“Sure it hurts, but if you love someone, you forgive them.” Blanche “Some things you forgive, some things you never forgive.” Kate
Clear with this person on an energetic level.
- Ground your energy. Here is a video that will teach you to do this. http://bit.ly/wBHJbh
- You have an aura around you which is part of your energetic self. Imagine pulling your aura in around your body. Pull it in about 6 – 8 inches around you.
- Focus in your heart and bring your attention out of the top of your head into the heavens.
- Image the person there with you. At this level, send them love from your heart. You may also imagine sending them golden white Light from your heart.
- If you can do this without anger or negative feelings, talk with them at this level.
- Come back down, image yourself filling up with golden white Light and release any leftover energy down your grounding cord.
Steps to resolve conflict in person.
- Write out the situation in your journal and then re-read it the next day. Sometimes it helps to do this a few times, so that you can become clear on what happened and what you want to communicate.
- Become aware of your own part of the situation, even if you perceive it to be minor in comparison to the other person.
- If you are angry, look at where you may be feeling hurt or fearful. These emotions are often right under the surface of anger. Feel your feeling and let them go. Journal them over and over if need be.
- Contact the person you are having conflict with and use clear, direct, honest communication. I suggest you meet in person (not via text or email) because this allows you not only to read the body language, but also to open your heart.
- Give the other person the chance to communicate their side completely. It is helpful to use the words, “I heard you say,” and repeat back to them what you heard and let them clarify. This helps them to feel heard. You can hear what someone is saying without agreeing with them. It is important that you hear.
- Once the other person feels heard, share your side. They may not listen well and you may not feel heard. If that is the case use the broken record method. Continue to say the core message again and again, “I hear what you say, and ______.” Yes, that is true, and _______.” Do this until they are able to understand they are not hearing you.
- Make a request of the person such as “My request is we put this behind us and go on from here,” or “My request is that we continue to meet and talk weekly until we can resolve this.” You can use whatever it is that you desire.
- Trust your intuition, and use as many of these steps as you would like. If the person is not willing to meet with you or clear the situation with you, then move on and let it go. No longer allow them into your energy field and set healthy boundaries.
Sometimes people have a hard time clearing conflict because of negative communication patterns. Often these reactions were learned in early childhood as a survival response to a dysfunctional family. In this case they may triangle in other people to take sides, or become passive aggressive and rather than talking with you directly, they will be passive in their aggression in a subversive manner.
More will be shared about this in this communication series.
One of the books I recommend for healthy communication is Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg
You can find other valuable information in my Self-Help Toolbox!
Share your own tools in resolving conflict in your life.
Tandy Elisala says
Candess, what a timely topic. This article is FULL of valuable tips to turn situations around and communicate in a more positive, graceful and loving tone. All the conflict going on among people, politics and the weather/climate is more proof than ever that everyone would benefit from your communicate tips for resolving/reducing conflict. I recently completed NLP training and it’s really changed how I communicate and think about others’ comments. When we better understand where people are coming from, how we respond changes. Great stuff!
candesscampbell says
Thanks Tandy. I hope readers can make one change to improve how they listen and communicate. I love NLP. I need a refresher.
Reba Linker says
Beautiful, Candess! I love the “broken record method” and the tools for what to do both if you feel heard, and if not. Very helpful!
candesscampbell says
Thanks Reba. The broken record method is really helpful for those of us who are inconsistent with boundaries. It forces us to set a boundary at times and for others to respect it.
Lorii Abela says
That is interesting. I have read a book of Rosenberg and actually shared it to some friends and they liked it, too. It is practical and it works all the time. 🙂
Joyce Hansen says
It seems right now we are caught in this energy of displaced emotions of confusion, blame, and trauma on many levels. Fortunately, we’ve seen examples of public forgiveness in face of terrible circumstances. If the conflict is to end, we can not let it to others. Each of us must be willing to actively participate. Thanks for mentioning non-violent communication. A friend has been through the training and raves how it has changed her life and those around here. Keep getting the good word out.
candesscampbell says
Thanks Joyce. I’ve used the Non-Violent Communication process with clients for years. Now I have another communication process from Harvel Hendricks. I love it. Getting the Love you Want I’ll share in an upcoming blog.