Speak their language.

There’s a difference between bullying them back (fight) and showing them you speak their language (acceptance—you’ll mirror them, match them, be like them). The first is retaliation, which is weak and potentially dangerous. Speaking their language isn’t about becoming a bully, it’s showing the bully you know how to play their game and that you’ve got their number.

The first is resorting to their methods, which is just another way of going down their path (reacting). The second, speaking their language, is making yourself relatable to them (without stooping to their level) so that they get your message (response).

With a bully, you must show them your true self (the side of you who judges them as unworthy of your time, energy and attention), but you must also do it in a way that they can relate to. Wh ...