“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him… with love” ~Mahatma Gandhi

This quote, tweeted by Tony Robbins yesterday, is so appropriate on the day that we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is true that the challenge to see our selves in our opponents is our greatest and richest opportunity. If we can learn to love “them,” perhaps we can learn to love ourselves. In so doing, we remove the finger from the triggers in our society, by removing them in our hearts.

Why is it so easy to be ‘triggered’ into fear and anger over what other people say?

I call it the “Purple Spots Syndrome.”

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One of the things I see a lot in the troubles my clients experience is stuck, stubborn, seemingly insurmountable, resentment. You know, the stuff that bubbles just under the surface, waiting to blow up into something bigger than it needs to be.

Think for a moment about something that is really stuck in your craw.

Hold that thought, and then ask yourself what I’m sure will seem like a silly question…

How do you feel about washing dishes?

Do you get to it right away and clear up the mess so you can start fresh with the next meal?Do you leave the dishes so that they get sticky, crusty and a pain to get clean?

Do you use the excuse of ‘soaking’ to put off getting the job done?

Believe it or not, your approach to dish washing may be a clue to how you deal with conflict resolution.

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