The following are planned blog posts that are in various states of planning and production, which are to be posted over the coming year. I have broken them down by general topic areas.

 

CONFLICT

 

Imagine a World without Conflict (Boring!)

Conflict: A Normal, Expectable, and Healthy Aspect of Life

Internal and Interpersonal Conflict: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Internal Conflict: Reconciling Opposing Values

Interpersonal Conflict: A Vehicle for Balance in Relationships

Conflict: Internalizers and Externalizers

“I Hate Drama!” – “Oh, Really?”

Resolving Conflict with Effective Self-Expression, Active Listening, and Negotiation

Eight Styles of Dealing with Conflict and Their Assets and Liabilities

Submission and Rebellion: Two Versions of Being Controlled by Others

Independence: Beyond Submission and Rebellion

Interdependence: Beyond Dependence and Independence and into Mutuality

Conflict: Polarization Versus Resolution

Dialectics: from Thesis and Antithesis To Synthesis

 

PARADOXES IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Problems and Paradoxes

Life’s Polar Opposites: Not as Simple as It May Seem

When Conflicts Are Paradoxes

Individuality and Belonging: Being Apart from and Being a Part of

Order/Structure Versus Spontaneity/Freedom

Security/Stagnation Versus Excitement/Danger

Being/Living in the Present Versus Becoming/Building a Future: You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too

The Pleasure Principle and the Reality Principle: Revisiting Freud

Selfishness Versus Selflessness

Using Others Versus Relating to Others

Free Will and Determinacy

Causality: the Linearity of Cause and Effect Versus the Curvilinear Interaction of Systems

We Create Our World and Our World Creates Us

Tragedy and Comedy: Two Artistic Expressions of Paradox

Byproducts of Working through Conflict Effectively: Humility, Compassion, Gratitude, and Emotional Intimacy

 

VICIOUS CYCLE PATTERNS IN RELATIONSHIPS

 

Stephen Karpman’s Persecutor – Victim – Rescuer Cycle

The Slacker – Enabler Cycle

The Perfectionist – Passive-Aggressive Cycle

What Is Codependency?

The Seeker – Sought Cycle: Pursuit and Retreat

The Snoop and Sneak Cycle: An Escalation of the Seeker – Sought Cycle

Diagramming Your Vicious Cycle to Get Perspective: Inner Experience and Outer Expression

The Challenge of Recognizing Your Own Role in a Vicious Cycle

Breaking the Cycle

Vicious Cycles in Politics: Law and Order Right-Wingers, Libertarians, And Bleeding Heart Liberals

Politics: Loyal Opposition Versus Obstructionism