I'm taking a class this semester about interpersonal conflict and communication. The idea for this poem came from a lecture during the first week of classes in which we discussed the core of conflict: perception. I've noticed this happens a lot with social media since there are no nonverbal cues to read, only text.

One thing I know to be true:

conflict is inevitable.

To some, that fact can be scary.

Very scary.

Conflict forces us to confront our deepest fears,

to stand up for what we feel is right.

To those who are scared of getting hurt or confronting problems or just change in general,

the idea of conflict can be so horrifying.

Conflict is not only external, but it happens within ourselves.

A lot of times, these conflicts come from misinterpretations of the world around us.

We each see the world through a completely different lens, tainted by life experiences and different belief systems and values;

because of that, one interaction can be perceived several different ways.

This difference in perception from one person to the other is what drives interpersonal conflict.

The misperception is what causes hurt feelings, and sometimes resentments if never dealt with over time.

Once a conflict is resolved and a decision is made, even the most indecisive of us need to make peace with the resolution.

At the end of the day, it is best to live with the reality,

instead of fighting it.

Doubting our final choice will eat us alive,

so letting it go is best.

Then,

and only then,

can we not only find peace with the conflicts outside our skin,

but also the ones that live within.