06/02/2026
Let's talk about 4 ways people get trapped in a conflict cycle, they find impossible to get out of.
This course is for anyone who has ever regretted how they responded to a conflict, and I think that covers more of us than we like to admit.
After 29 years as a Conflict Analyst, I've watched thousands of people get trapped in the same cycle and it doesn't matter if the conflict is at work, at home, or in a leadership team. The trap always has the same four walls.
These 4 main traps are:
1. Blame
You stop seeing the situation clearly because you're too busy building the case against the other person. You make assumptions and construct stories to validate what you already believe and then you share those stories, which makes the whole thing worse.
2. Power
You start mobilizing your social network, gossiping, and gathering allies. You make the other person look bad and yourself look reasonable, however this power play deepens the conflict every time.
3. Anger
Lashing out and negative dialogue takes over where every interaction becomes a potential explosion and you stop being able to think clearly around this person at all.
4. Fear
The conflict shifts into something that feels dangerous where you start fearing the other person or they start fearing you and the whole energy of the conflict turns toward control and damage.
Most people cycle through all four, sometimes in the same afternoon.
It is funny how people get trapped in this cycle and feel stuck and overwhelmed, unable to sleep at night and dreading going to work or encountering the other person.
In my upcoming Live Conflict Clarity Course I am doing 4 live conflict teaching sessions on how to extricate yourself from these types of conflict traps before they drain any more of your energy, focus, and Resilience Currency.
All sessions are recorded and you get lifetime access to the course, so even if your schedule gets in the way you will not miss a thing. And if you can't make a live session, send me your conflict scenario and question and I will personally provide an analysis and surprising strategies that work for your specific situation.
Get more information here: wisresilience.interpersonalwellness.com/courses/conflict-clarity-course
Registrations close next week.
Do you know someone cycling through these traps? Share this post with them.
