Tag Archives: conflict

Reality Check: Fishing for Choices

A story about halibut fishing in Alaska recently caught my attention. Now, I’m not generally interested in halibut fishing, and although Alaska is undoubtedly lovely, it doesn’t hold any special appeal for me. What intrigued me was that the story … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Trust and Betrayal

“What can you do when you believe that your trust has been betrayed?” That question was posed to me recently, and even if you’ve never had a “betrayal experience,” it could still be worthwhile to put some thought into it. … Continue reading

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Reality Check: To Speak or To Hold Your Peace

Do you ever have moments in conversation when you wonder, “Should I speak up? Or is it better to bite my tongue?” In some cases, it can seem like we don’t even have a choice. Let’s say someone has said … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Honk, Honk!

Did you hear the story about the driverless cars that got into an argument in a parking lot and kept honking at each other? Funny story! Funny, that is, unless you live in the neighbourhood and don’t enjoy a 4AM … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Expectations and the Pictures We Carry

Whenever two or more people get together and talk, we have an opportunity to share joy, to create understanding, and to deepen relationships. Getting together can be such fun! Getting together also creates an opportunity for conflict, and there’s plenty … Continue reading

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Reality Check: When We Don’t See Eye to Eye

A snippet of overheard conversation reminded me of a common source of relationship conflicts. It’s the idea that the people close to you should share your opinions. In this case, a young woman we’ll call Liz was venting her frustration … Continue reading

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Reality Check: When “Don’t” Works

“Don’t” sounds like such a negative word, doesn’t it? Maybe that’s because it’s often used in commands, like “Don’t do that!” or “Don’t call me; I’ll call you.” It’s a word that shows up a lot when we try to … Continue reading

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Reality Check: How Do You Know You’ve Understood?

Do you ever feel misunderstood? I’ll hazard a guess that the answer is “yes.” If that’s true, then it’s also likely that other people feel misunderstood, too. Why? One answer is that some communication methods are more effective than others. … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Helpful and Unhelpful Conversations

People talk. We often take it for granted, but the fact that we are able to communicate really is one of the delights of being human. It enables us to learn, create, innovate, and express emotion. Our communication is not … Continue reading

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Reality Check: Instead of Head-Banging…

You may have heard that “customer service ain’t what it used to be.” This may be true. While I’m not convinced that poor service is universal, I’ve certainly heard anecdotes that indicate appalling lack of care. It’s enough to make … Continue reading

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