About Confrontations How do you define "confrontation"? Would you agree that respectful, empathic confrontations (assertions) are required for relationship-building and effective problem solving? Many people feel confront and confrontation are "negative." Often these emotionally loaded terms are associated with sarcasm, shame, blame, belittling, anger, selfishness, aggression, frustration, and disrespect. A better view is that a confrontation can be a productive invitation to another person to dissolve harmful denial, and face some personal or relationship problem honestly so it can be reduced for mutual benefit. The attitude underlying a confrontation (respectful or not) and the way it is discussed (e.g. calmly, directly, respectfully, empathically, and succinctly) can make thoughtful confrontations useful and welcome. To achieve this, people need to (a) be guided by their true Self (Lesson 1), (b) want to learn and use effective-communications basics and skills (Lesson 2), and (c) see each person's needs, dignity, integrity, and rights as equally valid. |