How to Transform Teasing and Overcome Ridicule

August 25, 2008

Ridicule is something we all expected to ditch once we left the playgrounds as children. Adults seemed smarter, more mature, less likely to judge others prematurely. How wrong we were. Teasing and derision are still very much alive and kicking in the world. But if you are experiencing this type of jeering, be it in a social or professional setting, you can turn this negative into a positive if you can keep yourself centered and calm. A state of full-consciousness is the only way to counteract derision and mockery because they cannot stand in the presence of true, stable commitment.

You Tease What You Fear

Ridicule is born out of fear. It is a product of the ego’s fear of annihilation and we are all guilty of it. It is the unconscious reaction to anyone who we feel is closer to success than we are, or who threatens our view of the world. We judge others when we are stuck in the unconscious mode of needing to be, or knowing what is, ?right?. Look around and watch for these types of judgmental actions. You might be surprised how often they crop up not only in others, but in yourself.

When we ridicule someone, be it out loud mockery, complaining or silent scorn, we are doing so out of our own insecurity and fear. That co-worker you can’t stand, annoys you only because you are afraid that he will succeed before you do. It doesn’t matter how annoying that person may be, your scorn has nothing to do with their actions and everything to do with your fear that someone who is “inferior” will be found to be “better” than you.

When we scorn those we do not personally know, it is less out of fear of failure and more out of fear of being “wrong.” This is especially true in the world of science. Research scientists in the field of quantum physics have long had to endure the derision of skeptics who were afraid of being wrong and having to admit that there might indeed be something they did not yet know or understand.

A Ridiculed Discovery in Quantum Physics

In the late 70’s and into the 80′S German biophysicist, Fritz Popp, discovered that cells in living things communicated through fluctuations in the quantum field via what he termed “biophoton emissions.” In other words, light! He found that even humans produced photons of light depending on fluctuations in energy in the Zero Point Field. This, he theorized was the how schools of fish could change direction at blazing speeds and all instantaneously. This is how birds could migrate and navigate together and even how the cells of our bodies could perform millions of operations all at once. His research even lead him to the discovery that illness interrupted the flow of this communication between the cells, hinting that if the flow could be restored, so could perfect health.

By all means, this should have been the discovery of the century. What it earned Popp however was ridicule, the loss of his job and an attempted seizing of his research equipment. Popp managed to spare his equipment, but found himself on the outskirts of the scientific community, laughed at and scorned, though he had vigorously tested and reproduced his findings.

It would take years before Fritz would be backed up by others, vindicated and welcomed back into the scientific community. The ending was a happy one in this case, but the world very nearly missed out on an incredible discovery because Popp’s colleagues feared that he had stumbled onto something unknown. They assumed that if no one else had discovered this, there must be nothing to discover. They feared his findings might nullify everything they had ever written on the subject of cellular biology. They fought against him out of fear and very nearly won.

It is frightening at times how little adults have grown away from their more childish tendencies. If anything we’ve gotten smarter and far more dangerous.

Focusing Teasing Into Creation

If you are experiencing such mockery and derision, know that there is something you can do about it. You cannot control the thoughts, feelings and actions of others, but you can control how they affect your life.

First off, realize that if ridicule is coming into your life there is probably a very good reason. You are being viewed as somehow dangerous. No one picks on the town drunk, because he is no threat to them. Everyone assumes he is a harmless failure. We mock those who appear somehow threatening to our pride, our careers or our health. The dumb scorn the smart, the inept scorn the talented and the weak scorn the strong. It is hardly ever the other way around, that is to say the talented do not scorn the inept unless they are unsure of that ineptness.

Ridicule only goes up the “social food chain.”

Teasing is like a social barometer, the more you are derided, the more likely you are to be on the right track. If you want to turn this mockery into a positive force then start realizing that it is social confirmation for you. The more others ridicule you, the more likely it is that you are heading in the right direction and should keep going. If you were truly heading toward failure, no one would bother with you, it wouldn’t seem worth it. Their fear, however, is proof that you are doing something right. So grow a thick skin and stick to your guns. The Universe evens all things out in the end.

Live Through Principles

If you want to focus your ridicule into a creative force, you must be careful not to fall into the same unconscious trap that your opposition have encountered. You must not lapse into fear or you will find yourself defeated by their jibes. If you can stay your course and live through your principles you will find success.

The difference lies in your motivation. Operating out of fear will create doubts that will torment you. They will whisper that perhaps the opposition is right, you are a failure. You’re making a terrible mistake that you’ll never be able to take back. It will ruin your life. Fear will always exaggerate, be watchful for such tactics. It will blow failure out of all reasonable proportion until it becomes unduly terrifying.

Choosing to operate out of principle is not easy. It requires constant vigilance of your own mind. It requires that you stay conscious for as much of the day as you can manage, especially when confronting ridicule. Stay focused on what is right and true for you and you will not waiver; lapse into doubt and fear and you will fail for certain. Your principles act as the rudder for your ship, choosing whether to take you left, right or straight on. They help you choose a course that is not based on your ego and its fear of failure, but out of your higher consciousness that knows your true abilities.

If you wish to stay your course you must find your principles. Find your values. Find what you would stand up for and what you would die for. Once you have found them, turn to them for every decision and every moment of doubt.

Fritz Popp chose not to give into pressure when others told him his findings were wrong and his method was questionable. Fritz knew that his method was accurate and so were his findings. He was certain that his findings had opened a door that the world needed to step through. The threat of never again having a career was not enough to sway him. The work was simply too important. The work, the principles of science, had to come first. There was simply no other way.

Ridicule is a Sign Post

Ridicule is actually quite useful when you step back and look at it objectively. Certainly it is uncomfortable and often demoralizing, but it is also a sign post to success. If someone finds you so threatening as to take the time and energy to ridicule you, you must be doing something right. Unconscious humans tend toward laziness and wouldn’t bother with you unless you were really doing something that made waves in their little worlds.

View scorn and mockery as a sign post on the road to success. If at any point the opposition should cease their snide behavior, you should begin to wonder whether or not you are still on the right track. As the old saying goes, you can’t make an omelet without breaking a fews eggs. Seek to view teasing and ridicule in the same way. Use it as the social barometer for your life and your work.

If they care enough about you to make fun of you, you must be very important indeed.

Posted in Being Proactive, Consciousness, Creativity, Determination, Emotions, Fear, Happiness, Law of Attraction, Motivation, Providing Value, Relationships, Social Do's and Don'ts