You can sense a fight looming. What to do?

 

In The Little Book of Calm, Paul Wilson suggests: “Bicker on schedule – While it’s impossible to avoid all conflicts and arguments, it is possible not to feel too bad when they happen. Simply postpone the argument. Agree to discuss the issues in detail, at some later date… and be surprised how peacefully that can happen.”

 

It’s a great tip! Sometimes what seemed important at the time can be seen in a completely different way once you’ve calmed down. Discussing things calmly will get a better result no matter what the issue. Nothing much gets successfully resolved when people are all steamed up. You’ll not only reduce your stress levels by fighting by appointment, but you’ll get better outcomes!

 

It’s a great habit to cultivate. Train yourself to say, “Can we discuss this later when I can give you my full attention?” and resist the temptation to hurl abuse (or the crockery!) If you have a short fuse, practice, practice, practice. As Grandmother used to say, “You’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar…”