Conflict

When conflict is positive, it can result in growth. It arises out of basic disagreement. But, when involving struggle over control and power, it is not always moderated well, and can result in violence.

I do not like conflict, as it agitates my system on a cellular level, causing alarm signals in the forms of anxiety and adrenaline. I much prefer discussion and even debate, but conflict to me usually means someone is wielding some kind of emotional, psychological, or physical damage, without regard to whom they’re affecting.

I have not come across many people who deal with conflict appropriately. In fact, I have found that most people engaging in it revert back to playground behaviors invested in the ego’s struggle to assert itself on the world – to be validated, forcefully.

Therefore, I avoid conflict whenever possible. If I think deeply on any given matter, I usually do not need to assert myself. I can find more peaceful ways to continue my journeying.

For most of my adult life, I’ve chosen to be self employed to ensure I could manage conflict well and not become a victim or puppet to other people’s machinations. It has served me well as a life philosophy to always maneuver around conflict, and only seek investing in positivity.

I have been surprised as I take stints of working in employment that office atmospheres have not progressed much over the last thirty years. There’s still rife conflict permitted – in staff back-biting and employer top-down resentments.

As I bypass conflict, the squabblers remain rooted where they have invested in their grievances. They are not willing to progress beyond dysfunctional behaviors and regressive thought patterns.

As I leave their realms of inequity, I quest for new environments where mature and advanced innovators ascribe to collaborative teamwork ideals and “paying it forward” philosophies.

Surely, these can not still be such novel concepts!