We like to imagine our friendships are invincible. That they’ll somehow always be warm and entertaining, without ever being touched by conflict.
But unlike the sitcom characters who use clever banter to fully resolve issues with their friends by the end of the 30-minute episode, our relationships don’t always clear life’s hurdles with as much ease.
Reality is this: We have different opinions, observations, and internal thought processes than even our closest friends. This means, if we are friends with the same person long enough, we will eventually encounter some kind of conflict, big or small.
The moment the tension between friends surfaces can incite a kind of internal panic as we race to figure out how to react. Do we ignore it with hopes it will go away? Do we try to talk it out? Do we give it some time?
For some of us, who tend to avoid conflict, our default may be to distance ourselves from friends during conflict. This may seem like a solution early on, as it will reduce the stress we feel when we are in the presence of someone we feel tension around.
But, in pushing our friend away, we often sacrifice closeness and even risk losing the friendship itself over time. Not to mention that harboring stress and worry can negatively affect our well-being.
[For more of this story, written by Sarah Cunningham, go to http://psychcentral.com/blog/a...o-avoiding-conflict/]
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