel important. “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35 NIV)

2. Keep a positive outlook on life, a time will come when this person is no longer a part of your life. “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11)

3. Imagine that everyone was put on earth to teach you something useful. Be patient with yourself. Look at each exchange, whether good or bad, as a lesson on how to deal with others.

4. When someone calls you a liar or other derogatory term of your character remain calm and collect your words before you respond. Sometimes people will test you to see how you will respond and re-act to their words. Surprise them be making calm comments and don’t bother arguing with them, they want you to re-act with anger. Control yourself if you find your feelings getting too intense. Remember that you have the option to leave. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

5. Recognize that it is useless to argue with them. If possible, plan ahead and prepare your tactics. Think about the result you want. Stay calm and unemotional. Be straightforward and matter-of-fact

6. Realize that the person must be feeling very insecure about themselves. They might have family issues or home problems that you don’t know about. There may be more than meets the eye, things that they themselves may be struggling with.

7. Do not expect them to change. That’s the way they want to be. Even if they were raised better. You can not change them

8. Some people are dumb. Many people are smart, many people are rude. It’s the way of life. Accept that and remember not to allow yourself to fall into their rudeness.

9. Pray for them. Matthew 5:4 says, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

10. Know that you will make it through and that one day you can look back and see things you have learnt from the situation. Transform every stumbling block into a building block. There have always been and always will always be “difficult people” so learning how to deal with them is the first step to a life towards peace and having less people-stress. My final piece of encouragement comes from Philippians 3:14 which says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”