Pet peeves. Each one can be considered innocuous on the surface, hardly getting a second glance by some people. Yet, by others, the same act can be enough to stir some intense reactions. Everybody has at least one pet peeve. Below is some advice on how to manage these annoyances we can’t help but be bothered by.
Perhaps you find it incredibly annoying when someone’s shirt tag is sticking out, and you feel compelled to tell them whether you know them or not. All you can see is that little flap of cloth that shouldn’t be visible, and this overwhelming urge to tuck it away takes over.
When a pet peeve comes up, you might find it challenging to pay attention to anything but the instance causing you discomfort. This reaction may seem extreme to some people, but, for others, it’s completely normal. The fact is, nobody can really rationalize why their pet peeves bother them so much. But if you slow down and view these intense annoyances in a different light, it’s entirely possible to overcome their grip.
Consider Acting to Overcome Pet Peeves – Pretend It Doesn’t Bother You
Actors are a uniquely talented group of people. They have the ability to fully immerse themselves in each role, literally becoming a new person—a new person with a completely different personality, outlook on life, goals, habits, and mannerisms. When an actor becomes someone else, everything they are outside of the role gets paused, including their pet peeves.
Imagine with me if you will, that Mr. Dustin Hoffman has a pet peeve. He can’t stand when someone pops bubble wrap. Yet, in his role as Mr. Magorium in Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, he had to dance around on an entire sheet and love every second of it! Mr. Hoffman was able to do this because he put the pet peeve out of his mind, imagining that it did not bother him. I believe we are all capable of tricking our brains in this way. Simply by focusing on the situation with a completely different point of view like an actor on screen can help you bypass the disturbance.
Consider the Person Performing/Causing the Pet Peeve and Let it Go
Some people have pet peeves related to other drivers on the road. Case in point – “It’s 55 through here people, and you’re going 40? Come on! Speed up!”
That might be your initial reaction too. But, when you think about the person, it’s a lot less annoying. The person might be driving slow because they are nervous behind the wheel and just learning to drive, or they may have been in a horrendous accident recently and can’t bring themselves to go any faster quite yet. These rational explanations, while it’s entirely possible they are false, can help to dissuade the pet peeve from bothering you.
The same principle can be applied to dealing with a number of pet peeves. Whether it’s someone munching too loudly, playing games on their cell phone with the sound on, always showing up late to everything, or some other nuisance. Remember that there is a person performing the act, and reframe the scenario with a little compassion and understanding. Then, just like Elsa said in Frozen, Let it go…
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