Have you ever noticed how we seem to shy away from having difficult conversations? We seem to think that avoiding a conversation will make it go away, but it doesn’t, it just festers as we continue to hold onto it. Do you ever find yourself doing that?
We can be reluctant to have those conversations for a couple of reasons; one is that we don’t like confrontation and the other is that we’re afraid of hurting the other person.
When we continue to smile and act like things are all right, it only worsens the situation.
In Proverbs it says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:6)
Like a skilled surgeon, I believe timing and diplomacy can skillfully cut out the festering wound of this uncomfortable situation. This will enable the relationship to get healthy and balanced once again.
Try the following as a guide:
- have the conversation before the ‘molehill turns into a mountain’
- don’t embarrass the other person
- try to be thoughtful
- minimize the finger-pointing
- leave the last 10% unsaid
I’d like to encourage you today to stop avoiding that conversation that you know you need to have and get that healthy balance back.
