Conflict

Know What You Dislike, Focus on Your Likes

A struggle may be threatening your sense of harmony and security. Be alert to manufactured scenarios or the need to prove a point. Pause, center yourself and choose to be happy over being correct. If you find yourself being pulled into the same old argument or disagreement, ask yourself whether the unpleasantness has an alternative. Try something different, and the outcome might be a scenario that feels better. There may also be times when you are afraid a conflict will compromise your truth, blind resentment or limit your choices. Conflict is inevitable as people think, feel and want different things. It is in no way an indication that you are wrong, a failure or being difficult, nor is it a personal slight. Your experience with conflict may be troubled. For example, you may have grown up or worked in an environment where the slightest disagreement could escalate into a high-stakes argument. You may be unsure of how to respond to conflict in a steady, positive manner, so you do your best to avoid it. No outcome is wasted because knowing what you don’t want is a big step towards understanding and choosing what you do want. Grow your ability to manage conflict by being aware of how your body reacts. Aim to move from a stress response to a relaxed response so you can remain present. Listen and consider everyone’s needs, as well as your own. Get to know your truth.

Shadow Mastery Class: Resolving Inner Conflict

Meditation

Place your hand on the card. Gently close your eyes. Sense your body and concentrate on your breathing. Follow your breath inward. Hold for five seconds and relax. Breathe out and release all tension. Focus on the middle of your chest.

In front of you, a golden staircase descends into the earth. As you walk down the ten healing steps to a magical, amethyst crystal cave, your body relaxes, your mind becomes quiet and peace-loving energy moves around you. Step into the amethyst cave and greet your shadow.

In front of you, green door labeled “Conflict Resolution” swings open. Harmonious energy embraces and invites you in. You eagerly move into the room.

The room is bathed in green light that emulates the energy of nature. You fee at ease and safe. A comfortable armchair beckons you to sit in it. A movie screen drops down. It begins to show a conflict you have with yourself. Listen to the way you speak to yourself. Is this how you would talk to a friend or loved one? The movie screen flashes the words, “Are you willing to be your personal conflict coach?” Yell a big “YES!”

Pause and breathe deeply before saying anything else. Be present with all you are feeling, then scan your body from head to toe, relaxing each part as you go. Regulate your breathing and acknowledge that you have time and space to figure out what you want and to make a choice that makes your soul sing. Challenge any assumptions that arise and respond to any negative self-talk with love and reassurance. This activates your soul’s wisdom which projects a resolution to your conflict onto your movie screen. It then shows you a few simple steps for moving forwards. Allow the energy of change to embrace you. Stay here for as long as you like-at least thirty seconds.

Gently arise from your comfortable chair and move back through the green door into the amethyst cave. Return to the golden staircase. As you ascend, notice how confident and peaceful you feel about conflict. You have begun your new relationship with conflict by responding to your inner conflict with calm, love and compassion. Thank your shadow for revealing your conflict with conflicts so you can grow further into your potential. At the top of the stairs, take two deep breaths in and out. Open your peaceful eyes to a new world.

Inspired Insights, Reflections and Actions

When new information challenges our beliefs, we may experience inner conflict. This could be felt as a challenge to our identity or place in the world and accompanied by a heightened emotional response.

Consider and try the following:

*Focusing on blaming yourself or others can be an obstacle to empowered resolutions. Opening a creative dialogue can lead to changed behaviors and solutions.

*Inner conflict tends to cause outer strife and raise tension and stress. Being kinder to yourself and nurturing inner harmony will make the external world a kinder, more peaceful place.

Journal Work

Recall a time in your life when you stood up for yourself. Write or draw about what you did, how you felt and what, if anything, you would do differently.