Defending your rights and opinions is a foundational part of your nature & make-up. However, in the context of a relationship it can be detrimental. It can steal away time & productivity and can cause great frustration for both of you.
There is a way around the stalemates that we often find ourselves in and that is by finding the opposite of stubbornness. That word is willing. It is an attitude and spirit of cooperation that should permeate our conversations. Maybe something that sounds like, "I am willing to go your way on this one."
Today's Challenge: Demonstrate your responsiveness to your other person by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement between you and him/her. Tell them you are putting their preference first.
When complete, reflect on the following: 1. What issue did you choose? 2. What did giving in cost you? 3. How will this help you in the future?
2. Giving in cost me NOTHING!! (except perhaps a little bruise to the ego)
3. This helps me in the future, because I now understand that I can do things the way this person wants to do them, and still come away with my own understanding (and it didn't kill me to take the back seat)
Defending your rights and opinions is a foundational part of your nature & make-up. However, in the context of a relationship it can be detrimental. It can steal away time & productivity and can cause great frustration for both of you.
There is a way around the stalemates that we often find ourselves in and that is by finding the opposite of stubbornness. That word is willing. It is an attitude and spirit of cooperation that should permeate our conversations. Maybe something that sounds like, "I am willing to go your way on this one."
Today's Challenge:
Demonstrate your responsiveness to your other person by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement between you and him/her. Tell them you are putting their preference first.
When complete, reflect on the following:
1. What issue did you choose?
2. What did giving in cost you?
3. How will this help you in the future?
1. The issue I would prefer to keep private
2. Giving in cost me NOTHING!! (except perhaps a little bruise to the ego)
3. This helps me in the future, because I now understand that I can do things the way this person wants to do them, and still come away with my own understanding (and it didn't kill me to take the back seat)
This was a very enlightening exercise for me.