Recently I was in a conversation which at one point somehow quickly turned into a “hot topic.” My new friend just lit up with loud arm-waving anger! I was really taken aback and immediately found myself withdrawing and doing what I could to lighten the situation. I was completely taken off guard and felt less engaged for the rest of the conversation.

Later I thought: what happened? And why did I respond the way I did? What could I have done differently – or what would I like to do differently the next time something like that happens?

Being interrupted or having someone react strongly to what we have said is at the least very frustrating and at the most very frightening. Looking back, I felt frustrated AND frightened!

So, why DID I respond the way I did?

• I wasn’t prepared.
• I was afraid.
• I didn’t have a plan in the front of my mind!

What COULD I have done differently?

• I could have done what I teach everyone to do – I could have said to my friend, “Hey can we PAUSE a minute? I am not sure what just happened but let’s just stop a minute to reset our conversation.”
• I could have re-oriented our entire conversation to PLEDGEtalk.

What WOULD I like to do differently the next time I am interrupted or someone reacts to something I say?

• Be prepared. Every relational encounter is an opportunity to use PLEDGEtalk. And every conversation has the potential of becoming tense or turning into a conflict. If we keep that in mind from the moment we wake up, to the time we go to bed at night, we will be prepared!
• Be bold and loving – at the same time. Engaging well in conversations because they matter will require courage AND love. At times we will need to be bold to guide the conversation in a helpful direction, and at ALL times we must keep in mind that first and foremost we are called to love!
• Remember PLEDGEtalk! It is our GUIDE for all conversations and all conflicts!

If you haven’t watched the video on this yet from this week or read the great thread of thoughts afterward, CLICK HERE!

Leave a one-sentence reaction below to what you read above!!

Mark Oelze, Author/Creator of PLEDGEtalk