14 Keys To Being Conscious In Conflict

It is not impossible to be conscious during conflict, but certainly it can be challenging, especially in highly emotional or intense situations. Being conscious during conflict requires a combination of self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and effective communication skills. While it may be difficult at times, practicing and developing these skills can significantly improve your ability to navigate conflicts in a conscious and constructive manner.

Here are some key principles to help you remain conscious in conflict:

1. Self-Awareness: Understand your emotions, triggers, and communication style. Recognize how you typically react in conflict and work on managing your emotional responses. Try journaling or asking a trusted friend to help you reflect on your own triggers and communication style, to understand your own role in conflicts.
   
   
2. Active Listening: Pay close attention to the other person's perspective without interrupting or planning your response. Validate their feelings and show empathy. Don’t anticipate what you intend to say, and instead, listen to understand the other person, putting your focus completely on them.
   
   
3. Empathy: Put yourself in the other person's shoes to understand their feelings, thoughts, and motivations. This helps create a more compassionate and understanding environment. How would you want to be treated in this situation? Really think about the impact of your own words and actions on the other person.
   
   
4. Mindful Communication: Choose your words carefully, and speak in a calm and respectful manner. Avoid blame, accusations, or aggressive language. Avoid generalizations such as “always” or “never” statements, and stick to the facts.
   
   
5. Manage Your Emotions: Practice emotional regulation to prevent your feelings from escalating the conflict. Take deep breaths, pause, and give yourself time to respond thoughtfully. If you need time to de-escalate your own emotions, ask for time to cool down, and then pick up the conversation when you have better control.
   
   
6. Focus on the Issue, Not the Person: Keep the discussion centered on the problem at hand, rather than attacking the individual. This reduces defensiveness and helps find constructive solutions. Use “I” statements instead of “you” statements
   
   
7. Seek Common Ground: Look for shared interests or goals that can serve as a basis for agreement. Finding common ground can help build bridges and resolve differences. Seek to empathize with the other person.
   
   
8. Problem-Solving: Approach the conflict as an opportunity to find a solution together, rather than a win-lose scenario. Brainstorm options and work collaboratively towards resolution.
   
   
9. Stay Open-Minded: Be willing to consider alternative viewpoints and be open to changing your perspective if new information emerges.
   
   
10. Take Breaks: If the conflict becomes too heated or overwhelming, it's okay to take a break to cool off and collect your thoughts before reengaging.
    
    
11. Focus on Long-Term Relationships: Remember that conflicts are a natural part of relationships. Prioritize maintaining a healthy and positive relationship over "winning" the argument.
    
    
12. Practice Patience: Conflict resolution may take time. Be patient and persistent in your efforts to find common ground and resolve the issues.
    
    
13. Reflect and Learn: After the conflict is resolved, take time to reflect on what you've learned from the experience. This can help you grow and improve your conflict resolution skills for future situations.
    
    
14. Professional Help: In some cases, conflicts may be too complex or emotionally charged to handle alone. Seeking the assistance of a mediator, therapist, or counselor can provide valuable guidance.

Keep in mind that no one is perfect, and there will be times when emotions run high and conscious communication becomes more difficult. However, the goal is to strive for greater self-awareness and to continually work on improving your ability to engage in conflict in a conscious and mindful way.

It's also important to recognize that being conscious during conflict doesn't necessarily mean that conflicts will always be fully resolved or that everyone will come to an agreement. Sometimes conflicts are complex and deeply rooted, and resolution may take time or may not be possible. Remember that it is an ongoing process that requires practice and self-awareness. It's about choosing to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively, and ultimately, striving for understanding and resolution. Ultimately, being conscious during conflict is a skill that can be developed with practice and effort, and it can lead to more positive outcomes and healthier relationships in the long run.

You are an Individuation of Divinity, an Expression of God on Earth