I'm not kidding!
Just a minute....I need a smile here.
How many times have you said, I’m NOT kidding, to someone? Maybe you said it to your kiddos, or your spouse, heck, maybe you even said it to your boss! But were you? Not kidding, I mean. Maybe you were super serious, or maybe you were just frustrated with the situation or the other persons attitude. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve had my fair share of times that I’ve said this to someone. More than one someone’s!
But it was only for a moment. My deeper feeling wasn’t of permanent frustration, or anger, or actually ready to throttle someone. But let’s face it. Sometimes, though you’d rather not, you really need the other person to know you’re serious and they need to straighten up and pay attention. At that moment, you aren’t kidding around. You’re serious.
But that’s not how you’d like to be, is it?
When I get to those moments, I really don’t want to be in that frame of mind. But life happens, and sometimes we all need to put our foot down and get others to take us seriously. Or……..instead, we could laugh out loud and surprise everyone. Which, trust me, always stops others in their tracks and gets their attention. WHY? Because it’s the exact opposite of what they expect at that very moment.
Laughter. A smile.
Actually, giving them a smile at the exact moment they expect an angry response from you makes all the difference. AND…..takes away their refusal to cooperate, their anger, and creates in them a better feeling. One where you can communicate with a softer voice, kinder attitude, and open dialogue. A WIN-WIN for you both. This is even true for our kiddos when they misbehave. Try it and see for yourself. Keep in mind that I’m not saying to laugh AT them, but instead to laugh at yourself and to smile at and with them. With your eyes and your facial expression, let them know you’re open to communicate in a calmer, kinder way. Then you can both laugh with the “I’m not kidding!” phrase in a fun way instead of in an anger-packed way. After all, isn’t that how you’d like to be instead?
I plan to make more of an effort to do that, instead of my normal “I’m not kidding!” response.
Will you join me?