Ditch the Drama: 5 Do’s and Don’ts for a More Peaceful Life
You don’t have to feed the beast
I grew up in a family where drama was the norm. It was an often confusing and disruptive environment and peace was hard to come by.
As an adult, I don’t do drama and I go to some pretty wild lengths to avoid it. If you’re reading this, I bet you can relate.
Even when trying to steer clear of drama, there’s always that person — you know the one — they seem to be put on this Earth for the purpose of creating drama. Chaos is their bestie. Before you know it, you’ve been sucked into a swirling vortex of heightened emotion, heart-pounding stress and the raised voices that are hallmarks of drama.
Encounters with these people will steal precious hours of your life that you’ll never get back. I’m guessing you already have enough on your plate without the constant disruption of these lovely people I call the drama-drivers.
If you’re looking to cut the drama in your life, here are 5 easy Do’s and Don’ts to help you reclaim your peace.
5 Do’s and Don’ts to Cut Drama
Don’t Take the Bait:
Drama junkies love to get a reaction and they’re willing to work for it. Their tools are tone of voice, gestures and words designed to grab your attention. Like a fish on a hook, once you’re reeled in, it’s almost impossible to escape. Don’t take the bait. If they persist, walking away is your best option.
Don’t Make Assumptions:
When emotions run high it’s easy to assume the person behind the drama has bad intentions. You can’t control their behavior, but you can choose what to believe about the situation. Assuming drama happens because someone’s out to get us creates a stressful narrative. Choosing to believe in a different narrative is empowering. Understanding drama is often more about the drama-driver than it is about you removes you from the equation. This makes it easier to walk away because you’re not attached to the outcome when it’s not about you.
Do Have Boundaries:
Boundaries are beautiful. If someone tries to pull you into drama by disrupting your life or using personal attacks they’ve crossed a line. Refuse to be part of the conversation. Stand firm and don’t engage in their bad behavior. Have the courage to walk away if needed. When it comes to boundaries, consistency is key. Refusing to get pulled into drama one day, then jumping back in the next blurs the line and keeps the party going. Keep consistent boundaries to cut the drama.
Do Keep Calm:
Drama-drivers love to ramp up emotions. They raise their voices, get into your physical space and gesture wildly, often going to lengths to get others invested in the act. Your best defense is to step back, take a deep breath and resolve to stay calm and detached. Instead of feeding the beast, respond mindfully and distance yourself from the ploys that try to draw you in.
Do Avoid Online Drama:
Trolls hide behind the anonymity of made-up names. They find a strange kind of joy in roasting others with hate-filled screeds. Avoid the urge to respond in kind. You can’t put out a fire while pouring gasoline on it. If you’re dealing with someone cooking up online drama, steer clear of snarky replies, and simply delete their comments or block them.
Summing It Up
Drama is inevitable and there will always be someone in your orbit who loves to stir up a storm. The good news is that you can take control of the narrative and manage your response to drama-drivers. Use the Do’s and Don’ts above to cut through the distraction, reduce stress and reclaim your peace.
