Conflicts
are a normal part of life; how we deal with them can make a
big difference. Often when people resolve conflicts, one person
ends up a winner, and one loses out. This may solve the problem
for the moment, but resentment and bad feelings can cause more
problems later. Another way to look at conflicts is to try to
find a WIN-WIN solution, in which both sides can benefit. In
this way, conflicts are turned into opportunities to grow and
make things better. This approach is the cornerstone of "conflict
resolution" - an important tool for bringing peace into our
personal lives, our communities and to our world.
Although
people have been using conflict resolution techniques for years,
the book, GETTING TO YES, presented in 1981 by members
of the Harvard Negotiation Project, helped bring important ideas
about conflict resolution to the public's attention. Since then,
the field has grown tremendously; today conflict resolution
is being practiced in almost every part of society. In many
schools around the world, teachers receive conflict resolution
training to become better "peacemakers" when conflicts arise
in the classroom. Workshops help students learn how to work
out their problems nonviolently. By teaching conflict resolution
principles in school, children develop habits that will allow
them to use these tools to deal with their problems throughout
their lives. Organizations that specialize in conflict resolution
are being called on to help families, schools, communities,
businesses, and even nations to work out their problems.
Conflict
Resolution Day (observed on the third Thursday in October) is
the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about the importance
of learning the tools and skills that can help us all to work
out our differences peacefully.
