Handling Conflict

Written By Colēgia

Conflict can be challenging to manage for the uninitiated. There can be many forms of conflict as well, from interpersonal to situations we may face within our lives. Finding ways to handle this can help us make better choices and lead to a healthier lifestyle overall. Today we want to talk about how to handle conflict and why it matters.

Accept That Conflict Exists

Acceptance is a great way to practice awareness in regard to conflict. This is important because denying conflict can cause us to ignore issues that we are dealing with. A common thing that many of us think about in regards to conflict is that we view it as a bad thing. Changing how we view this is important because conflict can be viewed as an opportunity to grow and express ourselves better. A good example of this could be a conflict you're having with a friend. Instead of outright judging them for a problem, we can view it as a chance to patch things up or listen. Accepting that there will be moments of discomfort is important because being open with others about any issues you're experiencing can pave the way to a better relationship. This also extends to the relationship with ourselves as well.

“Acceptance is a great way to practice awareness in regard to conflict.”

Identify What The Problem is

Being able to identify what sort of conflict it is that we're dealing with is an important skill. A great example of this is determining whether you're having a problem with a situation or behavior. If it's a behavior that we are doing, asking others for honest feedback can be a great way to get confirmation about this. Similarly, we can also opt to take time to reflect with meditation. Meditation gives us a space to truly be ourselves and be honest with our thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness is a quality that we can cultivate through the use of meditation and it can help us be more aware of our thoughts and emotions. It takes an active effort to determine what problem we are going through and learning how to identify it can make things that much easier.

“Being able to identify what sort of conflict it is that we're dealing with is an important skill.”

Take Things One Step at a Time

Conflict can often vary in complexity which is why it's extremely important to take things one step at a time. A good first step is to process the situation internally first. There may be a lot of thoughts within your mind and being able to calmly address these feelings within can help. If you need to reach out to someone if it winds up being too much that is also a viable solution. Getting a second opinion about a conflict can also be good because it can give you a different perspective on things. It's good to recognize that sometimes conflict doesn’t always have a clear answer. Listening to yourself and thinking about what you think is the right course of action can help. Always consider the possibility that your perspective isn't always right and be mindful that many of us are doing the best we can with the tools and experience we have. Conflict can be challenging, but it can give us the strength needed to improve our lives and those around us when handled properly.

Colēgia

Colēgia

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