In the last article, i started on effective ways of dealing with conflict. I will like to write on the concluding part in this article.
I always tell people that issues between husbands and wives are not as critical as how the parties involved handle them. Your ability to handle issues without allowing your emotions to override your logic is vital to the success of your home.

Effective Ways of Dealing With Conflict

1. Forgiving instead of judging. Thomas Fuller quotes: “He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man needs to be forgiven”. Robert Fripp also quoted that “A mistake is always forgivable, rarely excusable and always unacceptable”. Conflicts will always come. It is not a question of whether or not it will come, but when it will come. This mindset will always put you in a favorable position. Agreed, it is not as easy as mentioned, but you should have an attitude to succeed in resolving it. In my ten years of marriage, I realized that hanging on to an issue unnecessarily will only make the situation cancerous. It will always make situations degenerate instead of being resolved. The antidote therefore is to forgive and not to judge or be prejudiced.
2. Expressing Genuine Love. Love has the capacity to tame any possible hostility that might generate from conflicts between husband and wife. Love sees change possibilities in the midst of weakness. Love forms the foundation on which openness, understanding and trust builds on. When this happens, conflict has no place to mess up your relationship.

One key factor you must take from this series on conflict resolution is that; “There will always be an effect to every action taken”. There will always be conflicts in your marriage. You have to decide from the beginning which outcome you prefer. You’ve got to weigh your options- outcome of bad management against good management after understanding the essence of conflict management.

We must be able to handle the differences in our ethnic, social and educational backgrounds as we adapt ourselves to each other in the institution of marriage. Conflicts, if handled positively will provide room for growth and development in our relationships. You must be willing to resolve all issues generated between you and your spouse to a favorable end. Your decision will either lead you to more problems or to the solution.

I ask you today, where you stand, with the Problem or the Solution?