How to Handle Difficult People Throughout Life

One common mental health obstacle that many TCD students face, both during college and after graduation, is learning how to deal with difficult people and those you cannot get along with.

Whether it is working with a team member who refuses to pull their weight during a group project, or having constant arguments with an inconsiderate roommate, dealing with these interpersonal conflicts can be a major source of irritation and frustration. When combined with the usual stress that comes with academic life, this irritation and frustration can quickly escalate from simply ruining your day or mood to seriously affecting your overall mental and emotional wellbeing.

While dealing with difficult people is pretty much an inevitable issue you will face in life, there are still some proactive steps that you can take to limit their impact on your happiness. Here are a few mindfulness techniques that you can keep in mind and use whenever you run into a jerk who is ruining your peace of mind:

Be Sure to focus on Breathing:

When facing an issue with a particularly difficult person, be sure to take deep breaths throughout the interaction. By grounding yourself to the moment through breathing techniques, you can better manage any feelings of frustration or anger that you may be experiencing. It will also allow you to take a step back and think about the best way to respond and ultimately resolve the situation. It generally helps to fully consider the consequences beforehand to prevent a rash course of action you may regret later.

If possible, try to avoid the person by removing yourself from the situation:

In some instances, the best option for dealing with a difficult person is to walk away from the situation. There will be times where you cannot rationally deal with another person, and you need a break before you become too frustrated or exhausted. While not always possible, staying away from the other person will give you some time to better understand the situation and how it is affecting you emotionally. It will also help you come up with potential solutions to the problem.

Try to be more empathetic (don’t take it personally):

Sometimes, the difficult person in our lives is just having a terrible day. We like to think that difficult people are out to get us, but that is not always the case. We all have personal challenges we need to overcome in life. You have no idea what the other person is going through and how those challenges are negatively affecting them. A proactive and mindful approach would be to realise that they might be in a terrible mental and emotional situation right now and that you should try not to take it too personally or harshly.

In the end, taking these proactive steps will help you get a better handle on dealing with people you find very difficult or generally annoying. Here at the TCD Mindfulness Society, we can provide our students with additional mindfulness techniques and resources that will empower them in overcoming stress and anxiety challenges. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter here for all the latest news, events, and student resources regarding Mindfulness and meditation.

Stay Mindful,

TCD Mindfulness Society