Friday 4 February 2011

The nature of conflict

Highlights from the book, The Nature of Conflict, by Tom Crum
By Joyce A. DeVoss

It may be helpful in learning to deal with daily conflict to reflect on its nature and see beyond what meets the eye.  Conflict is natural. It is neither positive or negative. It just is.  Conflict is just an interference pattern of energies.  Nature uses conflict as its primary motivator for change, creating beautiful beaches, canyons, mountains, and pearls!  It’s not whether you have conflict in your life. It’s what you do with that conflict that makes the difference. Conflict is not a contest.  Winning and losing are goals for games, not for conflicts. 
Learning, growing and cooperating are goals for resolving conflicts.  Conflict can be seen as a gift of energy, in which neither side loses and a new dance is created.  Resolving conflict is rarely about who is right. It is about acknowledgement and appreciation of differences.  Conflict begins within. As we unhitch the burden of belief systems and heighten our perceptions, we live more fully and freely.

Conflict resolution blog :
http://www.conflictresolutionblog.com/2007/03/whats-your-conflict-quotient/

Eastern cultures embrace conflict, knowing that it is only an interference of opposing energy patterns. Simply put, two or more person’s positions (energy patterns) are at odds or inconsistent with those of the other’s. The word “embrace” is deliberately italicized. Eastern cultures urge us to welcome, if not befriend, conflict in order to align our intentions and energies with it, thereby offering little – if any – resistance. Once so aligned, we are able to move positively through the conflict, gradually embracing the outcome. One Eastern philosopher has described this principle as, “Embrace Tiger, return to mountain”.

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