The Restorative Approach to Conflict resource has helped me identify my own conflict style which kept me safe, but not learning or growing.
I would often succumb to other people’s wishes because of not being able to find my own voice.
It has also made me aware of what kind of people I seem to attract into my life due to familiarity and what the outcome of that collaboration tends to be. I am also much quicker now at identifying the conflict style of the person that I am in exchange with and what we are co-creating together.
Knowing which position I am coming from and which position the other person is coming from helps me be more aware about the direction that the interaction is going and what are my choices to help it move in the direction of a more collaborative exchange.
Most of all I needed to learn what my needs were and find my voice to be able to express them clearly, calmly, and with more confidence. I am recognizing now that my needs matter as much as the person who I am in exchange with.
I also recognize that I have a choice now over how I express those needs. I am embracing a sense of playfulness to be able to expand my repertoire of expressing those needs in the future.
Thank you, Tracy for creating the resource and creating a positive impact in my life.