As I
have worked with families at Logan River, I
have seen the issue of someone needing to be right come up often during family
therapy sessions. Sometimes there is conflict between a child and a parent
because both are set on being right. This typically leads to arguments and each
individual trying to prove his or her point to get the other person to agree or
yield. However, once this conflict starts, it can be hard for people to change
their viewpoint and they often get locked into very rigid thinking. But what if
that conversation could go differently and people realized that often the other
person thinks they are right based different life experiences? I came
across this picture the other day and I think it makes a good point.
Something I try to help the people
I work with do is to go into conversations with other people with an attitude
of trying to understand where they are coming from first before they try to
prove their own point. When parents or
children do this, they typically have more empathy and understanding for the
other person. It doesn’t necessarily mean that there won’t be conflict or that
people will change their minds, but typically it can help those conversations
be more productive. If you find that you are often locked into arguments or
conflicts with people, try to seek understanding of that other person and why
they are thinking a certain way. You may be surprised that the conversation
will go differently and be more positive.
Kristjana Green, LCSW
