You know how awful you feel when someone imposes themselves on you in such a way that it is a bad moment for you? Their bad moment becomes your bad moment. So you respond to them so that they get a bad moment back, or you become a bad moment for someone else. It’s not right. It’s not fair. It’s not you.

You have to protect yourself from the moments that bring out the worst in you. Those are the bad moments that you regret, feel guilty about and are unappealing and unprofessional. To guard your way, be aware of these three things:

1. Be aware of your emotions. Your brain can’t think and feel at the same time, and emotions always win out. Have you ever heard someone say, “I knew I shouldn’t, but I’d did it anyway. I couldn’t help myself.” If you are in an emotional hijack, you don’t have a chance. Pull away, suspend the discussion, or at least take a breath to re-center yourself so your thinking is back in charge.

2. Be aware of your best and be that. Put aside your pride, defensiveness and frustration of the moment and be the adult in the room. It’s never easy because you are drawn to correct, prove wrong or put people in their place. Instead, be your best.

3. Be a wearer of professional stature. Anyone can show well in the good moments. But showing well in the bad moments separates people who not only can act professional, but ARE professional.

When you allow yourself to be so influenced by a bad moment, you actually become a bad moment. That’s not who you are or what you aspire to be. You can be better.