In the past when conversations became heated, I poured oil on the fire. In time, I finally learned that approach ended situations rather than lead to betterment. Now, I mostly take pause when a conversation gets angry, heated, cold, and confrontational. I think about what's happening and why the words turned that way.
Recently I have had a series of conversations like that with a friend. Each time, the conversation ends with a shiver--the warmth that was once there is gone. Why?
I'm not exactly sure why this is happening, but I do know that I need to listen more to figure this out. I don't want to burn this relationship, but instead I want to nurture it. Time will tell.