If it works it happens again!

Have you ever been frustrated by the repetitive misbehavior of another person in your life? They just keep on doing something over and over and they are just about on your last nerve.

Your child begs for something at Walmart every time you're there. Your teen argues with you most weekend nights about the curfew. Your spouse doesn't pick up after themselves or your boss keeps dropping things on your desk at the last minute.

This is the stuff life is made of. People pressing to get their own way at your expense. Well if you want it to stop, you have to first look at yourself.

Any behavior that keeps happening has some kind of pay-off to it. In many cases, you are contributing to that pay-off.

Your child that begs - you sometimes give in and let them have the candy instead of experiencing an embarrassing meltdown in the checkout line.

Your teen that begs for a later curfew for "just this weekend" sometimes hits pay dirt and gets that 60 extra minutes for just 15 minutes of wearing you down with their adolescent-everybody's-doing-it-logic.

Your spouse leaves their underwear on the floor because you eventually pick it up (with a few snide remarks that go in one ear and out the other).

Your boss can always count on you to cancel or rearrange your plans to cover for his chaotic leadership style and in the end he looks like the hero.

If it works it happens again!

If you can isolate your contribution to the dance and remove the benefit from your end, the behavior will eventually end.

Let your child throw a temper tantrum. Stare at your teen like a cow staring at a new gate and don't give in. Leave your husband's underwear on the floor and let him wash those undies. Politely let your boss know you will have to leave on time today and will gladly get to it in the morning.

Some of you will be unwilling to change your part in the pay-off dance. If so, don't complain - you are teaching them how to treat you.

Those of you that do remove your part of the pay-off will experience a much needed rest and an improved mood. Enjoy!