I’ve become aware, as I get older, how my initial emotional reaction to conflict isn’t always fair and is usually pointed backward, defensive and angry. I also know that I do better if I have time alone to process how I’m feeling, and often by the time I’m done things have moved on.
What I’ve been working on is to stop using excuses - the moment has passed, I’d just be dredging up the same argument, I’ve had this conversation in my head a bunch but they never turn out exactly right - and just go back to the people involved and tell them how I feel because they deserve that effort. There have been disagreements I’ve had where I wasn’t in the wrong but the other party did something I can admire and appreciate, and it doesn’t hurt me any to say that.
And it never ends with what I imagine is “argument perfection”: a point by point discussion of intent and action and history. Which is silly because life is messy but it gets better and I and others grow more patient and willing to move forward if I’m not always bracing for a blow.
That’s…probably a bit confusing, but it’s been something I’ve been mulling over, so…what personality traits of yours are you working on?
Yeah I feel you on this one. It’s like my first reaction is to raise my hackles, not just because “CHANGE???” but also that a new idea means I Fucked Up by not considering all options or foreseeing it.
Which is silly and unfair of me. I make errors all the time, and I can’t possibly foresee everything, and when I offer up ideas it’s because I see a problem and want to fix it so things get better.; I’m not thinking about shoving someone’s nose in their failure to be omniscient so why should I be so concerned they’re doing the same?
One thing that helps is the knowledge that we don’t stop thinking about something when we stop consciously thinking about it, so my slow embrace of an idea after hours or days makes sense; my mind kept it on the stovetop, just on the back burner. It’s not fickleness, it’s consideration, and the knowledge that I do that can help give me the confidence to say, in the moment, “I’ll get back to you on that”.