Part of human nature is, at times, getting into arguments, either voluntarily or involuntarily. We want to make our voices heard and address our concerns.
Being social creatures as we are, this can be considered quite normal and rather natural. However, things can sometimes get pretty nasty and heated when it doesn’t necessarily have to be so.
When you feel an argument isn’t going anywhere, there are civilised ways to stop it before it gets emotionally hurtful or even physically harmful.
Take a deep breath
Stop arguing and really breathe, giving yourself time to calm down. Tell whoever you’re having the altercation with that you need a minute to recalibrate.
Apologise
Say you are sorry if you need to, especially if what started out as a discussion generated a full-fledged argument. You don’t need to apologise for everything you are entitled to your opinion, but just make sure if it becomes a war of words, you can say you’re sorry for allowing things to escalate.
Don’t be a drama queen
Keep things factual and practical. Don’t exaggerate or overplay things. Discussing things calmly is always better than being dramatic and finger-pointing.
Be clear and ask clarifying questions.
Find out what happened and why instead of saying something like ‘how stupid of you’ or ‘how could you have done such a stupid thing’.
Agree to disagree and also agree that certain topics can be off-limits
As reasonable and as logical as you think you are, other people are entitled to their own opinions, even if you think that opinion is ill-advised. So remember to let it go, disagree and be okay with it, and avoid certain topics in future if necessary.
Compromise
This is a follow-up to the above. Try to find a solution that is acceptable to both of you and nip the argument in the bud with the appropriate solution rather than allowing for the argument to go overboard.
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