I disagree (DW#440)
This one may seem counter-intuitive but families that have regular disagreements or arguments may be happier and healthier than those that never disagree because the families that express themselves are not keeping their feelings bottled up and brewing resentment inside.
Keeping the peace by avoiding conflict and not expressing needs and opinions may be an okay short term strategy but it is an awful long term strategy. Unless you are a truly enlightened being, you have things that bother you and things that you need to express that may upset others in the short term but that will be beneficial for your relationship in the long run. Going long periods of time not addressing issues that bother you or others in the family will cause emotional distance, resentment and hurt.
So an important relationship skill is to speak up (respectfully and without blame) when you do disagree with another person. When people have the emotional safety to speak up and be heard, everyone in the relationship benefits from diverse perspectives and differing opinions.
The next time you disagree with something that is going on, or if something is bothering you, how about being brave and speaking up?
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