Fear of Conflict

[gratitude28]

As I have been reading through all the posts with people being so open and honest, working through misunderstandings here and generally trying to find common ground on many issues, I think we should all be very proud of ourselves. I am so scared of conflict that I wanted to run when I saw how much of it there is here. I grew up avoiding any sort of conflict at any cost. And I lived that way for many years. I think it is great (when I can get through my initial supreme fear) that so many people are willing to continue a dialogue and clear up points which have been irritants on this board.
Thank you for helping me begin to work on somethig very difficult for me.
Beth

[Hopalong]

Thank you, Beth.
I'm learning to move through fear too.
 

I am very touched by this message.

Hops

[Sela]

Thankyou from me too Beth.

I feel fear every single time I post something challenging.  I don't want to hurt but I do sometimes, I think.  Then I feel bad/sad and wish I hadn't posted or I'd used different words or thought about it longer.

Conflict is scary.  It's another risk.

Much safer/easier to stay out of it until it blows over eh?

I do that too sometimes.

I feel like I have a lot to learn about communication yet.

Thankyou for posting this.

Sela

[Sugarbear]

I agree - thanks for posting this!

I try to avoid conflict in my real life and on the boards. My typical response is to give in or hide, but I have been slowly getting better about standing my ground and trying to work things out in my own conflicts, and it is really inspiring that the folks on this board are doing the same... and as respectfully and considerately as I wish my real life could be!

I am really impressed with the posters that are willing to work through their misunderstandings on here.

[seasons]

Beth, another thank you!!!

Sugarbear, I agree and understand, I'm working on this also. It's scary when you have choosen in the past to AVOID.

((seasons))

[mum]

Bless you all who are working things out with your conflicts here.
I do not post to those threads, because my own life has seen enough conflict, and I don't feel my participation would be productive. In a past life, I would get attached ....and I still sometimes do. But now, I support everyone, for what ever space they are in, it's where they need to be and they will learn as we all do from the discomfort.
I am not voting for something that will affect this world dramatically, so I abstain from participating. Now, if you want to talk politics......

[reallyME]

Though I'm personally not afraid of conflict, nor am I avoidant of it, I prefer to be on common, peaceful ground with people...them respecting my boundaries, and I theirs.  I have, for the most part, up until recently, see this to be the case.

~RM