Don't Turn Your Back on Difficult Situations, Face Them Head On

Don't Turn Your Back on Difficult Situations, Face Them Head On
Valeria Sabater

Written and verified by the psychologist Valeria Sabater.

Last update: 21 December, 2022

In today’s world, where so many people choose to shy away from difficult situations, we need people who are upfront, and who face life head-on, without fear or hesitation. For this reason, when it comes to showing indifference to someone, it’s better to do it without any hesitation. Furthermore, with the firm and calm gaze of someone who knows how to say “enough”. Someone who’s not afraid to put limits on anyone who disturbs their own personal equilibrium.

There are few components as essential in human relationships as the recognition of another. In fact, it’s thanks to these interactions that we exist, learn, and grow as people.

However, when a particular relationship hurts you or causes you unhappiness, you need to know how to recognize the ‘offense’ and how to react to it instead of running away or turning your back.

“There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.”  

-Socrates-

Something you should remember is that it’s preferable to lose a relationship than to lose your own health. Furthermore, in order to rid yourself of a problematic relationship, you must act with maturity, consistency, and adequate emotional intelligence. In fact, anyone who chooses to simply turn their back does so because they don’t know how to be upfront. 

For this reason, you should equip yourself with adequate skills to manage this type of situation. In this way, you’ll feel more competent, satisfied and, in turn, enjoy a better quality of life and mental health.

A couple turning their backs on a difficult situation.

Don’t turn your back on difficult situations

If you think about it, you live in a world full of people accustomed to turning their backs on many of the things around them. Sometimes, they even do it in a malicious way. As a matter of fact, it’s all just a matter of ego. That invented identity that they build up over time until they find themselves stranded on a deserted island, where they only care about what happens within the limits of their own little psychic and emotional world.

If you don’t recognize and empathize with your loved ones, you also don’t know how to correctly manage your own conflicts. However, if you don’t like something or someone, there’s not much use in running away or trying to hide from them. Problems and conflicts must be faced. Your life isn’t a smooth and straight road with no potholes, nor a sterile atmosphere with no infectious conflicts and clashes. Sometimes, it’s not just the grievance that bothers you. In fact, you’re also affected by how you react to what happens to you. Consequently, if you do it with maturity and intelligence, you’ll be able to build a firmer, enriching, and more valid self-concept.

Learn to manage your differences and conflicts

It’s normal for you to like people who get involved, take sides, have a voice and an opinion about things, and dare to defend them. That vital energy is, in turn, linked to an almost magical commitment to themselves. Because people endowed with good self-esteem don’t hide or turn their backs. They use assertiveness to clearly say what they don’t like and why.

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

-Winston Churchill-

Next, we suggest you take a look at the following strategies. They’ll help you to deal with your differences with the people around you in a more successful way.

couple arguing

Keys to bravely face what bothers you

Gestalt therapy is a good strategy to use for dealing with difficult situations. Its holistic approach allows you to assume important principles such as self-responsibility, honesty, and self-respect.

Think about the following:

  • Focus on the here and now when dealing with conflict. It doesn’t matter if, in the past, that person or the situation brought you happiness. If they, or it, are making you unhappy now, react. Don’t make conditional excuses for them either. For example “Maybe this is just something temporary. If I could just hold on a little bit longer…”
  • Stay calm at all times. Anger is a runaway emotion that takes you to places you don’t want to go. Remember, whoever turns their back flees and acts either through fear or cowardice. Furthermore, whoever attacks with rage and contempt doesn’t always find the well-being that they seek. On the other hand, the person who’s brave and acts with emotional intelligence has learned how to build a palace of temperance in their mind. This means they can act head-on and look serenely at what disturbs them without ever reaching levels of aggression or contempt.
  • Speak assertively. You must make it clear what’s bothering you and what you’re not willing to tolerate. If you don’t speak clearly, the person in front of you will repeatedly keep trying to cross your personal boundaries. Indeed, if you don’t make yourself clear, and opt for avoidance behavior instead, they’ll probably attack you again.

Finally, in this world, where too many people choose to turn their backs on difficult situations, make sure you’re always upfront. Even if it’s only to offer them the silent treatment or a dignified glance. That’s the wisest form of indifference.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.