This week’s conflict resolution tip is about getting out of autopilot when in conflict. When we get into conflict, we usually feel our needs are threatened in some way. In reaction to this perceived threat, our sympathetic nervous system activates, and we go into fight or flight mode. This makes us defensive and offensive towards...
This week’s conflict resolution tip is about the importance of acknowledging impact when in conflict. This is an incredibly important part of conflict resolution, especially when attempting to reconcile something that happened in the past. Often, when someone has an issue with something we have done, we like to immediately find solutions to resolve the...
This week’s conflict resolution tip is about the importance of validating and aligning when in conflict. Validation and alignment are a great formula for peacebuilding in many contexts. First, it is important to understand that validating is essentially a form of effective listening. A formula for validation might look something like this: Validate = Concerns...
This week’s conflict resolution tip is about why forgiveness is important in peacebuilding. When we are hurt by someone else, we often like to stay put in our anger and resentment, considering options like forgiveness not viable for us. To a certain extent, this can be seen as true. There is time for anger and...
This week’s conflict resolution tip is about what it means to start from the other’s reality when in conflict. Perspective-taking is a popular term in the conflict resolution world, primarily because it is a foundational concept for anyone looking to bring peace into their lives. Often, when two people get into conflict with one another,...
This week’s conflict resolution tip is about being assertive instead of being aggressive when in conflict. When we get into conflict with one another, we often wind up operating out of two extremes: aggression or avoidance. Either we feel the need to defend whatever we are being accused of or we feel so uncomfortable by...
This week’s conflict resolution tip is about how it is important to look at conflict with optimism. Nobody likes being conflict—it’s uncomfortable, emotionally exhausting, and can lead to negative outcomes if not handled constructively. Due to the nature of conflict, people often think of it as a negative thing—as something to be challenged or avoided....
This week’s conflict resolution tip is about what it means to stop being right when in conflict. As humans, we like being right. We like to have a coherent sense of the world and what our place is in it. This means that when we have certain idea or belief, it can be difficult for...
This week’s conflict resolution tip is about the importance of addressing the perception of threat when in conflict. When we experience conflict within ourselves and with others, sometimes we find that the conflict stems from a place of threat perception. This threat is often directed towards one’s basic psychological needs or goals. For example, an...
This week’s conflict resolution tip is about the importance of creating peace within yourself. The old adage that “peace starts within” contains profound insight into how we can better resolve interpersonal conflicts and build peace in our lives. It is often a lot easier to resolve conflicts with others when we have first worked on...
