I believe that one must always be professional when at work. To let our emotions get the best of us not only tarnishes our reputation, it lessens people’s respect.

That’s not to say it’s always easy, because one can get blindsided by the unprofessional behavior of fellow employees and/or clients.

Such an incident happened to me on Monday with several at my work, and I’ve been struggling ever since.

With clients, the more unprofessional/indignant/belligerent they get, the nicer I act toward them. It works, too. More than once, said rude client has called me back to apologize.

When people I have worked alongside for years break my trust, yet I still must work with them, it takes almost all my willpower to not get passive-aggressive at least and be downright rude and/or think of ways sabotage their own work until their last day. Yet I must set aside my anger, because the work as well as our clients are what matter. They’re certainly not going to care about my bruised feelings if the quality of our product suffers.

So I silently seethe, and internally wish them ill will now and in the future even as I smile and treat them as if nothing’s changed. To be professional regardless of the circumstances. I know, not very “Christian” to curse them—even in my head—but I also have to be honest before I can work past it.

I also think of Proverbs 25:21-22: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”

Emotions are fleeting, and a person’s bad behavior will always come back around to bite them eventually. As long as I keep my professionalism, I won’t have to worry about the same.