Conflict and how to deal with it
It seems clear that humans often engage in some kind of conflict (though not as often as we think). So, how to deal with it? There are two basic ways, it seems to me:
1. Avoid the people, places and actions that are likely to lead to conflict. This is an obvious choice, taken by everyone sometimes.
2. Strengthen yourself, to deal with the conflict, both physically and mentally. This can involve building up your muscles and/or learning some martial art, and that can be useful, and healthy. That is also common, especially with young men. But it seems to me that its not that successful a strategy, really. You can become Mr Muscles and then be robbed at gunpoint by a skinny or fat guy, or attacked by surprise by several people.
So, the key aspect is mental: to develop such inner calm, happiness, balance, etc that conflict with other people does not do you much inner harm.
It seems clear that humans often engage in some kind of conflict (though not as often as we think). So, how to deal with it? There are two basic ways, it seems to me:
1. Avoid the people, places and actions that are likely to lead to conflict. This is an obvious choice, taken by everyone sometimes.
2. Strengthen yourself, to deal with the conflict, both physically and mentally. This can involve building up your muscles and/or learning some martial art, and that can be useful, and healthy. That is also common, especially with young men. But it seems to me that its not that successful a strategy, really. You can become Mr Muscles and then be robbed at gunpoint by a skinny or fat guy, or attacked by surprise by several people.
So, the key aspect is mental: to develop such inner calm, happiness, balance, etc that conflict with other people does not do you much inner harm.