Conflict is healthy.  Conflict invites us to look closer inside ourselves and ask, "What story am I telling myself?" and "Is it true?"  When we're in the middle of an argument--it feels anything but healthy.  We feel out of balance. We feel like someone is rocking our boat.

There is a way of navigating conflict that doesn't force or fix--but that offers freedom instead.  In freedom we can regain our internal balance and begin to steer our own ship in a trustworthy way, even in the middle of other storms that throw us off balance again.

In this episode, we share a fight we had recently that started with, of all things, a grasshopper.  But we weren't really fighting about a grasshopper.  We were fighting about feeling foolish...and the hurtful ways we can speak to each other when we feel foolish.

This episode casts a wide net--and includes considerations and questions about punishment, justice, trust, character, and truth.  We wrap it up with these TAKE AWAYS:

• "When there is trust, conflict becomes nothing but the pursuit of truth--an attempt to find the best possible answer."  (The Advantage, by Pat Lencioni)
• Balance is internal, not external. The journey we take in this world will throw us off balance.  Brave Love reminds us to pause and regain our internal balance before continuing on in the journey.
• Brave Love builds trust instead of destroys it--because we're fighting together...for the freedom to live in the truth.

Thank you for sharing this episode with your friends and your spouse--especially if you're navigating a conflict.  You can follow this link to listen now.

We mention these resources in this episode:

The Advantage, by Pat Lencioni https://smile.amazon.com/Advantage-Organizational-Health-Everything-Business/dp/0470941529/

John Lynch, author of On My Worst Day--and many others!  https://smile.amazon.com/My-Worst-Day-Cheesecake-Koufax/dp/1934104078/

John 15 Academy https://john15academy.com