Don't Kick the Cat
What would have happened if they had compartmentalized their negative feelings and not passed their anger to others during the day? Often when someone is having a bad day they look to share the burden. If there is a legitimate concern then by all means handle the situation. However, many times these concerns are not legitimate.
They are simply annoying attempts by someone trying to get attention, to bring drama into the room or to show they have some perceived power. Recognize the negative feelings for what they are. If they are legitimate, act accordingly, but do not pass the negative thoughts to others. If they are simply attempts to kick the cat, then you should be the person who stops the negativity.
Ideas for Implementation
Watch when people become upset and see how they deal with those feelings.
The next time you get upset over something, examine your reactions. Discussion Questions: Think about a recent event that upset you. Was your response appropriate for the event or did you overreact?
Why did you react that way?
What will you do differently the next time? Good luck! You are a WINNER!
* I paraphrased this story from Zig Ziglar, one of the leading motivational speakers in the world. He weaves homespun humor and inspirational stories to give you valuable life lessons. I would encourage you to get his CDs.
Please visit www.TeachingMoments.com
Related Tags: self improvement, teenagers, life skills, at risk, teachable moments, teaching moments
John Bishop is the Executive Director of Accent On Success a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving parents and teachers the tools they need to help children succeed in school and in life. He is the author of the Goal Setting for Students book which has recently won three national parenting book awards.
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