Conflict, Creativity, and Compassion

Conflict is a lifelong practice.

First principle is don't be there, get out of the way. Second principle is embrace the energy.

We give people an opportunity to reflect on their thinking. And if this isn't about compassion, I don't know what is. Not only for them, but for yourself.

It's about changing ME. That's where the power is. Because when I change, everything changes. The dance changes.

The more we fight, the more energy gets added to the conflict...we think we only have 2 choices. Think of Aikido as the third choice: step in.

I have to first of all notice that I'm not doing it, that I'm continuing to apply pressure, then I have to decide what I want to do. Do I want to keep putting the pressure on or do I want to move in and see their point of view—and lead. Because when you do that, you become a leader.

Falling is not losing in Aikido. Falling is an option that we take, because if you resist, it's going to hurt. We learn to fall...and we learn through that process that it's about getting up.