Cat J. Zavis, Counselor at Law

As a mediator, collaborative lawyer and teacher of Nonviolent Communication, I feel sad, disappointed and confused when I struggle to be able to transform conflicts in my personal life into connection and understanding.  I value embodying the practices I teach and share with others in my work in my daily life.  Yet, I’m aware that differences are inevitable and that there is struggle in life.  So I work to find peace there.

I recently read that a Japanese baseball player, of the Babe Ruth stature, said that when he gets up to bat he sees the pitcher as his partner - serving up an opportunity for him to hit a home run every time.  So I decided to transform that into my personal life.  I now see any conflict in my personal life as an opportunity to deepen my skills, experience, and wisdom so that I can share that when teaching or mediating with others.

So now, instead of dreading these interactions, they have a lightness and playfulness - an opportunity for my own growth and learning.

I wonder if you can do the same - use those moments of dis-ease and dis-comfort as invitations to deepen your growth and learning, to find peace in the face of conflict.

~ cat