What To Do When Someone’s Mean

What to do when someone’s mean? Maybe they tease you, leave you out, or act plain rude. The easiest thing to do? Snap back. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Here’s how to handle it without becoming mean yourself:

1. 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁.

When someone’s unkind, your brain wants to fight back fast. Instead, take a deep breath. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

Ask yourself:

"𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘦?" Most of the time, it’s not. Maybe they’re having a bad day, feeling left out, or just don’t know a better way to act. Their behavior = their problem, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴.

2. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿.

Try:

“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥.” (Simple, direct, and lets them know you see what they did.)

“𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶.” (Shows confidence and shuts down drama.)

No response at all! (Sometimes, silence is the strongest answer because it shows you’re in control - not them - and when you don’t react, they don’t get the reaction they were hoping for.)

3. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.

If someone is repeatedly unkind, talk to a teacher, parent, or friend you trust. Asking for help isn’t weakness, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮.

4. 𝗕𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁.

Just because someone is mean to you doesn’t mean you have to be mean back. Kindness doesn’t mean being a doormat, it means choosing to stay true to yourself, no matter what.

You can’t control how others treat you, but you can control how you respond, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴.