How to Deal With an Insulting Person

You can train yourself to effectively diffuse insults.

Whether your first reaction is shock, anger or embarrassment, dealing with an insulting person is hard on anyone. Because many people will eventually come across rude and insulting in their lifetime, it is important to decide how you are going to react when the situation occurs. Getting the last word is rarely as effective as diffusing the situation and walking away from it a bigger person. By following a few simple steps, you can train yourself to do just that.

Instructions

1. Calmly and rationally tell the insulter that you feel he is out of line in the way he is addressing you. Avoid any emotion-based comebacks. Stand up for yourself, but remember that you are less likely to change his opinion of you by shouting back as you are by being mature.

2. Turn the other cheek. Sometimes people use insults to get a certain response or because they are feeling argumentative. Responding in a way they do not expect can sometimes call them back to reality and make them realize that their behavior is out of line.

3. Walk away when all else fails. Let the insulter know that you are happy to discuss the issue when he can do so with respect. Physically remove yourself from that person's presence whenever possible until he either apologizes or is capable of approaching you in an emotionally healthy way.

4. Remind yourself that although you cannot control how other people choose to act, you can control how you react. Doing so with dignity and keeping your temper will make you the bigger person in the long run and keep you from later remorse over saying things you might regret. Do not let someone else's bad behavior cause you to act the same way.

References

• Positive Articles.com: How To Deal With Rude People At Work In Three Simple Steps
• Self Growth.com: How To Deal With Insults