Rolling Stone reports how “Twilight:
There are two critical steps to keep bullies from wounding or scarring you, or from stopping your dreams in life:
- Developing a mind-set that’s strong enough to help you thrive. You don’t accept what bullies say as true or meaningful or predictive of your future. You don’t let bullies get to you. You develop mental and emotional toughness and grit. You don’t let their views or words decrease your self-esteem or self-confidence. You’re not harassed or abused inwardly by their negativity. You don’t become an emotional victim. You see them for the jerks they are. You set your mind and heart on the future you want to create. You keep a spark of hope and resolution alive. You know you’ll get away from jerks like that when you grow up. You find heroes that inspire your emotional strength, courage and endurance.
- Developing real-world tactics that are effective for you. You have complete choice depending on the situation and the styles you want to try. You don’t use the nine tactics that fail to stop relentless bullies. Instead, you might respond with snappy come-backs of your own. You might form your own clique of people who think you’re fine and worth being friends with. Depending on the type of bullying, you might get your parents and the principal and teachers involved. You might beat them up. I know that lots of people will cringe at that. But it works. Ask people who were successful against bullying.
Taylor commented only the first step. He said: “I just had to tell myself I can't let this get to me. This is what love to do. And I'm going to continue to do it.” That was good enough.
Notice the difference between his mental and emotional strength, and his resilience, and the kids who are wounded and scarred all their lives by taunting, or who commit suicide.
Sometimes a mentor, model or coach is crucial. It could be a wise parent, an athletic coach or a practical, life coach who keeps your spirits strong.
Think of the wonderful interaction that helped Michael Oher, as described in “The Blind Side.” Even though the movie downplays his knowledge of football (he had studied the game since he was 10), notice the support of Michael by people who believed in him and were skilled enough to nurture his will and fighting spirit.
We may not be as handsome as Taylor, but that’s irrelevant. We can be as mentally and emotionally strong in resisting the stupid opinions, harassment and abuse by vicious bullies.