What's With all the Drama?

My favorite phrase is: If you're looking for drama, don'ttold that way, yet what if it were told it a different
look here.way?
While many of us relate to that, we also tend to spendExample #2:
much time complaining about all the drama that friendsMan, were we lucky today! When our power went
or co-workers create. What is really behind the drama,out, the computers went down too, but somehow
though and how are you actually contributing to it?came back on without any damage! Not much drama
As human beings we are naturally drawn to drama,to add to that story and whoever is listening, doesn't
whether it's on reality shows, stories from our own life,feel like your upset has been dumped on them. In fact,
or even better, other peoples' lives. There is nothingthey may even feel relieved.
quite like the excitement of hearing a story aboutIf you've had enough of all the drama, then try these
someone else that leaves you with that feeling of: "Nosimple techniques to lesson the drama in your life and
way!" Yet more important than what you feel whenthose around you:
you hear it, is what you do with that story once it's told.1- Listen to the story like it is just that. A story.
Are you upset after hearing an over-dramatized story2- Be aware that the story most likely does not affect
or doesn't it affect you at all? If you're capable ofanything about you.
walking away without it on your back, then good for3- Try to help your dramatic friend by focusing on the
you, but if you end up sharing it with others, then thispositive. Wow, that sounds like a rough day, but I'm
may be why there is so much drama in your life.glad you are okay.
Everyone has a life that can be told as a real-life4- Listen carefully, without adding anything to the story.
drama. No matter how simple or complicated, if you5- Try to change the subject once the main idea of
pull each event in your life apart, you could no doubtthe story has been told.
write an impressive story about it. But so what?6- Take a deep breath when you walk away and be
The point is that we all have drama in our life due tomindful of the fact that you don't need to take it with
the constant elements of surprise. It's not our life thatyou.
creates the drama, though, it is merely our speaking7- Remember that the story only lives in your
about our life that creates the drama.speaking, so if you don't speak about it, it has no room
Here's example #1:for growth.
What a horrible day at work! Due to the heat, theIn the long run, you will see that perhaps drama has
power went out and we almost lost all of our dataalways found you, because of how you react to the
from our computer system! This story could then leaddrama that comes your way. Once you realize the
to all the other things that could have happened. Oh,drama is simply someone sharing their story, there will
the drama!be less drama in your life.
That does sound like a horrible story, at least when