Positive Reactions to Negative Situations
Arguments with friends and family are a fact of life, but they don’t have to be knock-downdrag-out disasters. Here are the right - and the wrong- ways to handle negative situations.
Conflict 1
Your sister ridicules your new hairdo, asking, “Did you get run over by a lawn
mower, or what?”
Fighting foul:
Scream, “You’re fat and ugly, and you dress like you just climbed out of a
dumpster.”
Fighting fair:
Resist the urge to spew obscenities and immature put-downs. Try a simple smile
and respond, “Yes, I did!”
Conflict 2
A friend says that he’s too sick to come to your party—but then your neighbor (or
aunt) spots him at the mall with another friend.
Fighting foul:
Tell him, “It’s too bad that you weren’t feeling up to going out last night,” and see
what he says.
Fighting fair:
Be up-front. Say, “I heard you were at the mall during the night of my party. If it’s
true, is there a reason you felt you needed to lie to me?” Then let him explain.
Conflict 3
Your father is very upset: You stayed out an hour past your curfew and didn’t call
home.
Fighting foul:
Yell at him for being “unfair and too strict.” Then turn around and stomp out of the
room.
Fighting fair:
Apologize and admit that you were wrong; then explain why you weren’t home on
time. Be honest.
Conflict 4
Your brother wants to borrow the streaming video player to put in his room to watch
a movie, but it’s your turn to use it.
PROTEAM DREAMQUEST CURRICULUM
4-21