Insults are not easy to take. Learning how to deal with it is a life skill as well as an etiquette issue. Here is the know-how on tackling this difficult situation that we all have to face at some point or the other
Do you often get hurt by people’s jibes and feel incapable of answering back? Do not worry as you are not the only one. It happens with many of us. In such a situation, it’s best to avoid an emotional outburst (even if it feels the most natural thing to do). And do not cry or blame yourself for the occurrence of such an incident. You should retain your composure and make a joke to point out the ridiculousness of such insults. You can tackle such a situation in a smart way and for that we share five tips with you.
1 Relax by taking deep breaths: Never panic in such a situation as it will make your bully happier and empowered. The bully wants you to commit such mistakes. Instead, sit somewhere and take deep breaths. This will calm you down and help you analyse the situation in a better way.
2 Ignore personal jibes: Always remember, bullies want your attention. If they won’t get the desired attention, they will stop creating problems for you. And they will look for some other prey. Show them that their insults have not affected you in any way and you are just fine with it.
3 Laugh at yourself: Whenever somebody tries to insult you in any way, laugh at yourself and give a bow to the person. This gesture will make the person feel weird and clueless. He will wonder what really made you do this. Moreover, it will prove that you do not care about such things and the person might not repeat this.
Remember this
Insults and jibes are usually about the other person, not you. Understand that some people just try to make others feel bad so they can feel better about themselves. So, don’t allow someone else’s opinion to influence the rest of your day/month/year/life.
4 Introspection: Always remember, introspection is a valuable and wonderful tool for personal growth and empowerment. Try to know the root cause about why the person insulted you. It might be (though not necessarily) because of your own approach towards certain things or because you hurt him or her sometime back. But, do not get stuck in a mental loop.
5 Try to bury the hatchet: You should always be open and ready to discuss any problem with people, even if it is your bully on the other side. You can invite the person for a cup of tea and sandwich and engage in a healthy discussion over the issue. Always remember, you have called him to resolve the issue rather than escalating it.
When a joke is carried too far....
While poking fun at each other is de rigueur between friends and classmates, the situation can sometimes get out of hand, and lead to a lot of hurt and heartbreak. Here’s what you can do when you feel that you are becoming a victim of incessant cruel jokes
Complain to teacher
For instance, if your basketball team members make fun of your work and it is leading to low self-esteem, don’t ignore it. Talk about it to your school coach or other authorities and explain the matter to them clearly and in a straightforward manner. Talking helps.
Set boundaries
If you know the classmate seated next to you always makes fun of you to the point of ridiculing you, confront him/her confidently and say that you don’t like it. Sample: “Please don’t revolve the conversation around me. Let us interact positively.” Your message will be delivered without making you appear touchy.