Conflict is often defined as a struggle or clash between opposing forces, a state of opposition between ideas and interests. However, it is important to approach conflict with humility, recognizing that it is not inherently negative or something that should necessarily be avoided. Just as the majestic Grand Canyon is a result of the conflict between earth and water, conflict is an integral part of life and nature. To shy away from conflict is to shy away from life itself. In today’s world, the term “conflict” is frequently mistaken for “belligerence.” When you share an idea or thought and someone responds with aggressive hostility, that is not true conflict but rather belligerence. Engaging in belligerent behavior is something that should indeed be avoided. Whether we

In life, things are often not what they seem. In order to determine truth or reality, right or wrong, good or bad, we all have a set of God-given tools. So, what tools do you rely on the most to make sense of things? Your eyes, your ears, your emotions, your instincts, or what you believe to be common sense? Your eyes can deceive you. Your ears can be lied to. Your emotions can trick you. And your instincts and common sense are dependent upon all three of those things. So, how do we know what is real and what is true? The answer is to maintain a balance of all three aspects of self: mind, body, and spirit. Emotions, for example, have their place.