When your best friend (who holds all of your promises and most of your heart) does something that makes you doubt their loyalty, the sting is intense. It’s important to pause before being angry and upset, and instead, give them the benefit of a doubt, especially when this action was out of character. Then, take a deep breath and be completely honest about how you feel if you want to solve this friendship problem. Directly communicate with him or her to find out why this betrayal of trust happened.

In long-term romantic relationships, it doesn’t matter how well you get along — arguments and snap reactions are bound to happen, especially when you live together and throw children into the mix. But if sarcasm is floating in your direction on the regular, Thomas says your partner might be exercising his or her passive aggressiveness because he or she is upset with you, or possibly something that has nothing to do with you. The best course of action is to make your spouse aware of what just happened from your perspective.

When your child is cruel, it’s like a stab wound to the heart. But it’s important to keep in mind that it’s common for all kids, children usually do not have the sharpest ability (when they’re quite young) or impulse control (when they’re teens) to express their feelings articulately, so instead, they come out in a more extreme or exaggerated way. You must remain the adult in this situation. You need to talk to your child in an age-appropriate way that acknowledges his or her right to have feelings about you, but that you also have to take certain actions for his or her own good, whether it is liked or not.

Unless you’re the boss or a solo contractor, it’s likely that at some point, you’ll have issues with a coworker. Though managing conflict is an important aspect of growing as a professional, learning to handle these situations in a classy way might take practice. Give your coworker the chance to explain themselves in private — both as a gesture of kindness and a direct warning that you know what they’re up to and don’t appreciate it. If your colleague won’t cop to his mistake, consider finding a way to alert your boss to the truth, so you can get the credit you deserve.