The core of real connection is shared pain. Change occurs right at the edge of your comfort zone. Our comfort zone is a place we go to heal, to relax, to be quiet. We need to step out beyond that zone to grow and to learn. That which we resist persists.
Conflict seeks resolution, just as a discordant note in a melody seeks resolution.
Sooner or later you need to get to the root of the matter at hand. This means you are not only physically, but also emotionally and mentally present. The more open you can be to your feelings, to what is happening around you, your responses and reactions, the more genuinely you can participate in the conflict at hand. Being present also involves letting go of preconceived images, outcomes and judgements, viewing and receiving whatever is happening here and now with a fresh set of eyes and an open heart. The underlying message in our organization is that conflict is healthy and welcome.