Rain has been around a lot longer than humans. Sun, too. As long as our species has existed there has been weather, and people have found lots of different ways to handle it.
It’s rough out there. Wars, atrocities, mass shootings, global warming, toxic polarization, free-floating anger and anxiety. As I talk to people around me, I find many are distracted and off-center.
The misunderstandings, assumptions and judgments between generations cause some real conflicts. It is natural for people to believe the way they were raised, the time they grew up and the standards they considered as the norm are superior to other generations’ ways of being. Just like my grandmother and her hand-cranked dryer, it is hard to adopt to new ways.
When my grandmother handed me the wet clothes and told me to “put them through the wringer,” I had no idea what to do. “Go ahead, don’t dawdle. Get those clothes done.”
This month I ask you to get out your reading glasses and absorb some new ideas from various authors. I’d like to introduce you to writers who are expanding knowledge in the field of conflict resolution and connected topics. Happy reading!
Power is the ability to influence an outcome or complete a task. To understand power, it is vital to know the context in which it is being exerted and the other forces and influences in play.
Assumptions get in the way of conflict resolution. I call it snapshot thinking. A person takes a mental snapshot and fills in all kinds of information that may or may not be true based on their biases, imagination, fear and limited experience.
For some, competitive verbal sparring is a way of life. Others might be uncomfortable with arguing. Opinionated chatter is one thing, when the stakes a low. When strong disagreements arise within a relationship, workplace or family, though; what to do?
Conflicts are driven by values: Pick a conflict, any conflict. You don't have to look too deeply to see that the conflict is, at least in part, fueled by individual values.