For as long as I can remember, I have always been labeled the "peacekeeper" of the group.
It is a title I have always been proud of. It is usually one of the first things people say about me when they describe who I am to others. No matter how many personality tests I take, the results are always "You are a peacekeeper/mediator."
It is a quality I have always wanted to obtain, and apparently – I have succeeded.
So, here are 5 signs the you might be the peacekeeper of your group:
1. You can always see both sides of a disagreement.
Friends fight, and sometimes when they do, it's hard to see where the other person is coming from. As the peacekeeper, you are the one that can help each person understand the other side of the argument. They may not like it, but the fight usually ends faster than it started.
2. You do everything in your power to avoid confrontation.
Confrontation is like the Forbidden Forest to peacekeepers. You would rather break your arm than deal with the uncomfortable feeling of not being in a good place with those you care about.
3. Drama can sometimes make you feel uncomfortable.
Sometimes an argument is impossible to calm down. In these situations, you may feel useless because you can't seem to help your friends come to compromise. Voices get raised and words are said that you wish weren't. It makes you cringe, and you wish you were somewhere else.
4. You have a very hard time saying, "No".
Nobody likes to hear the word "no." So, it is really hard to say it.
You may not always want to do what you're friends want you to, but if they ask you enough times, you probably are going to give in. You like making people happy and you hate confrontation – so saying yes seems like the best option.
5. If you know that someone is upset, you will do things that make them happy.
You hate when someone is down in the dumps. You just want everyone to be happy and at peace. You will go out of your way to do little acts of kindness to put a smile on their face.
6. You forget to give yourself a break.
It is easy for a mediator to be so wrapped up in doing things to maintain a positive environment for everyone else that you forget that you need time do things for yourself.
7. Sometimes people may think that you aren't on their side.
Kind of like number 1, you can always see the other side of a disagreement. When you try to explain it, the person you are talking to may feel like you are taking the other person's side.
8. You don't understand why people can't see the other side.
It's so easy for you to be able to understand that everyone has feelings, that you get frustrated when others may not get it – even though it is perfectly normal for people to react that way.
9. You minimize your problems to focus on others.
You don't like to talk about what you are going through because you don't want to take away from other's needs. You just want to be there for others because you think they need it more.
10. You have a hard time staying mad.
Yes, you get mad at people sometimes, but you don't stay mad for long. You realize that the other person has valid feelings, and you can understand, to a point, how they felt.
11. People will just flat out ask you to mediate.
Sometimes, if someone thinks that a fight isn't going to go well, they may just ask you to be present to make sure things stay calm and civil.
Being the peacekeeper can be a challenge. Sometimes it can even compromise your own well being. The important thing is to remember that you are just as much of a human being as anyone else. Which means you deserve to be just as happy as you are trying to make everyone else.
Peace-Keepers, make sure you balance your happiness and well being with others'.
