Based on six years of intensive research, Making Peace with Conflict walks readers, in easily understood prose, through the evolution of the human threat response and educates us about how fear, anger, and trauma contribute to the regular appearance of conflict in our lives. A scientifically comprehensive and informative guide, this is the first book that explicitly ties recent revolutionary trauma research to the way we deal with conflict. While we know all too well the pain of conflict, few realize how engaging with it can deepen trust and strengthen relationships. Like navigating a labyrinth, the process of harnessing the connective power of conflict lies in trusting the process, putting one foot in front of the other, and maintaining progress toward the center-a place of integration, peace, and ease. Readers of the book will: Understand how their bodies respond to their perception of conflict, including responses commonly known as "flight or fight" and freeze or faint; Learn ways to calm those responses in ourselves and others; Identify the epidemic of trauma and the role trauma plays in conflict and our lives; Understand how and why to endure the temporary discomfort of conflict for the long-term benefits of greater trust and deeper connection with others; Recognize that we are all doing our best to survive. Making Peace with Conflict is the book we've been waiting for: a straightforward and non-touchy feely process that allows us to engage productively and calmly with intense emotions, and reap the benefits of increased trust and deeper relationships when we do.
