No matter who you are, you will probably have to deal with bullies at some point in life. For a lot of people, that point comes in high school. Rather than allow such people to put you down, here are a few reasons why all teens need to learn how to handle bullies.
But first…
Please do not take this to mean that I in any way place the burden on the victims of bullying. Of course, much more education should go towards curbing bullying tendencies, to begin with! After all, parents, teachers, and coaches should be encouraging kindness, not aggressive or bullying behavior.
However, the reality is that bullies do exist. So rather than pine away at the idea that they shouldn’t, you’ll be surprised at how much confidence, independence and pride you can obtain from sticking up for yourself. You can read my personal bullying story for yourself and perhaps find some inspiration – because it’s not something you have to put up with.
Bullies Can Ruin Self Esteem
Self-esteem is a very important aspect of your psyche, and it’s crucial for academic and social success. Those who believe they are going to succeed often tend to do so. Some people call this the power of positive thinking, and it is a scientifically proven phenomenon.
It’s essential to learn how to deal with bullies so that they aren’t able to chip away at your feelings of self-worth. If you witness bullying or experience it yourself, talk to a parent or teacher right away.
Consider Martial Arts
Bullying is both a mental and physical problem. It’s a physical problem when you are being physically harmed or threatened with physical harm. One of the best physical solutions against bullying is probably martial arts. Martial arts is meant to teach you how to defend yourself when attacked.
Achieving mastery in martial arts can give a teen a reputation as someone who should not be provoked. Teens need to learn how to handle bullies because bullies prey on perceived weakness. Learning a discipline like martial arts can boost your feelings of self-esteem as well as your confidence in your ability to defend yourself.
Bullies Don’t Go Away
You might think once you leave school that you won’t have to deal with bullying ever again. However, bullies won’t ever completely go away. Heck, I even talk a little bit about my bully of an ex-boss on my other blog, StephanieCristi!
That is why a young person should learn to deal with them at an early age. There will always be those who do not like you or who try to get their way through intimidation. And thus, you need to be ready and willing to deal with those people.
Bullies in school and the workplace can have serious side effects. In the case of non-physical bullying, you need to understand that these things cannot hurt you unless you allow them to do so. You can’t control others, but you can control yourself and your mental wellness by learning how to respond to bullying.
TL;DR
There can be no doubt that teens need to learn how to handle bullies more than anyone. Physical bullying tends to be more common at that age, making it a much more tangible threat. That being said, ruining a person’s self-esteem can sometimes be more damaging than the hardest punch. Only by preparing yourself, both mentally and physically, can you deal effectively with this problem.
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