April 16 Air š: The Mind
Taking a Stand
Sometimes I sense a combative nature in someone I had hoped to like. Aggressive comments, competitive attitudes, and consistent arguments makes me weary as well as wary. I might remain passive, or I might push back. Neither one is very satisfying. Then I begin to retreat from knowing this person or group as a means of self-protection, forever judging them as incompatible.
I want to find a space where there is room for some conflict or disagreement, but still feel safe and respected.Ā I want to respond but not to react.Ā
Related Expertise
āThe key to being assertive is to remain calm, firm, and appear confident. The worst thing you can do is respond to aggression with aggression. This doesnāt end well for anyone involved and only escalates the situation. Likewise, you may lose credibility when reporting the situationā (Horton, 2023).
Inspired Action
Combative people can catch us off guard. Then it is easy to react aggressively as well.
We can push the reset button and speak to them assertively, calmly and with warmth about our perception, or about our reaction, and prepare to respond better in the future. Trust that it is more important to establish mutual respect than it is to be correct and self-righteous.
