You won! Those two magic words.... or are they???
What if I was never at war with you? Who really wins anyway and what is winning?
What if we both could win and be on the same team?
Winning is such an arbitrary and subjective word.
Wouldn’t it be better if we could all just take a step back, breathe and figure out what we are all looking for and find a way where we can meet in the middle and all get our needs met?
If we are being honest, aren’t we all just looking to be heard, understood and loved and valued for who we are?
The truth is, it is probably easier to have knee jerk reactions, stand by and defend our long held beliefs and convictions then to take the time to listen, absorb, educate, look at all points of view and then formulate a reaction, plan or stance.
Those things all take time, patience, an open mind and willingness to maybe even be and admit being wrong.........wait whaaattttttt???? Yup, I said it ....there is a possibility that you are wrong!
Would you be surprised to know that when you are wrong you can actually be right?
If you are willing to be wrong, you might just find there is a better way, a new idea, belief, thought process that is better than what you previously thought.
All that being said, a first step the next time you find yourself wanting to “win” a disagreement is:
Stop (imagine the person as their child self ...it is hard to be mad at a child)
Don’t React
Listen
And see if there are more similarities than differences, or maybe what someone is saying actually makes sense. You may just find you are on the same side and fighting for the same things ...they are just wrapped in difference packages:)
I dare you :)
Take the first step, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised and that everyone ‘Wins”
XOXO
