Journals one and two

Journal 1: How do I feel about conflict in my life at the moment? What factors impact how I feel about conflict? What conflict matter? Why? What do I want to learn about conflict this semester?

Conflict in my life at the moment seems to be minimal. I know that conflict occurs on a daily basis and has a scale form something small to something rather large and for me I seem to be dealing with the smaller scale of conflict. Things like getting use to living with 3 other girls in one dorm area, balancing school work, social time and time just for myself. A lot of what impacts how I feel about conflict is my mood and who I am having a conflict with. If i have a great relationship with this other person or party and I am in a pleasant mood the conflict is usually resolved quickly. If however one of those things changes, I don't have the best relationship with this other group or I am in not the best mood, dealing with the conflict can be a little bit more of a challenge.

I think that all conflict matters, no matter where it is on that scale I mentioned earlier, it occurs on a daily basis and I think it is all important. If conflict did not exist it would mean that either people were sacrificing their needs and wants to appease others and that would make life boring, or that we are all really similar and that would make life even more boring. Conflict while it is not always the most pleasant thing I think it adds a little bit of fun into life.

This semester I would like to learn why conflict occurs, and the best ways to resolve all different types of conflict on the whole scale of conflict.

Conflict for me is like .... In this journal use a metaphor to help you explore your experience of conflict in your life

Conflict for me is like a flowing river. I flow along dealing with the challenges as I come upon them. Every now and then I take the smoothest course. and Sometimes the challenges I come upon are small and only create the slightest ripple, the smallest disturbance in the water. Other times the conflict creates a large rapid, with water shoots and hydraulics, pulling me in all different directions, none of which seem easy or to have a way out. but as soon as I get through that conflict things seem to settle, the water calms.... well at least for the mean time.