Which squares did you hit this month? - Read the message but didn’t respond right away - Drafted a response and deleted it - Asked a clarifying question instead of reacting - Needed a break mid-conversation - Realized later what you should have said How many felt familiar?

Most of us don’t choose how we show up in conflict. We default to patterns we learned long ago. Some people avoid. Some push. Some analyze. Some try to smooth everything over. None of these are “bad.” They’re adaptive. They just stop serving us when they become automatic. Pause for a moment: When tension shows up, what’s your instinctive move? Share what you notice about your conflict personality in the poll below. No labels, no judgment. Awareness is the first pause.

Most of us don’t struggle in relationships because we lack good intentions. We struggle because, in tense moments, our habits speak faster than our values. Communication habits shape how quickly conversations escalate, how safe people feel telling us the truth, and how much misunderstanding we carry from one interaction to the next. Over time, small repeated patterns like interrupting, withdrawing, assuming, softening, pausing, clarifying, etc...quietly build the culture of our relationships. Working on communication habits isn’t about becoming perfect communicators. It’s about becoming a little more intentional in the moments that matter most—one pause, one clearer sentence, one better question at a time. The fact that you chose to be here already says something important: you’re committed to growing, even when growth is uncomfortable. Keep showing up. Small, consistent shifts practiced together have a powerful way of becoming lasting change. As we continue growing together in this space, the small shifts we practice here won’t stay here. They’ll ripple into our homes, our teams, and our communities, shaping conversations in ways we may not always see...but will certainly feel.

Week 2: Repair Over Winning A Mental Note to Carry: “Resolution isn’t about being right. It’s about staying connected without losing yourself.” Reflection Prompt When conflict shows up, do you tend to protect the relationship, protect yourself, or protect being right? What does that cost you in the long run? 5 Ways to Support Repair This Week 1. Acknowledge impact, even if harm wasn’t your intent. 2. Use “I noticed…” instead of “You always…”. 3. Offer curiosity before defense. 4. Let silence do some of the work. 5. Remember: repair is a process, not a single conversation.

We survived another week! 🙌🏾 This week, where did you notice yourself pausing and where did you slip into old patterns? Maybe you took a breath before responding. Maybe you resisted matching someone else’s heightened energy. Or maybe you noticed moments where your voice rose, your patience thinned, or your attention drifted while someone else was speaking. No judgment…just awareness. What stood out for you?