Undernormal conditions, most people tend to see what they want to see, hear what theywant to hear, and do what they want to do; in conflicts, their positionsbecome even more rigid and fixed.
It ishard to change our point of view in a conflict. Most often, it is because weare not nearly as interested in resolving the conflict and possibly creatinga new ‘pearl’ as we are in being right.
In aconflict, being willing to change allows you to move from a point of view toa viewing point a higher, moreexpansive place, from which you can see both sides.
Conflictis the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. Itinstigates to invention. It shocks us out of sheeplikepassivity, and sets us at noting and contriving.
Peaceis not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives forresponding to conflict alternatives to passive or aggressive responses,alternatives to violence.
