By Nawal Arjini — 2019
We talked to the writer about his debut memoir How We Fight for Our Lives and his move from poetry to prose.
Read on www.thenation.com
CLEAR ALL
When we’re upset with someone, we’re often afraid to say anything. We tell ourselves, “Oh, it’s just a small matter; it’s not important.” But the accumulation of many small issues can create an explosive situation, and can even cause relationships to break.
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Whether we are dealing with a rude clerk, our child saying, “That’s not fair!,” our spouse ignoring us, or an uncooperative co-worker, in our struggle to respond effectively, we often become defensive—sometimes without even realizing it.
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This story is about a mom and a step-dad who had argued a lot over a teenage daughter who was rude and home and unwilling to do her part. The step-dad shifted to using a non-defensive statement and got very different results.
We are used to asking questions in ways that convey judgment and/or are interrogating or entrapping. Much of the body language and tone we use is unconscious. To be real, a question needs to be based on pure curiosity, but it's easier said than done.
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When The Dance of Deception was published, Lerner discovered that women were not eager to identify with the subject. “Well, I don’t do deception” was a common response. We all “do deception,” often with the intention to protect ourselves and the relationships we depend on.