15 August 2017

Diffuse an argument by asking what the other person wants from it

https://lifehacker.com/diffuse-an-argument-by-asking-what-the-other-person-wan-1797795022

Just ask what they want from the argument.

For instance, you might be upset that your spouse forgot your birthday, but instead you get upset about dirty dishes, an open window, or a cluttered nightstand. To the other person, it looks like you’re just suddenly upset by clutter, which can be confusing if that’s not your regular M.O. When your spouse doesn’t understand why you’re upset, that’s likely to make you even more upset, and the whole situation can spiral out of control.

Instead, respond to an argument with a calm and respectful request asking what the other person is trying to accomplish with the fight.

Hopefully, that will facilitate him or her either telling you what the issue is, or looking at the situation and realizing what they really want out of it is a hug and snack, or maybe they just want an apology for some wrong that you did them you don’t even realize. By asking, you can get to the root of the problem a little quicker, and hopefully avoid the whole epic battle portion of the conflict. Or at the very least you’re offering to listen to that person’s concerns, which is often the point of a fight, to begin with.

Once you hear what an issue is, you can respond (again, calmly and respectfully) and address their concerns. Or, even better, you can just respond with “I hear you,” because you did, in fact, hear them. Maybe you still disagree, but in some cases, that’s still ok. Often just acknowledging that you hear and understand the other person’s point of view might be enough to end the conflict (or at least open up a productive dialogue about it) and preserve your friendship/marriage/job in the process.

04 August 2017

Practicing compassion — not only decreases anxiety, but it also increases an overall state of calm

https://lifehacker.com/use-these-mental-tricks-to-prepare-for-dealing-with-unp-1797464982

Researchers found that actively practicing compassion — the capability to recognize another’s suffering and be motivated to relieve that suffering — not only decreases anxiety, but it also increases an overall state of calm. And, more importantly, they found that it is indeed possible to teach people to be more compassionate.

Notice and pay attention: Notice how you’re feeling in a situation and how your body is reacting. Figure out what you need. You might just need a few deep breaths to settle your mind and those sweaty hands.

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes: Take time to consider life from her perspective. Recognize that just like you, he/she has family and friends, goals and dreams ... and baggage.

Let it go: Acknowledge that you’re anxious about a person or situation and let that thought move on to allow the flight-or-fight part of your brain to relax instead of obsess. (Meditating daily, in particular, can help train your brain to let go.)

Practice makes perfect: Start where it’s easier. Practice compassion with yourself and with a loved one. Then ease into those more difficult relationships.