727 GOOD HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK! :)

When engaged in conflict with the needs of another

It's my habit to listen for the emergence of insight

Which tends to jumpstart a train of thought

Leading toward mutually respectful conflict resolution. :)

As the sixth sense taps into insight most readily when

The art of discussing conflicting views occurs peaceably

Differing views tend to be considered equally, so that

One person's needs do not barrel over another's. 

While most people learn to smooth wrinkles out of conflicts by 

Speaking and listening respectfully to friends and colleagues

It’s common for these same folk to morph into hotheads, casting

Heart piercing jabs, left and right, when conflict erupts with family.

IF children, watching siblings lose round after round with parents

Develop fear of emotional explosiveness, then

These young, impressionable minds may adopt attitudes

Of passivity or secrecy whenever tension, born of conflict, erupts.

If fear of conflict has sound reason to sink deep into the mind

Then it stands to reason that passive children

Are more likely to develop into peace-at-any-cost adults than

Youngsters, who learn to speak up and listen respectfully at home. 

If you've grown up in a family where differences are handled



Disrespectfully at home while differing opinions

Are smoothed out respectfully with friends, then

Those habits, like all habits, prove hard to break, unless ...

One sees the value in questing toward self awareness.

And thus does Socrates’ quote: 'Know thyself'

Suggest that each of us answers this question:

During conflict, doth thee treat friend with respect but family as foe?

Upon raising a family of my own

My sixth sense recognized a need to create

The line of control and three step problem solving plans ...

Both of which serve as calming techniques—for ME. :)

Once these calming techniques were mine

I was able to role model self-restraint-under-fire

Whenever tension, born of conflict

Disrupted familial harmony in our home.

As my children grew up in the presence of a role model

Who'd practiced self soothing techniques

Which served to calm emotional reactiveness

Emotional escalation didn’t toss conflict resolution out the door.

Each time I watch a parent choose to adopt

The line of control, thereby practicing

Mutually respectful problem solving techniques, consistently

I smile big time for this reason:

Plain and simple ...

I know another family is forming a good habit ...

And that makes me happy for this reason:

Good habits are as hard to break as bad habits :) :) 

PS. This post was behaving badly ...

Let’s see if my choice to remain calm and patient

During the editing process worked out the kinks ...

Since I’m about to push publish, again—wish me luck :)



Having edited umpteen times

All I can say

At this point is ...

Oh well, can't win'em all—sigh ...