| Moment #2 - Conflict - "Keep life | | | | solution to finding conflict is to watch |
| interesting: find conflict." | | | | sports. They get home from work, flip on the |
| | | | television, and wait for "the big game" to |
| Conflict is necessary for us as human beings. | | | | start. |
| We need it as much as we need air and water. | | | | |
| Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. | | | | Other examples of conflict: |
| Sometimes there is no defined resolution, and | | | | |
| conflict is its own experience. | | | | You confront someone about a lie. |
| | | | |
| Conflict can make us break down and cry. It | | | | Your car won't start. |
| can also make us happy, especially when we | | | | |
| win a situation and are victorious. Conflict | | | | Your daily struggle to wake up and get to |
| makes us think. It keeps us alert. It makes | | | | work on time. |
| us react, and it forces us to learn. It can | | | | |
| make our blood boil. Indeed, without | | | | Aside from moral beliefs and laws, conflict |
| conflict-without the possibility of failure | | | | is conflict. From that perspective, robbing a |
| or the potential for triumph-life would be | | | | bank is a pretty strong form of conflict that |
| utterly boring. | | | | will enhance your human experience to a |
| | | | degree that most people might never feel. |
| Some examples of conflict: | | | | However, the repercussions of being a bank |
| | | | robber might not be so much fun. Sky diving |
| Conflict in a relationship: Conflict is | | | | is another great form of conflict (potential |
| inevitable when you are dating or when you | | | | terminal conflict with the ground). Will you |
| are married. It can be a minor conflict. (You | | | | survive the fall, or will you squash |
| and your girlfriend argue over what you're | | | | yourself? |
| going to watch on TV.) Or, it can be a major | | | | |
| form of conflict. (Your husband is an | | | | There are four categories of conflict: |
| alcoholic and has become physically abusive | | | | |
| towards your children.) | | | | Direct, physical conflict: a fistfight or |
| | | | boxing match, a football game, rugby, a |
| Conflict in movies and books: Any fictional | | | | karate match, fencing, bullfighting, |
| book or blockbuster movie is packed with | | | | wrestling |
| conflict. Sometimes movies are so full of | | | | |
| conflict that they make us physically tired | | | | Indirect, physical conflict: a baseball |
| and mentally drained by the time they are | | | | game, soccer, horseracing, a marathon |
| over. Have you ever felt that way about a | | | | |
| movie? If you have, chances are strong that | | | | Indirect, mental conflict: a game of chess |
| you just watched a great movie. | | | | or checkers, an argument, the game show |
| | | | "Jeopardy", a video game |
| Conflict at work: We might get into an | | | | |
| argument with a colleague over the | | | | Conflict with yourself: disciplining |
| whereabouts of our favorite pen. We have | | | | yourself not to buy that donut every morning |
| conflict when we fail to meet our customers' | | | | on the way to work, telling yourself not to |
| needs, and they confront us. | | | | call your ex-boyfriend, telling yourself not |
| | | | to drink, disciplining yourself to study for |
| Conflict in sports: Competing against someone | | | | that upcoming math test, biting your tongue |
| (or watching someone compete) is one of the | | | | when someone you love says something hurtful |
| stronger forms of conflict. The more | | | | |
| civilized the society, the higher the demand | | | | I think most people define retirement as |
| for sports. Professional athletes get paid | | | | conflict free: no more boss, no more driving |
| vast sums of money because the average | | | | to work, no more deadlines, no more alarm |
| American has become sedated. Our culture | | | | clock. I have a different perspective. By |
| conditions us for a safe and monotonous | | | | eliminating work and the opportunity for the |
| lifestyle that allows for a cohesive | | | | conflict work brings with it, I think we are |
| existence within our society. We go to work, | | | | potentially cultivating a sedated lifestyle. |
| come home, and watch television. We pay our | | | | If anything, retirement should mean that it's |
| taxes. We live our lives in a manner to | | | | time to experience the type of conflict that |
| maintain a peaceful nation. Although it | | | | is most appealing and most challenging to |
| works, I believe we have put our human spirit | | | | ourselves. It's the time of our life where we |
| to sleep to such an extent that we need to | | | | get to choose the situations that will rattle |
| stare at a television and get our "conflict | | | | us the most. |
| fix" by watching other people compete. I | | | | |
| don't see this changing anytime soon because | | | | Conflict is a necessary part of the human |
| where else are we going to get physical | | | | experience. Eliminate it and life becomes |
| conflict without the risk of breaking some | | | | about as exciting as a piece of toast. If you |
| law, going to jail, or getting hurt? Whether | | | | want to keep your life interesting, here is |
| you sit in a recliner and watch sporting | | | | the answer: find conflict. Hopefully you can |
| events on television or you're actually a | | | | find conflict that is not life threatening |
| participant in a sporting event, sports go a | | | | yet still has an element of loss/triumph |
| long way in satisfying our human need for | | | | attached to it. Then again, maybe |
| conflict. Most people have very little | | | | life-threatening conflict is the best way to |
| conflict in their lives, and their easiest | | | | go. |