The Tricks To Dealing With Awful People

Awful people are everywhere. Whether it’s your history professor, who assigns copious amounts of homework and reading that no normal student could complete, or the barista at Starbucks, who added whipped cream to your “skinny white mocha no whip” — they’re inescapable.

Inevitably, someone in your daily routine will be awful to you. The only thing you can control is the way that you handle it. Follow this five-step process to ensure that said awful person is aware of being in the wrong and you’ll keep your dignity as a “nice” person.

1. Take A Breath

You need to relax. If you’re all riled up because someone stole your seat on the subway, then it seems that you may have bigger problems. Take a moment to collect your thoughts and truly grasp the situation in front of you. If you blow up immediately, then you are the actual awful person and you may have deserved whatever happened to you.

2. Examine Your Surroundings

Figure out who saw the “encounter” and maybe you can teach them a lesson… a lesson about how not to be a d-bag. This way, you act may affect the attitudes of the people around you for the rest of the day.

It would be pretty sh*tty if someone saw you being rude to another person and then they mimicked the actions that very same day. Spread positivity! You might think it sounds cheesy, but it’s true. So like Vitamin C says, “Put a smile on your face, make the world a better place.”

3. Think About The Accused

Maybe that person who you claim to be awful is just having a bad day and had a little slip-up. We never know what happens in the lives of others behind closed doors. People make mistakes — you make mistakes.

So, have some empathy and take a moment to think about the “awful” person and the problems he or she might be facing. The last thing this person probably wants is for you to blow up at him or her.

4. Make A Decision

This is a pivotal point in the process. This is where you decide to either completely ruin someone’s day (and maybe even his or her week) or you decide to be nice and maybe even give that person a hand. Choose to be the devil or the angel. We have a little bit of both inside of us… let the right one shine through.

5. Be The Bigger Person

If you need me to explain this step, then you should probably jump back to step one. Take the high road. Walk away. Blah blah blah. Let all the things your mother told you about being a good person run through your mind and for the first time in your life, actually take her advice. Besides, you never know with whom you’re dealing. Your future husband or wife could just be the very person who messed up your Starbucks order.

Photo credit: American Pie