Teen Anger Management – How Can We Attach the Art of War to it – Sun Tzu Would Feel Proud
Teen anger management and Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” has a lot in common. The Art of War is a military strategy book that has not only survived the ravages of time but has also thrived. What is it about this book that has intrigued military minds for thousands of years. It’s simple approach to War and how to win them has been successfully put to the test time and time again. What does a much aged book have to do with a teen who is disruptive and disrespectful?
Chapter 7 of Sun Tzu’s book is entitled “Engaging the Force.” It explains the danger of direct conflict and how to win head on situations by avoiding direct force and opting to use indirect force instead. A quote directly from the master Sun Tzu himself is “If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.” A single loss. I wish I had know about this quote 711 losses ago, but once you know how to apply it with your teen anger management skills, you’ll never lose another argument with your teen.
What does it mean to know your enemy, and how to engage indirectly? You need to know what motivates your teen, and what does not. Once you know these things, it will give you the physiological advantage you need when dealing when a witty teen. If your thinking that “my teen isn’t an enemy of mine”. I can see how and why you would not want to attach such a negative connotation to your loved one, but in a verbal conflict you do need to know how to come out in such a way that you feel that you got your point across without compromising your positions.
When I leaned this maneuver that Sun Tzu taught I immediately began to see positive results in my own household. If I needed something done by my teen daughter (like mow the lawn) that would have normally started a heated battle, I asked for it indirectly. To get her to mow the lawn I asked her to take on the responsibility of washing the clothes. Now although she dislikes mowing the lawn, she hates washing the clothes.
She asked me if she could mow the lawn instead of washing the clothes. Little did she know that that was my objective in the first place–to get her to mow the lawn. I got her to do what I wanted her to do without one verbal joust. If you’re looking for new ways to handle teen anger management, try using indirect tactics; learn to engage the force the way a master like Sun Tzu would. You may find yourself being discussed in history books thousands of years later. If not, at least you can get the lawn mowed without much of a fight.
Although it seems like you have come to a dead end regarding your teen, and your considering a boot camp for their disruptive behavior. Know that there are other alternatives [http://www.helpforteensonline.com].This method has given me power over the situation. It has taught me how to remain calm and to be at peace with myself first.
“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured”…Mark Twain
Marcus A. Leverett is a proud father and mentor to three lovely teenagers. He loves to read and write, is an avid cat lover, and a devoted Tennessee Titan fan.