CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

At times, the chaos of daily life causes us to label those around us, putting them into various categories: the “good” and the “bad,” the “smart” and the “stupid,” the “pretty” and the “ugly,” the “ingenious” and the “unprepared.” The reason we need these cataloging systems is clear: history has taught us that human beings need assurances in order to judge ourselves and others, as well as make predictions as to our own behavior and that of others. Unfortunately, we sometimes forget that these “prepackaged ideas” make for some distorted matrices. 

Whether of a relational, cultural, religious, or economic nature, all conflicts can be traced back to one common denominator: an inability to communicate. As we know, people struggle to compromise when it comes to their visions and perceptions of the world. These difficulties can push us to adopt aggressive behavior or close ourselves off from the outside world. To prevent this from happening, it is essential for us to acquire some specific communicative instincts that, once acquired, will be safeguarded, conserved, and cultivated over time.