I know it’s been a while, but I’ve been busy abusing my brain completing my doctoral degree. (I’ve got all kinds of things to say about that, but I’ll save it for another time.)
Step 11 of self care is “stay away from drama and negativity”. Here is a short list of things that make it really difficult to remain in the “drama-free” zone:
—coworkers who feel threatened by you
—petty coworkers
—bosses who are younger than you (old enough to be your kids)
—people who demonstrate their inability to drive a vehicle
—teenagers…yours or anyone else’s
—when you can’t find something you desperately need at the store
—when plans fall through
—when someone or something manages to find your last nerve and plays it like a banjo
The older I get, the more things annoy me. And yet, ironically, the older I get, the more I learn to let a lot of things roll off my back and not affect me. Where I get in the most trouble with avoiding drama and negativity is in that pocket of space we affectionately call the “grey area”. I have two teenagers at home. It’s laughable to think I can totally avoid drama! I could probably purchase a new car if I had a nickel for every time we told them to quit arguing. If you think I am about to impart any wisdom on you about avoiding teenage sibling drama, I’ve got nothing for you…you can head back to camp.
One thing I can tell you is that in the interest of self care, if you cannot steer clear of drama and negativity, you can still navigate it with poise. Try these:
—Refrain from contributing. Ensure you aren’t investing in the drama.
—Trump the drama with an amazing announcement. With all of the enthusiasm you can muster, announce some exciting news. Even if you don’t have truly exciting news, announce something…anything…as if it were super exciting. “Hey, guess what? We are having spaghetti tonight! Can you believe it?!”
—For a few moments, take a mental vacation from the moment. Go somewhere comfy and beautiful. When you come back to reality, be mindful of how the drama and negativity only have the value and impact you assign to them.
—Don’t dwell on the drama and negativity…ever. It only festers the infection and makes it more difficult to let it go.
—Physically remove yourself from the drama, if you can. Trust your instincts on this.
—Inject some victory juice into the situation and replace the negativity with some positivity.
If you are the source of the drama and/or negativity, cut it out! If you are a part of the problem (or the entire problem), conceive of how you can be a part of the solution! It may be as simple as getting over it. Once you set yourself right, make your amends and be sure to forgive yourself, too. Life is far too short to allow it to be overtaken by emotional vampires!
