"Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." Proverbs 9:8-10 ESV
All you have to do is pick up a newspaper, flip on the news, or find it on the internet and I am sure you will find more than a few conflicts to read or hear about. There are debates on every subject on every channel and they all can get pretty heated. It is human nature to let disagreements get personal, and too often people resort to name calling, mockery, and personal attacks. We often assume that when someone disagrees with what we think, that they are disapproving of who we are. Or maybe we just get frustrated at the opinions of others and lash out in anger. Or we realize that we are actually wrong but we aren't secure enough in who we are to admit it. Whatever the reason, disagreements can turn into personal conflict very easily.
I don't know many people who really like conflict other than someone who likes to bully others but in normal circumstances, I don't think we need to fear it. Conflict is really an opportunity to understand our differences. We have one perspective, someone else has another and both can be valuable if understood. Sharing different ideas and perspectives can benefit everyone if we can keep from letting it get personal.
If you find yourself in a conflict with someone, approach it as a positive opportunity even if the other person doesn't see it that way. Agree to discuss it and emphasize that you want to focus not on each other but on the issue at hand. Acknowledge that having different perspectives can be healthy. Make it clear that you value the other persons opinion and that you want a constructive resolution to the problem or issue you are facing. The key is finding a way to get past the problem while respecting every one involved. If you can focus on the principal interests, not the people, it can turn into a very constructive experience for all involved and possibly a teaching moment for others on the outside.
Approaching conflict in this way will give growth to both sides and allow you to see the issue more clearly. If it is handled with respect for others opinions and perspectives it can have extremely positive results.
All you have to do is pick up a newspaper, flip on the news, or find it on the internet and I am sure you will find more than a few conflicts to read or hear about. There are debates on every subject on every channel and they all can get pretty heated. It is human nature to let disagreements get personal, and too often people resort to name calling, mockery, and personal attacks. We often assume that when someone disagrees with what we think, that they are disapproving of who we are. Or maybe we just get frustrated at the opinions of others and lash out in anger. Or we realize that we are actually wrong but we aren't secure enough in who we are to admit it. Whatever the reason, disagreements can turn into personal conflict very easily.
I don't know many people who really like conflict other than someone who likes to bully others but in normal circumstances, I don't think we need to fear it. Conflict is really an opportunity to understand our differences. We have one perspective, someone else has another and both can be valuable if understood. Sharing different ideas and perspectives can benefit everyone if we can keep from letting it get personal.
If you find yourself in a conflict with someone, approach it as a positive opportunity even if the other person doesn't see it that way. Agree to discuss it and emphasize that you want to focus not on each other but on the issue at hand. Acknowledge that having different perspectives can be healthy. Make it clear that you value the other persons opinion and that you want a constructive resolution to the problem or issue you are facing. The key is finding a way to get past the problem while respecting every one involved. If you can focus on the principal interests, not the people, it can turn into a very constructive experience for all involved and possibly a teaching moment for others on the outside.
Approaching conflict in this way will give growth to both sides and allow you to see the issue more clearly. If it is handled with respect for others opinions and perspectives it can have extremely positive results.
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