How Can You Be Right and Wrong at the Same Time?

This has been a very divisive year for the United States. From how to handle the pandemic and political agendas to racial injustice and redefining our institutional principles, almost every topic that comes across your social media newsfeed or passes in conversation has two sides and you better know which one you are on. More than the important and controversial issues our society faces, what I have been most disturbed by is the criticism and judgment passed from either side of any discussion. It seems an “Us versus Them” mentality has surfaced in the universal mind and we get quite busy looking for evidence that supports our viewpoint while axing anyone on our friend list that opposes. This ongoing state of conflict generates mental and emotional stress for everyone involved, particularly if you feel torn between any two sides of the argument.  During this time, I personally turned to a book that made a major impact on me while in college, The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute.* Through fictional storytelling, this book teaches how we inadvertently invite or perpetuate conflict which we think we are trying to resolve. It explains the dynamics of interpersonal conflict and how our perception can become skewed. Most importantly, through this teaching, it reveals how bringing awareness to these tendencies can diminish their control, allowing us to see situations more clearly and work more efficiently toward solving problems of all sizes.  This process begins wit...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anger Books Communication coronavirus divisiveness Politics Source Type: blogs