Complicate to Simplify
Intentionally complicate your oppositional relationship to the "other group" - challenge the assumption of opposition and learn to recognize complexity in both positions - before you zero in on actionable decisions.
Exercises
Choose Your Lift Level
What do you have capacity for today? Whether it's a light lift, or something a little heavier, taking a step is what counts.
Open Your Mind Before Making Decisions
Watch the beginning of this brief video (ideally with your partner) on integrative thinking. The video is a little slow, so feel free to watch it sped up!
The Science Behind It
"Integrative thinking" is the capacity to unpack complex problems and examine different aspects of them - and approaches to them - from other points of view before zeroing in on what to change and how to go about it. It often involves synthesizing what appear to be opposing views or remedies. This manner of thinking is not often taught in schools, but we can learn to do it, and it is essential to constructive conflict management around more thorny issues.
Give it a try!
Daily Reflection
End the day by making a few notes on how to practice and build on these processes.
Set a daily reminder
Get daily exercise reminders on your phone or email throughout The Challenge to stay on track.
- Better navigate politically polarizing situations
- Repair strained relationships with family and friends
- Become a less reactive and more effective communicator
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