CONFLICT RESOLUTION

On every level - from the individual to the family to the social to the global levels - the greatest manageable dangers to our health and sustainability involve fundamental conflicts. These conflicts can range from clashes of values to struggles over resources to disagreements over past transgressions and how they should be addressed. Far too often, such conflicts either fester for years, even centuries, or escalate into hatred, demonization and even violence.

Growing up in a culture that too often fails to resolve conflicts constructively, it was somewhat of an epiphany when I got older and learned that there is an entire field - the field of Conflict Resolution studies - that examines precisely how to address such situations to achieve a healthier outcome. Once I realized there are entire graduate programs and professionals whose lives are devoted to studying how to succeed in best resolving conflicts, I became dismayed at the fact that those with such specialized skills rarely seem to be included in our most important conflict resolution processes. And I realized also how crucial those types of skills could be for me in dealing with friends, family, co-workers and others.

Since becoming aware of the field of conflict resolution, I've become even more disturbed by how few people seem willing to really hone and employ these skills and work to resolution on challenging issues. Far too often, it seems, people are more comfortable resorting to either fight or flight, rather than resolution. As a result, I hope to spread awareness and knowledge about various tools, methods and concepts that I find extremely important in helping us understand how to seek optimal solutions in challenging situations between people.

Areas related to my interest in conflict resolution that I have particularly focused upon include:

• Third Hand Solutions

OTHER RESOURCES RELATED TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION

• All of my Blog Posts Tagged Conflict Resolution

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