Crucial Conversations and GREAT NEWS!

Alex asked me a couple of days ago how my blog is going and I had to admit to him that I hadn't posted in over a week.  Life has just felt hectic or maybe the right word is stressful.  I am going to go with stress filled and anxiety ridden. HAHAHA

There are a numerous things in our lives that can cause us anxiety and/or stress and it is different for each of us.  And while there are numerous things that can cause those feelings, there is an endless supply of 'lists' out there that tell us how to handle it.  Sometimes I just need more than a list.  It's times like that, that make me incredibly grateful for the people in my life that I can talk to about anything.  Let's face it... not everyone you know is a safe person to talk to. 

We are reading a book at work called, Crucial Conversations. 

Do you know what a Crucial Conversation is?   It is a discussion between two or more people where 1) opinions vary, 2) stakes are high, and 3) emotions run strong.

As it turns out, when a crucial conversation needs to be had, I tend to go silent.  (there was a test in the book) . Are you like that?  You might surprise yourself.   I think the there is a large number of us that back away from crucial conversations because we fear making matters worse.  There are all kinds of tactics that can be used to avoid touchy issues.

In my life right now, there is a touchy issue at work that I wish I could address and a couple of touchy issues in my personal world that I wish I could address.

Since it was recently Martin Luther King Jr Day - I think a quote of his is appropriate right here:

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

But here is the problem....I don't like conflict.  BUT - when I am silent and avoiding conversations that need to be had, my insides get tied up in knots.  This is where stress and anxiety enter in.

But here's the thing... sometimes when you need to talk about something and you know the other person is going to be angry or confrontational, or you know what you have to say will hurt their feelings, it is just plain easier to be quiet.  Now I realize that doesn't fix anything and that it most often leads to bigger issues and since I know that, I am really self-critical about how I do or don't have conversations that need to be had.

I hope that as this book discussion progresses, that I will earn how to create conditions that make dialogue easier.

Enough of that...

My great news you ask?  I am going to be a GRANDMA again!!!!!!  I am SO blessed and SO excited and SO thrilled for the kids.  More details in a later post.

The just of this post... we are given this life to learn and grow.  I am definitely doing that... and always trying to become better.  That, my friends, is part of finding joy in the journey.