10 sentences about conflicts to better manage them

 

We all face conflicts. They are part of our life, even if sometimes we are not fully aware of how we reached that point. However, how we handle these discrepancies, whether it be a pseudo-conflict , a latent conflict or a direct confrontation, is decisive for the future of the relationship.

Conflicts can also end by changing us. A conflict is a dynamic system in which we constantly restructure both what has happened and our understanding of the facts. So we change ourselves in the process. Therefore, if we know how to take advantage of them, they represent an opportunity to grow and expand our worldview. Indeed, many philosophers, psychologists and writers share this constructive view of conflict.

Phrases about conflicts to understand them better

1. “Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless void of an abstract and non-existent world can there be movement or change without the erosive friction of conflict "- Saul Alinsky

Conflicts are generally surrounded by a negative halo, we believe they are a problem to be avoided, but in reality they are the expression of the struggle of the new against the old. Where there are conflicts, there is the possibility of profound and radical changes. Therefore, we should not see conflict as an obstacle but as an opportunity to test our beliefs and ways of thinking.

2. “Conflict is inevitable, but struggle is optional” - Max Lucade

Conflicts are part of life. We cannot avoid them, but we can decide how to manage them. We can decide if a grueling struggle is really worth it or if our sanity is more important. We cannot control the circumstances that lead to conflict, but we can choose how to react. And sometimes this is enough for everything to change.

3. “Whenever you are in conflict with someone, there is a factor that can make the difference between damaging the relationship and strengthening it. This factor is attitude ”- William James

This line about conflict reminds us that no matter how big the gap is between two people, our attitude can make a difference. A conflict gives us the opportunity to strengthen a relationship, bring positions together and show that, despite the differences, the other matters enough for us to close distances and break down barriers. The appearance of a conflict does not condemn a relationship, it is our attitudes that condemn or save it.

4. “Conflict is the beginning of consciousness” - M. Esther Harding

John Dewey had already said that "conflict is the fly of thought" because it shakes the passivity of the sheep and activates reflection. This is the mechanism of action of the conflict that leads us to transformative change. Conflict is the driving force of doubt, activates critical thinking and encourages us to question the beliefs we took for granted.

5. “The greatest conflicts are not between two people but between a person and himself” - Garth Brooks

Although interpersonal conflicts can be difficult to resolve, internal conflicts are often more painful, deep and complex. It is difficult to find the cause and, above all, to find a way out. Indeed, internal conflicts are often the seed of a profound change that radically transforms our worldview or the meaning of our life.

6. “Your outlook on life depends on the cage in which you were held captive” - Shannon L. Alder

The difficulty in managing conflicts comes, in large part, from our distorted view. Alder believed that whenever we are faced with positions other than our own, we must keep in mind that our opinions are only the expression of the life we ​​have led, as well as the society and culture in which we have grown up. It is often enough to go beyond those limits for the conflict to disappear or lessen.

7. "Conflict is a drama, the way people deal with it shows what they are made of" - Stephen Moyer

When we are on the ropes our true essence comes out. Conflicts can make our light appear brighter or our shadow darker. Extreme situations can overcome us or, on the contrary, strengthen us and push us to give the best of ourselves. In this sense, conflicts show what we are made of.

8. “Whoever fights with monsters must be careful not to become a monster himself. And if you look into the abyss for a long time, the abyss will look into you ”- Friedrich Nietzsche

The goal is not as important as the person we have become while walking that path. This phrase about Nietzsche's conflicts warns us that nothing is worth to win. Sometimes it is better to "lose" if it means remaining faithful to the ideas that define us and that we consider precious. In that case, the "defeat" will become a victory.

9. "Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives to respond to that conflict, alternatives to passive or aggressive responses, alternatives to violence" - Dorothy Thompson

We have a tendency to believe that peace is the absence of problems, a state where everything must flow easily, but the reality is different. Being at peace with ourselves and with the world does not mean a lack of conflict, but rather being able to seek alternatives that are beneficial for all, moving away from violence in all its forms. Peace is not a gift, it is the result of a proactive attitude.

10. “I never make the mistake of arguing with people whose opinions I don't respect” - Edward Gibbon

Last but not least, to protect our inner peace , we need to be insightful enough to choose which battles to fight. When people refuse to listen and don't understand the reasons, arguments don't matter. In these cases, it's usually best to avoid confrontation, especially if we know nothing productive will come of it.