September 20 – Are you avoiding conflict? Are you concerned that a current conflict you are experiencing will cause you even more distraction than you have the time to devote to it right now? Are you convincing yourself that allowing the particular situation to exist is better for you than the chaos that could result from dealing with it? Are you considering how much head space avoiding the conflict is using up?
Having courage to deal and cope with any situation of conflict begins with understanding what it is costing you right now mentally, emotionally, physically, or financially. Understanding these costs could help you realize just how beneficial it will be for you in the long run to deal with the circumstance head on and then get beyond it. Conflict primarily exists because you allow it to consume you. Consider your options, and then confidently move forward.
Take an MM&I Moment to awaken to the ways your current situation is affecting you negatively. What is not dealing with it costing you in emotional and mental distraction, physical side effects, financial loss or inability to move something forward as you would like it to be? Also, list anything positive that you are still realizing from the circumstance. What value is still being realized? What relationship do you still value and do not want to jeopardize? Now identify the worst and best scenarios that could result from dealing with the situation right now. Is the worst scenario really all that bad in the long run, and is the best scenario possible with the right approach to handling the conflict? If your conflict still feels overwhelming, is there one piece or aspect of the situation that you could attempt to improve for the time being to make it more acceptable for you? The bottom line for you is doing something that will begin to move you toward ultimately dealing with the conflict and getting it behind you. Determine your next step, no matter how small, and notice how less overwhelmed you begin to feel by the entire situation.
Wide Awake Quote of the Week
"Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict." - Dorothy Thompson
Yours in dreaming WIDE awake,
