Conflicts exert powerful influence over individual lives and in societies

In this category, I discuss conflicts that shape how we recall and tell our stories. It’s an important topic because how conflict is depicted and reflected back to us, shapes and influences our understandings of the world.

I’m often disheartened at the negative and shallow ways that conflicts are depicted in fiction, nonfiction, popular culture, and current events. Inadequate analyses of conflicts contribute to the divisive polarization that currently rend politics and set us against each other.

Being conflict competent allowed me to deal with the wretchedness of quadruple (yes, four) mastectomies after I was diagnosed with a rare, potentially deadly form of breast cancer.

Bottom line: how to understand conflict is a core competency we all need in life and in society.

Conflict is the heart of a story in media and in life

Stories are how we demonstrate our conflict competence and conflict incompetence. Stories are a safe place to figure out what we do or don’t want in our own lives and relationships.

On the other hand, fiction about competent conflict management, I am told often, won’t sell. Conflict sells. Incompetence sells. Dysfunctional interpersonal relationships also sell. Managing conflict with skill – big yawn.

What to do with my protagonist who is a Conflict Manager and very good at her job? My novel is an answer for those who say proficiently managing conflict isn’t interesting.

Soon, my finished novel might get published. Stay tuned.
Follow this blog for updates. Browse these posts where I use popular culture as examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly of conflict.

• What color is loneliness? (1/29/2019)
• An Improbable Tale Of Alien Romance (5/25/2018)
• TV guide to conflict competence (1/30/2018)
• Three hopeful truths for 2018 (1/21/2018)
• Does conflict competence make a good story? (8/14/2017)
• FICTIONALIZING CONFLICT (7/26/2017)
• Will practice make up for lack of talent? (6/27/2017)
• The Power of Pessimism (11/7/2016)
• How did national elections descend into a reality TV show? (10/8/2015)
• 3 questions better than ‘why me’ (7/3/2015)
• Get over it or get past it (or both)? (2/18/2015)
• Escaped from Death again, now exploring Life’s purpose (3/30/2014)
• Bogart’s character Rick in Casablanca: is he an optimist or pessimist? (1/14/2014)
• The Mind Of A Mediator: my novel in progress (12/3/2013)
• Changing piece of mind to peace of mind (11/9/2013)
• My medical choice is different than Angelina Jolie’s (7/22/2013)
• Restitution for chemotherapy’s criminal tendencies (7/7/2013)
• 4 days after the Calgary flood – #YYCflood, #abflood (6/26/2013)
• Mentors light my path like lanterns (4/26/2013)
• Two and counting (3/13/2013)
• Political statement one beauty product at a time (3/7/2013)
• Ali and Nino; a better path to restore honour without killing (3/1/2013)
• Worlds in our words (12/24/2012)
• Passing the Regret Test (12/20/2012)
• Breastless Love, The Man Who Stayed with the ‘Sick’ Woman (12/15/2012)
• Stand up to what bullies you (12/5/2012)
• My body reminds me of Poland (11/29/2012)
• Cancer’s a game changer but I’ve still got game (11/27/2012)
• Laughter – best medicine or defense mechanism? (11/25/2012)
• Remission’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose (11/24/2012)
• The advantages of chemo brain fog (11/19/2012)
• Top 10 list of having breast cancer (11/16/2012)
• Good news, honey, I have breast cancer – we can get a dog (11/15/2012)
• A Bride in palliative care is a model of hope (11/11/2012)
• Brain Fog, Chemo Fog, Chemo Brain – no fun by any name (11/11/2012)
• BOGO, would you like a double with that mastectomy? (11/9/2012)
• Flat is Beautiful (11/8/2012)
• Yes, I can handle the truth. I’m a conflict manager (11/6/2012)
• Breaking the news I had Triple Negative Breast Cancer (11/5/2012)
• Bests of breastlessness (11/4/2012)
• Embracing breastlessness (11/3/2012)
• Relearning to be happy (11/2/2012)
• Transforming Conflict Attitudes (12/31/2008)