Maybe you have learned what prickly people are like and what tends to set them off, but how do you respond to a prickly person? How do you deal with in a way that won’t make things worse? It is possible to handle those people in a way that keeps things calmer and makes the interactions more pleasant. In this post, we’ll look at some simple, effective ways to respond when someone is acting prickly. These tips will help you stay cool, avoid arguments, stop the drama, and maybe even make them a little less prickly!
These tips for how to deal with a prickly person, are extra important if this is someone that you live with! The ideas will help your home be more peaceful, and your relationships to improve.
How To Respond To A Prickly Person
1. Respond with quiet words.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath.” Proverbs 15:1
It’s normal to want to react to the prickly person’s actions or words. And the normal fleshly response is often one of anger!
However, we should respond in the Spirit.
That means controlling our own anger and responding with a soft voice.
2. Speak kind, encouraging words.
Show sympathy, and let them know you are sorry that they are frustrated or upset.
Often, just knowing that someone cares or understands helps to diffuse the situation.
It can calm the snarling person down.
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3. Give them a hug.
Sometimes just pulling that person into your arms can be enough.
Hugging them, and patting their back lets them know that you care.
Sometimes no words are even needed.
4. Let the prickly person talk or rant.
Just like babies need to cry sometimes for no apparent reason, the prickly person often needs to just vent and rant. Sometimes they just need someone to listen, and then they feel better.
Let them know that you really heard them by responding with words that show you understand the emotions they are feeling.
Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes... in You and Your Kids
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For example, “So you are feeling really hurt right now, aren’t you? I’m sorry for your hurt.”
5. See if there is anything you can do to help.
If they are feeling stressed and overwhelmed about a situation, see if there is something that you can do to lighten their load.
Some people have a temperament that causes them to worry and stress easily when they have a lot going on. They could be stressed when they are going to be facing a new situation.
Help them know how to prepare if you can, and help relieve some of that stress for them.
I sincerely believe that God brings each different personality type into our families for a reason, yes even your prickly person. One reason may be to keep us depending on Him. Another may be to help us grow in areas of character through that difficult relationship.
When you are struggling with how to love that prickly person, stop and ask God to help. He can help you to not only respond the right way but also show you what He has for you to learn through that difficult relationship or situation.
More Resources for Responding to a Prickly Person
- How Do You Live With A Prickly Person?
- 6 Of The Most Common Triggers For Prickly People
- Loving the Difficult Child
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