How to deal with an uncomfortable situation: 7 useful tips

No one is completely free from going through uncomfortable situations from time to time, and it is normal that throughout In our life, various and diverse situations arise where we do not feel completely comfortable with what we occurs.

It is part of the functioning of social relationships to face moments in which ambiguity makes us not know what attitude to take (or even hesitate to make it evident that we realize that something is going evil). For this reason, surely on more than one occasion we have asked ourselves the question of How to deal with an uncomfortable situation?

In this article we will review a list of the best ways to remove the weight of discomfort from certain experiences in which we doubt what to do, in part, because of the image we can give.

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7 tips on how to deal with uncomfortable situations

Below we will see some ideas and tips that can be of great help when dealing with uncomfortable moments in your life.

1. Keep in mind that situations are relative

From this perspective, the discomfort of the situation will greatly decrease, since seeing the event as something relative we are removing weight from the annoying effect it may have on us.

What is uncomfortable for us should not necessarily be for others, and it often happens that assuming that others are feeling bad makes us feel uncomfortable.

The best thing will always be to make sure of the feelings of others before making value judgments, to avoid discomfort. If you have questions about how others feel talking about a topic or being in a certain place, you can ask them so you don't feel uncomfortable for them.

2. Learn to manage silences

Silences don't always have to be awkward. Depending on the moment it is important to manage what we say and when we are going to say it.

Although it is true that there are times when saying nothing creates a moment of tension and discomfort in the conversation, in other scenarios keeping silent represents an attitude of intimate understanding between the participants.

For example, when we are asked a question that we did not expect and we remain silent instead of answering, the atmosphere can become tense, while that when someone is letting off steam by explaining their negative experiences, several seconds go by in which no one says anything is natural and expected.

The best thing in these cases will be to be assertive and say how you feel when faced with a question that raises doubts. Of course, always in a courteous way and without showing signs of displeasure; keep in mind that the other person may not have been trying to make you uncomfortable.

3. Practice assertive communication

This point is about learn to communicate our thoughts and emotions in an appropriate way, without renouncing to say how we feel and at the same time respecting the other.

It is common for awkward situations to happen after a misunderstanding in conversation. Therefore, to avoid experiencing uncomfortable situations, the ideal is use good communication styles, and the first thing to do is recognize our emotions before expressing them.

Once we know what our emotions are, we will be able to manage them better, and we will prevent emotions from controlling us and saying things without thinking about them.

4. Know yourself

The more you know yourself, the less likely you are to be exposed to uncomfortable situations with others. If you are armed with the knowledge of the things that bother you and are clear about them, then you will be able to accept them and prevent them from acting as a trigger for uncomfortable situations.

know ourselves makes us more tolerant of the opinions and thoughts of third parties. Instead of them bothering us with their ideas, we may be able to respect them even if we do not share them, and therefore you will not show signs of hostility towards opinions that are far from yours.

5. No need to answer everything

It is important to understand that it is not necessary to respond to everything or everyone, each person is responsible for their words and their actions. We should not let the words of others take away our peace of mind.

Sometimes it is enough to know that we are in the right without the need to enter into an argument with people who are not willing to give up. You don't have to win every argument..

Sometimes peace is found in the ability to avoid arguments, even knowing that we have the best arguments. Keep in mind that there are people who deserve an answer, others who deserve an explanation, and some who don't.

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6. Avoid conflictive relationships

Our environment significantly influences the situations to which we expose ourselves. It is important to have the personal resources to face uncomfortable moments, but it is also essential knowing how to choose our personal relationships.

If our circle of close people is largely made up of people who are prone to arguments get involved in a conflictual way, then we will inevitably get involved in that habit.

7. Vent your emotions in a timely manner

When for some reason we avoid expressing what we feel, perhaps it is the best at that moment, out of prudence. But we will also need to have the opportunity to let out what we think; Otherwise, we will accumulate emotions and the time will come when they will put us through uncomfortable situations. by action of anxiety.

To avoid this, you can keep a journal where you vent your emotions in a fluid and honest way, or you could also tell someone you trust. It is important to properly release emotions to preserve our emotional health.

Bibliographic references:

• Ferguson, S. D.; Lennox-Terrion, J.; Ahmed, R.; Jaya, P. (2014). Communication in Everyday Life: Personal and Professional Contexts. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Turner, L.H., and West, R.L. (2013). Perspectives on family communication. Boston: McGraw-Hill.