When there is conflict, I assume/try to remember that I must be in the relationshipin order to teach me something.
^I also try to focus on the conflict is in order to teach me something and I need to grow. It’s a positive way to relieve the pain of the conflict by taking the opportunity for something positive.

Conflicts can be hard to navigate. I am trying not to talk about anything specific (like I did when I first came to PC), in order to respect others privacy. I have found that the safest thing is to listen
^Yes! I need to listen more and talk less, especially talk less smack.

because when people are upset, I find it hard to find anything to say that is comforting. This is why I pray for compassion but I also know I do not have to say anything if the person is (because of what was already just said) being mean and characterizing me in ways that I know are not fair. I feel like I am better able to discern when the other person is characterizing me in an unfair way but I have been continuing to pray for discernment because I also know how foolishly I have acted in the past. I need to be patient and calm because I know they are suffering but I do not have to try to please someone by continuing to try to say the right words when nothing will be right while the person is upset.
^If a person doesn’t want to hear the helpful thing one may say, and they may get mad at the well-intentioned speaker, it’s better to not say anything to them. Still, a work in progress for me!

I feel like I am now navigating conflict better
^it’s an artful dance!

and hope my perception about this is correct. It IS harder to be respectful when someone is always criticizing rather than teaching us in a patient way. Sometime we don't understand and they get mad that we don't "know" and it is hard to know in those situations if it is us or them so I am learning just to remain quiet when a conversation reaches this point because further conversation becomes very unproductive....