If nobody likes a bully then how in the world did we get so many? And what do you do when you’re faced with a bully?
According to statistics, almost 20% of high school student in the US report to be bullied at school, just in this last year! Almost 15% of those indicated they had been bullied online (cyber bullying). Approximately 65% of kids did not tell anyone, leaving only around 35% actually reporting it.
So what can we do to help? One way we can help stop bullying is to monitor places where bullying is more likely to occur. Try to be vigilant and aware of possible negative interactions between others.
Another way we can all help is to stand up for others when you see them being bullied. Don’t be afraid to get involved, especially if you’re an adult and you see it happening to a child. Or maybe you’re a bigger kid seeing it happen to a younger/smaller kid.
We can also provide a safe haven for those being bullied and/or include them in our own groups.
We can educate our schools and communities about the problem. The more people are talking about and working on this problem, the closer we get to finding solutions.
Another way we can help is to treat everyone with respect. Have you ever looked at the past with horror when you realized maybe you were a bully at times? While there might be little you can do now, one can’t stress the importance of thinking before we speak. Some of us don’t mean to be mean but maybe at times we don’t have the greatest filters. You might also try to remember that we all have good and bad qualities. Highlighting someone’s bad qualities does not make you better and if you believe in karma, or anything like it, you’ll eventually see ramifications you likely won’t be happy with.
If you realize that you’re a bully, seek out to someone who can help you stop. Most people who bully have a lot of insecurities. Reach out and find a better way to deal with those.
Most importantly, be aware. Think about ways you can help others even if you’re not having this problem. Let’s look for ways to foster feelings of love rather than fear.
