Showing posts with the tag “Aikido And Conflict”

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• October 24, 2017
  24Oct2017

  Conflict, Creativity, and Compassion

  

  You have more power than you think.
  When you change, everything changes.

  Recently I gave a 30-minute presentation on Conflict, Creativity, and Compassion for Creative Mornings Portsmouth. It helps to add a little creativity and compassion to conflict, don't you agree?

  I get inspired by what I teach -- how to use the energy of conflict instead of fighting it. How to work with your opponents and turn them into partners for problem solving. How to think a little differently....

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• March 3, 2015
  3Mar2015

  Should I Bring It Up or Not? Purpose and Creativity

  

  You'd think that after 21 years, I might have heard every possible response to the questions posed by the Aikido activities I use to engage participants in my workshops. Never. There's always a new way to view the activity, because the viewer has his or her own unique experience. That's just one of the many things that make my work so enjoyable.

  I'd like to share two new insights with you today...

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• April 16, 2013
  16Apr2013

  How Do You Honor?

  

  If you’re a faithful reader of _Ki Moments,_ you know that I consider respect an important aspect of managing conflict effectively. And that I’ve written over the years on the blog and in my book, _Unlikely Teachers,_ about the bowing ritual in Aikido and its applications off the mat in terms of how we embody respect in daily life. One such application comes into play when we engage others in conversation, especially if the conversation is a conflict conversation. Do I just go up to that person and jump in or is there a better way?

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• April 2, 2013
  2Apr2013

  Conflict Is Not Fun: True or False?

  

  On the Aikido mat, regardless of one’s rank, there is always a _sensei_ (teacher) with more experience, wisdom, and perspective, to whom the student looks for continual improvement. I am lucky to have such mentors in my life. After last month\'s _Ki Moments_ post, I received a reminder from my first Aikido _sensei,_ Tom Crum...

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• June 26, 2012
  26Jun2012

  Getting on the Mat: 3 Conflict Management Practices

  

  We often confront conflict unprepared and suddenly in performance mode. How did this happen? How did I get here? It’s not surprising we avoid conflict or rarely see it handled well. Yet when it is, like the beautiful, dance-like movements of aikido, conflict transformation can be breathtaking.

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• March 6, 2012
  6Mar2012

  Fear of Failure and the Art of Ukemi: 3 Lessons from Aikido

  

  When stakes are high, we often hold back because we’re afraid we’ll make a mistake, look foolish, hurt others, or get hurt ourselves. Using the Aikido metaphor, we’re afraid of falling down.

  In Aikido, falling is an art form—the art of ukemi (receiving). We don’t see falling down as failure, because we don’t see what we’re doing as a contest.

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