Some conflicts stay with us for long periods and prey on our minds and hearts in ways that are destructive. In these circumstances, we seem to have trouble letting go of our negative thoughts and feelings of blame, hurt, remorse and so on. The ability to let go appears to be limited at these times, though we likely have the ability. Often it is our readiness and willingness to do so that impedes us.

What are you able to let go of about a conflict that you are holding onto?

It may seem counterintuitive to consider there is magic in conflict. However,  insights gained during conflict or on reflection carry their own type of magic. For instance, we often experience magical moments when we realize and face the actual crux of a situation, when we get past what seemed to be a stalemate, when we acknowledge our part of a conflict, when we let go of acrimony, and when we reconcile our differences in mutually satisfactory ways.

What magical possibilities may you make happen in a conflict you are involved in?

Conventional wisdom tells us there is something to be learned from our conflicts. In the heat of disagreements though, it seems that the lessons are not very clear. We may tend to lose our ‘cool’ along with the wherewithal to be intentional and focus on the lessons in front of us, like preventing negative outcomes that will linger indefinitely.

What learning from a conflict are you aiming to focus on with intention?

The expense of conflict is the high price we pay for challenging people near and dear to us. It is the loss we experience in inner peace for taking our differences to places they don’t belong. It is the amount of tension we experience and cause for not actively managing our conflicts in ways that reflect the importance of connection.

What price are you paying for a conflict happening in your life?