Talking to Crazy Quotes

“Life is a series of steps into the unknown.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to Crazy: How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“Remember: You can’t always change the people around you. But you can change the people you’re around.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to Crazy: How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“The key to fixing a big problem is to select the right tools.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to Crazy: How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“happiness is actually more closely tied to how you perceive and emotionally react to the events and people around you. That’s because people who perceive the world as positive or negative will react to it positively or negatively.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to Crazy: How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“If you’re not too heavily invested in your relationship with a personality-disordered person, consider getting out.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“But other times, you’ll discover that you’re sticking with an irrational person simply because you don’t want to feel like a bad person yourself.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“ask yourself if you’re doing far more than your fair share, and if it’s frustrating or exhausting you.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“before you tackle the bruising challenge of talking to “crazy,” make sure you have a good reason to go there.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“identifying an irrational person’s M.O. gives you considerable power over him.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“When you understand irrational people’s M.O.s, it’ll be easier for you to realize that their weeping, coldness, whining, withdrawal, or attack-dog behavior isn’t really about you. Instead, it’s about them and their need to feel in control.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“People who were ignored tend to be fearful, withdrawn, or hopeless—or become martyrs, because they’re accustomed to not receiving help when they ask for it.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“People who were constantly criticized often become bullies or know-it-alls, or become rigidly logical and practical.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“People who were coddled often are needy or manipulative or become highly emotional when they’re expected to do something they don’t want to do.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“An irrational person’s M.O. is a weapon. However, it’s also a weakness because if you can figure out the person’s M.O., you can turn this information to your advantage.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“Why do these people behave the way they do? To stay in control. As I mentioned in Chapter 2, irrational people—especially those who are firmly in the grip of crazy—are terrified of losing control.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“self-identity (“This is who I am and the only way I feel confident, competent, and in control”).”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“locked in self-preservation (“I am threatened and must do anything I can to survive”)”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“All of us—even if we’re strong at the core—will occasionally lose it when stress causes our brains to misalign.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“Their operating principle is, “Look out world—here I come.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“When they have setbacks, they don’t resort to whining, blaming someone, or withdrawing. Instead, they’re determined.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“When they’re faced with new challenges, they think, “I can do this.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“When people have mentors like this, they grow up feeling safe and confident. As a result, they develop a strong core.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“Think of the sanest people in your life, the people you’d describe as poised, wise, emotionally intelligent, kind, or good. In my experience, most of these people had childhoods that made them strong and resilient.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“The Ideal: Supporting”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“Fail #3: Ignoring”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“Fail #2: Criticizing”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“Those who have been coddled often develop a form of crazy in which they tell themselves, “Someone will do things for me.” Consequently, they feel entitled to success and happiness without having to earn it.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“Fail #1: Coddling”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“crazy starts with a misaligned brain,”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life

“Occasionally you’ll slide into crazy when an upset causes your three brains to temporarily misalign, but you won’t live there permanently.”
― Mark Goulston, Talking to 'Crazy': How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life