Disarming

Bart: [low voice] Hold it! Next man makes a move, the n------ gets it!
Olson Johnson: Hold it, men. He's not bluffing!
Dr. Sam Johnson: Listen to him, men. He's just crazy enough to do it!
Blazing Saddles

The art of 'disarming' is one of the greatest skills anyone can develop. Author and lecturer, Sam Horn wrote a book called, 'Tongue Fu' that I recommend to many patients who come into my practice struggling with family or job related stress. The idea of disarming is that you can take almost any accusation, insult or confrontation and move the interaction through to a calm place by skillfully taking apart the antagonists demeanor and disassembling the attack.

In an office setting disarming this is very useful. Patients are often rude and accusatory toward the receptionists and nurses but by the time they have gotten around to seeing me they are smiling and congenial. Medical practice is a 'people' business. We have to deal with all of the patients and take whatever they bring and convert the disease, attitude or other affliction into a healing and wellness mode using medications, counselling, diagnostic imaging or just straight talk. Patients come into our office chock full of biases, preconceptions, private agendas and pages downloaded from the internet. Disarming is part of the healing and redirecting process.

Bugs Bunny is the ultimate disarming machine. Calm when needed and wiley when required, Bugs will make corn beef hash out of the bluster and spit of Yosemite Sam and the slow, destructive programmed mind of Elmer Fudd. Think about how you would tackle your next altercation with a patient, client or rebellious teenager and then think of how Bugs would do it.

To learn more about this remarkable technique visit: http://www.tonguefu.com/