1. No matter their behavior, Think of the other person as VALUABLE, IMPORTANT… Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. (4), Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Philipians 2:3, (NLT)
And why worry about a speck in your friends’ eye when you have a log in your own? (4) How can you think of saying, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye, when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? (5) Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friends’ eye. Matthew 7:3
Think of the person as valuable…God loves them.
2. What (1) one complaint has the another made about your behavior? Spend a total of 5 minutes, thinking of how to improve.
If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. (32) If you reject criticism, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. Proverbs 15:31-32 (NLT)
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
3. Listen and validate the feelings of others. Honor their right to be heard. Listen More. Talk Less.
…Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19
Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NLT)
4. Tell / Write in a note … 3 things that you appreciate about this person. Whose behavior is difficult.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35 (KJV)
Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
5. When a conflict arises ask yourself, “How can I make this situation 5% better?”
Things are never as they first appear. Reserve judgement. You cannot draw conclusions as long as there is missing information. Mike Murdock
Guard your heart, it is a wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:18
Make a choice to strive for healthy connections. You Deserve It!
