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.
Ialways cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think,well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a singlepolitical argument left.
Communicationis a skill that you can learn. It's like riding a bicycle or typing. Ifyou're willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of everypart of your life.
Talk back to your internal critic. Train yourself to recognize and write downcritical thoughts as they go through your mind. Learn why these thoughts areuntrue and practice talking and writing back to them.
Onemight as well try to ride two horses moving in different directions, as totry to maintain in equal force two opposing or contradictory sets of desires.
