8 Ways to End Manipulators Grip

It can be difficult to navigate through manipulation especially when the perpetrators are persistent and won’t give up. These manipulators always try to bend us to their will while hiding their true motives. Shutting down a manipulator doesn’t have to be a verbal battle, you can effectively stop their actions without saying a word. Psychology has given us 8 strategies that can put the power and control back in your hands and you won’t fall into the manipulator’s trap.

1. Master the Art of Body Language

We often under-estimate the power inherent in our non-verbal cues. You should know that your body language is the most powerful tool at your disposal when it comes to communicating your feelings, thoughts and emotions.

In psychology, mastering body language is one of the most potent tools in fighting off manipulators. It encompasses the way you position yourself, your facial expression, and the way you move, to send a clear message without uttering a word.

When you learn to adopt an asserting body language, you can silently communicate your strength and disapproval to manipulation. Learning to master your body language also means learning to maintain straight eye contact, stand tall, and keep your expressions neutral.

2. Indulge in Active Ignoring

Active ignoring is one way to deal with an unwanted behavior. It means you consciously choose to ignore an inappropriate behavior thus discouraging it. When confronted by a manipulator, ignoring their manipulative attempts by not reacting is one sure way to prevent them from making further attempts.

Actively ignoring a manipulator does not mean you are being rude or indifferent, it means you are not interested in their act, and that can make them realize their tactics have failed.

3. Maintain Your Personal Boundaries

Personal boundaries are important to keep manipulators at bay. Manipulators who borrow money from you and never pay back, for instance, should be made to understand your boundaries. Maintaining personal boundaries means you start declining requests for repeated favors with underlying motives. Setting boundaries is a silent approach that is effective in stopping manipulation.

4. Learn to Use the Power of Pause

Sometimes, the most powerful response to a manipulator is a no-response. Pausing is a technique that can shut down any manipulator. When faced with a manipulative question, take a moment and pause instead of responding immediately. Since a manipulator is expecting a quick response, they will end up being thrown off balance. The moment you take by pausing will give you enough time to process what is being said and how best to respond. Remember, your silence is not a sign of weakness but a weapon you should use wisely.

5. Live an Authentic Life

Living an authentic life is about being true to yourself, standing firm in your values, and not allowing people to shake your resolve.

Manipulators will always prey on people they perceive to be weak or unsure but they thread softly with people who stand firm in their values and resolve. This however does not mean you have to be confrontational or aggressive. It means, living with a conviction that that your silence speaks loud, reminding potential manipulators that you cannot be manipulated.

6. Embrace Self-Awareness

Cultivating self-awareness is one of the most effective ways of dealing with manipulators. Being mindful means, knowing and owning your thoughts, emotions, and triggers and this can help you discover when someone is about to manipulate you.

It is when you pay close attention to your emotions and reactions to other people’s words and actions that you will realize you are being manipulated. Once you recognize your emotional patterns you will have more power to disengage from negative emotional interactions and refuse to give manipulators the joy of seeing you react. Developing self-awareness requires self-introspection and that is where you will discover new ways to deal with old issues.

7. Accept the Power of Neutrality

Giving neutral responses is as powerful as any other response when dealing with manipulators. It’s all about responding without giving away your emotions.

Imagine a situation where a manipulator is trying to predict your next move but you kept your strategy hidden. So instead of responding to a manipulator aggressively, you may want to respond with statements like “I see”, or “I understand”. These responses will leave a manipulator guessing about your stance or next move.

8. Learn to Trust Your Instinct

Your intuition will always remain your power ally hence if it tells you something isn’t alright, it’s probably saying the truth. Trusting that inner instinct can guide your response and protect you from falling into manipulators’ trap.

Never underestimate the power of your intuition, it can be one of the most valuable tools to shut down a manipulator.

Bottom Line

The struggle against manipulators is real and that is why you need self-improvement to empower yourself. The power to resist manipulators remains inside of you, and the more you practice the 8 steps above, the more you strengthen yourself against manipulations.