When furious, get curious. If you think you are about to lose your patience because you are some shade of angry (frustrated, irritated or annoyed)—take a beat, slow down and turn the attention onto yourself.

Whether you want them to or not, these people find themselves in the fabric of your life and it’s up to you to find ways to manage the headaches, heartbreaks, chaos, and stress they create for you (and potentially others). The ideas found in this little online book can help you withstand those difficult relationships without going crazy or over-compromising.

For whatever reason, there are people in our lives that we experience as difficult, don’t respect, or that chafe us in some way. To remain effective in our work, these are the individuals who teach us humility, patience, empathy, and compassion.