Conflict wreaks havoc on our brains: the amygdala sounds an alarm and releases a cascade of chemicals in the body. But practicing mindfulness can override the automatic responses of our nervous system. When your body jumps into fight-or-flight mode, notice that you’ve been provoked. Focus on whatever sensations arise in your body; feel them naturally, just as they are, not trying to control or change them. Take deep, consistent breaths: paying attention to our body reestablishes equilibrium faster, restoring our ability to think, listen, and relate. Doing all this takes practice, but eventually we can retrain ourselves to respond rationally to conflict rather than simply reacting.
Adapted from "Calming Your Brain During Conflict," by Diane Musho Hamilton
