You throw in a little gentle humor to ease the tension. Difficult people don't think that they are being difficult. Some people are caught up in a situation or role that requires them to act in a certain way. Some people see the world differently than we do. Some may not know any better about appropriate behavior.
Some people have low self-esteem.
Others are substance abusers. Still others are physically or mentally ill. But there are some, albeit a minority, who are malicious, who are just bad people, he explains. Anyone and everyone can be our teacher if we are receptive and acknowledge that there is always something to be learned, Rosen says in the book. Most of our spiritual lessons are not easy, obvious or comfortable, Rosen says.