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How to Turn Difficult People Into Allies
The reverse psychology tactic for radically improving stressed relationships
We all have that person in our life who is difficult. It could be a fellow student, one of your pupils, or a coworker that always seems to have it out for you.
Regardless of the age or type of person adding stress to your life, I’ve got a tactic that will make your enemies into loyal friends. The kind of friends who will follow you into battle. How will we do this? By indebting them with kindness. Yes, we’re going to use kindness to improve their perspective, but we’ll do it in a way you’ve never considered before.
I wasn’t smart enough to figure this out on my own. Rather, I learned it first hand from the receiving end. It happened when I was just 12, but even 22 years later I still remember the moment like it was yesterday. It has enabled me to turn the most difficult of people into close friends, and it can help you, too.
My first experience with the tactic
It was an autumn day in 1998. My parents dragged me to church, despite my best efforts to feign sickness in the hopes that I’d get to stay home.
The other kids and I went upstairs when the sermon started and joined their relative age groups. My…
