My Conflict Experience: Taking Responsibility and Achieving Goals - Essay Sample

Introduction

My experience with conflict throughout my life has been mixed. I've had the opportunity to grow and take responsibility by opening my eyes to new ideas and listening to others. The conflict has helped me take a step back and view my actions in a third party. This ability, in turn, has helped me to achieve my goals. By viewing any/all situations as a third party (observer), I can deescalate the situation. In reality, I've never had a significant confutation with anything. Throughout my life, I've learned from my mistakes and those around me; I only do a wrong thing once. Besides, I have been able to understand the impact that conflict might have on both a personal and on the community scale. At times conflict starts at a personal level, and before one realizes, they escalate to the people around them. Therefore, I was able to learn that it is essential for one to learn to deal with conflicts. Resolving them at an individual level would eventually have an impact in dealing with more significant issues that might involve a whole society.

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Personal Belief About Conflict and Violence

Growing up, my experience of conflict makes me feel secure that I can address any situation because I know that the person is not angry at me but annoyed by the situation. I can see his/her concerns and manoeuvre through the conflict and find a reasonable solution. This, in turn, makes me feel self-assured and very confident in my abilities. Over time my belief about conflict has kept on changing. First, I had the notion that it only focuses on war and violence. However, I have leant that it might exist at all levels of society and in every situation. Conflict happens when two or more people or groups have or think they have incompatible goals. Besides, at an individual level, it might reflect in the situation where individuals have competing interests. Resolving one aspect of the interest would eventually mean that the other area would suffer some impact.

I have come to the belief that there are so many people that suffer from internal conflict, and they never speak about these issues. The lack of proper channels where people can come out and talk about conflicting isues means that the battle might escalate and at some point, they lead an individual into violence. There are several cases where it has been reported that people have to turn out to be psychopaths. These cases do not just emerge at once. It is often as a result of unresolved conflict that eventually gets to a level that one cannot control. It is these deep troubles that eventually turn an individual into becoming violent.

My Experience of Conflict (Growing Up) And Its Influence How I Feel About It

Yes, I do think that my experience growing up has influenced how I feel and think about conflict. First, I have been able to understand that there are different levels of conflict. While most people often tend to think of conflict from the idea that they are serious disagreements between people and a group of people, I have come to the understanding that personal conflict also exists. Besides, at the personal level, the conflict might have a detrimental impact since in most cases, it affects an individual's capacity to reason. The lack of rational thinking means that one can act in a way that might not reflect what others think about them. The individual might look normal from the outside, but deep inside, they are battling with several issues. These issues might lead an individual into depression, and that is the reason that their actions might not be rational.

I believe conflict is an opportunity to see what one is made of. While people might tend to act normal in most cases at the times when they experience conflict, some of the issues that are hidden about their personalities might come out. For instance, one might often tend to be understanding, but in times of conflict, they overreact. Therefore when there is a conflict, they can have a chance to understand these reactions. Understanding oneself can be a better way of managing behaviour. Consequently, I do think that conflict can be one of the ways that an individual can get to understand their persona and thus manage their issues. I also believe that people who are educated have a broader vocabulary, thus allowing them to communicate and come to an understanding. I view violence as a lack of education and moral standing. The individuals who act violently have no respect for themselves or that of their community.

How Does Your Faith Shape These Beliefs?

I am not a religious person, but my faith in myself and loved ones teach me to be courageous before adversity. I do believe that we should live in a society where people coexist peacefully. One of the things that guide my faith is the understanding that we are diverse. From the knowledge that we cannot be the same, I also realize that individuals have varying interests. The most important thing that one needs to understand is that we should be able to accommodate each other. The difference in interest and views should be only one of the ways that help us to interact freely and learn more about each other.

I don't see conflict as a bad thing; I see it as a lack of communication that needs to be corrected. I have come to the belief that most of the conflict often arise from the lack of or poor communication. When people fail to articulate their concerns to their friends family or society, chances of conflict occurring are very high. Therefore, I tend to believe that the first focus of the community is to develop a modality where every individual can present their concerns. With an excellent mode of communication, most of the violence and the conflict that people experience might not be there.

Values or Principles That Inform My Beliefs and Actions

One of the core principles that guide my actions involves meditation. Daily medication is a natural approach that increases attention, clarity and focus. Besides, it helps me in regulating my emotions and even makes the voices in my head quitter. Eventually, I would be able to deal with any issues that are mentally affecting me, including anger and pain.

The value that I hold on to is patience. I believe that one has to be ready to wait in some cases and try to understand other people. The virtue helps one to avoid many conflicts since you can be prepared to hold ones anger and listen to other people's views.

Biblical and Theological Wisdom on Conflict & Peacemaking

According to our class sessions in class, the Hebrew language peace means Shalom. "Shalom embraces the struggles of conflict and the reality/gifts of interdependence by seeking equity in access/opportunity, by building cooperation and understanding, and by practising integrity in the pursuit of meeting needs/goals" (Smith 4). We see this throughout the bible; however, the scripture in John illuminate peace when Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27). According to our course, "conflict is an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals" (Smith 4). The case of Cain and able to offer a reflection of conflict and how it can escalate into violence. Cain's goals were incompatible with those of Abel, and eventually, he felt that the only way to resolve the conflict is to kill his brother. This is a case of individuals that are not able to deal with conflict and thus determine to external approaches that eventually lead to violence.

Personal, Conflict-Related Goal

In the Affective Domain, Students Will Be Able To:

1. Identify the basic assumptions that they have in regards to the nature and use of conflict. They would also recognize personal approaches to managing conflict and identify current and potential ways of achieving goals and relational needs in life (Com. P-SLO 6; GE-SLO11).
2. Besides, an individual would demonstrate a level of tolerance in conflicting issues and also develop an appreciation of differences in perspective. The most significant impact is that one would recognize that there is individual and group uniqueness in society. The major focus here is to be able to infuse the culture of conflict resolution among the leaners at an early age. One being able to solve conflict might help to have a more peaceful society. Besides, such learners would also be able to help others solve conflict and team them some of the values that can help in conflict resolution.

In the Skill Domain, Students Will Be Able To:

1. Develop the feeling and thought the approach of self and others in addition to employing a higher level of self-disclosing of internal dynamics (Soc. P-SLO 3; GE-SLO11. As earlier mentioned, there are many instances were one experience personal conflict that eventually leads to violence. However, through the skills that an individual gets in this course they can identify these personal conflicts and revolve them at an individual level. Besides, resolving these conflicts would ensure that society has people that are well rounded and a laser tendency of breaking down. The cases of the mass shooting and serial killings might be less in the nation when one gains these skills.
2. Respond in relation-building and goal-directed approaches when experiencing stressful situations. The current life presents many cases that might drive one into stress and eventually, depression. However, one of the important things is to have a self-evaluation mechanism that would guide even during such times. The focus of the course is thus to develop such deep values.

Works Cited

Smith, Peter. "Biblical and Theological Wisdom on Conflict & Peacemaking." Biblical and Theological Wisdom on Conflict & Peacemaking. 3 Sept. 2019, Fresno.

"BibleGateway." John 14:27 NIV - - Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:27&version=NIV.