How To Respond To Crazy People

<p>One suspects <a href='https://dailystoic.com/marcus-aurelius/?utm_source=convertkit&amp;utm_medium=convertkit&amp;utm_campaign=crazy-people'>Marcus Aurelius was referring to</a> a particularly frustrating person, some opponent who just would not, or could not, get the message, when he wrote:</p><p>“You can hold your breath until you’re blue in the face and they’ll just go on doing it.” </p><p>There’s an American expression along those same lines: “Never wrestle with a pig. You just get dirty and the pig enjoys it.”</p><p>Both these pieces of advice are worth remembering for the inevitable moments that we find ourselves in conflict or at cross purposes with <a href='https://dailystoic.com/what-to-do-when-you-meet-a-jerk/'>one of those nutty, obnoxious, stubborn jerks that make up a certain percentage of the population</a>. Although it’s tempting to fight and argue with them, it rarely ends well, because you can’t beat someone with nothing to lose, and it’s impossible to reason someone out of a position they didn’t reason themselves into in the first place. </p><p>It takes great skill to identify irrationality and emotional reactions in other people. It takes a lot of confidence to avoid battling with <a href='http://geni.us/AI5ewOQ'>someone acting out of ego</a>. It requires patience to endure their onslaughts and put up with them in your midst. </p><p>But if you can, you’ll preserve your happiness and live a much less stressful life. It’s not your job to change other people—and even it were, crazy doesn’t want to be changed. Learn how to walk away. Learn how to de-escalate. Learn how to let other people be themselves and <a href='https://dailystoic.com/you-do-you-whether-they-like-it-or-not/'>you just do you</a>. It’s a much easier life, you can count on that. </p>