
 |
|
May 24, 2012
Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation
Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll
Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble?
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak!
May 23, 2012
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
|
| |
Jewish World Review
Oct. 18, 2010
/ 10 Mar-Cheshvan, 5771
Humphrey Bogart and P. T. Barnum on Fighting with Family and Friends
By
Alan Douglas
| 
|
|
|
| |
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
"When angry, count to four: when very angry, swear" wrote Mark Twain. Scientists and self-help books would have us believe that when you get a big sock in the nose that you respond by either fleeing or fighting. But many of us just flail in frustration. We lash out with venomous anger at those around us. Samuel Johnson observed, "Wives and husbands are, indeed, incessantly complaining of each other…naturally every animal revenges his pain upon those who happen to be near." We treasure our friends and family so much that they are the ones we are most likely to fight. Humphrey Bogart set the concept in stone (or cement) at the entrance to Hollywood's Grauman Chinese Theatre where he placed his hand and foot prints and wrote, "May you never die, till I kill you." Remember Bogart's endearing message of love and homicide in recognition of this human trait and it will go a long way toward saving you grief.
I love pictures by Norman Rockwell showing America in the warm glow of decency and kindness; before we sanitized them as "core values." In every day life, our teams at work, extended family, and support network of friends, are like the circus exhibit "Happy Family" created by P. T. Barnum. "Happy Family" portrayed family harmony by presenting a tiger, wolf, bear, lion, and lamb all living in together in peace, in one enclosure. A visitor, touched by this demonstration of peace, inquired how long the creatures had been living together. Barnum informed him, "Eight months." adding, "Occasionally we have to replace the lamb." You should expect that some days you will be the lion, and some days the lamb. It is part of life, but you can make it better if you adopt the following two suggestions.
Electrical systems have circuit breakers to temporarily shut down the system before there is permanent damage. The temporary shut down allows time to see what the real cause of the problem is and to fix it. Or, in some cases the circuit breaker gives us enough time to realize the whole system is defective must be replaced. No matter what the outcome, the circuit breaker is there to protect not only the electrical system itself, but to prevent even worse damage. You and those you deal with should add circuit breakers to rants and arguments. Adding circuit breakers requires some discipline and goes against today's indulgent attitude towards full expression. To install the circuit breaker approach, go to those people who are most important in your life, and agree upon a phrase that gives both sides a signal to call a "time out" to absorb and think about what is clearly important.
Use a circuit breaker when someone issues a Nuclear Ultimatum or goes Coyote on you. An ultimatum can destroy the relationship since it starts an appraisal as to the market value of the relationship. You may not realize you let the bomb go. The other person may have heard a doomsday threat that you did not intent to make. Nuclear Ultimatums raise the stakes to where someone must quit, be fired or get divorced. That may solve the problem, but it isn't problem solving. Use a circuit breaker when either side is in victim mode, acting like they are a Coyote caught in a trap. The coyote will chew off its own leg to escape. If in the midst of an argument, you devastate the other side or the other side wants you to feel guilty for making them feel bad, back up and use a circuit breaker. When my mother was losing an important argument or realized she was wrong, she would suddenly stop talking, stare at the ground for a very long moment, and then looking straight at you with tears in her eyes, she'd wail, "Okay, so forgive me for living." It worked every time.
John Randolph observed during one debate, that his opponent Henry Clay was so carried away by his own eloquence and skills of oration that, "He has cut his throat with his own tongue." My second suggestion is that you teach everyone the following phrase: "Never threaten your own punishment." Teach your wife, husband, lover, children to say this when they are arguing with you. And, let them know you will use the same catch phrase during arguments. "Fine, we won't go anywhere on vacation," "Go ahead, get that stupid car, but I will never ride in it," and the famous "I'll sleep on the couch (no sex)" are all examples of threatening your own punishment. If your "solution" is really a threat that is going to be bad for you, think it over. The cold war doctrine of Mutual Destruction is not a good tool for solving personal problems. The capacity to annihilate the other person does you little good if the result devastates you. Stick to your principles but as Winston Churchill counseled, "Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed."
Humphrey Bogart reminds use to fight with love and P.T. Barnum warns us that perfection isn't real life. Circuit breakers allow each side to retire to their neutral corner for the next round. My friend, Joe Peiken keeps a scrap of paper in his dresser drawer with the words "Never threaten your own punishment" and he swears he gets into a lot less trouble than he used to. In his case, this is a major accomplishment.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Comment by clicking here.
JWR contributor Alan Douglas, an author, media executive, speaker, and attorney, lives con brio- except when he is grumpy.
Previously:
Columbus, Honors and Hound Dogs
The Free Lunch
When your child suffers
Conversational Transmitted Diseases
Conservative, Liberal or American
Paris, Antarctica and Shopping
Personal Protection
Dispute Resolution
Jumped or Pushed?
Friends and Acquaintances
Revenge and Vindication
© 2010 Alan Douglas
|
|

Arnold Ahlert
Mitch Albom
Jay Ambrose
Michael Barone
Barrywood
Lori Borgman
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Richard Z. Chesnoff
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Alan Douglas
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
Frank J. Gaffney
Bernie Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Argus Hamilton
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Ron Hart
Nat Hentoff
Marybeth Hicks
A. Barton Hinkle
David Horowitz
Jeff Jacoby
Renee James
Paul Johnson
Jack Kelly
Ed Koch
Ch. Krauthammer
Michael Ledeen
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Ann McFeatters
Dale McFeatters
Dana Milbank
Jeanne Moos
Dick Morris
Jim Mullen
Deroy Murdock
Judge A. Napolitano
Bill O'Reilly
Kathleen Parker
Star Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Sharon Randall
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Heather Robinson
Pat Sajak
Debra J. Saunders
Martin Schram
Culture Shlock
David Shribman
Roger Simon
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Ben Stein
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Dan Thomasson
Bob Tyrrell
Ben Wattenberg
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
ZeitGeist
Mort Zuckerman

Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
Lisa Benson
John Branch
John Cole
J. D. Crowe
John Deering
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Mallard Fillmore
Glenn Foden
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Walt Handelsman
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holbert
David Horsey
Lee Judge
Steve Kelley
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Chan Lowe
Jimmy Margulies
Jack Ohman
Michael Ramirez
Drew Sheneman
Kevin Siers
Jeff Stahler
Scott Stantis
Ed Stein
Danna Summers
John Trever
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters
Dan Wasserman

Mr. Know-It-All
Ask Doctor K
Richard Lederer
Frugal Living
Tech Maven
On Nutrition
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
|