You know a difficult conversation needs to happen, but the thought of starting it makes your stomach tighten. Maybe you need to address a coworker’s behavior, tell a friend that something hurt you, discuss money with your partner, or finally bring up a problem you have been avoiding. The words matter, but your emotional state … Read more
Conflict is unavoidable. Even people who care deeply about each other will occasionally disagree about priorities, expectations, responsibilities, money, work, or something as small as who forgot to reply to a message. The real problem is usually not disagreement itself. It is what happens when frustration, defensiveness, embarrassment, or anger starts controlling the conversation. Understanding … Read more
Talking about feelings sounds simple until the conversation actually matters. You may start by trying to explain that you feel hurt or frustrated, only to hear yourself saying, “You never listen,” “You always do this,” or “You made me feel terrible.” Suddenly, instead of discussing the original problem, both people are defending themselves. Learning how … Read more