As we’ve researched, heard stories, consulted specialists and enjoyed hundreds of fascinating conversations, we’ve been intrigued by how it seems there’s a clear Journey we make to reach a resolution to any inner conflict.
Here’s an outline.
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Unconscious awareness: You feel confused. Something is wrong but you don’t know what. Your body and mind are uncomfortable. You’re conflicted.
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Conscious awareness: You now recognise there’s a conflict and explore what it is. You start to identify it. You may now feel shame at feeling torn.
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Information gathering: You reach out to know more, from every source – research, other’s opinions, your own instincts, maybe professional help.
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Hypotheses and experimentation: You start to explore and draw conclusions. You try different resolutions and find ones that might work.
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Tipping point: You shift from inner conflict to resolution. Your emotions settle and you feel at peace. You feel you’ve found an answer
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Forks in the road: You test out the answer and explore whether it works for you. Sometimes you have to turn back, or try another way. But it’s all good information.
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Integration: You feel the direction is right, you rebalance. You find meaning in this new direction and increasingly feel it is the right one.
This journey’s not set in stone – it’s a guideline. Your own journey may vary. You may take another route. Or step off the path and back onto it again.
But at least now you have a map.
If you or someone you're supporting is conflicted, work out where on the inner conflict journey you or they are right now. What exactly might be needed – information… insights… support – to take the next step?