Healing the Heart of Conflict: 8 Crucial Steps to Making Peace with Yourself and Others - Softcover

Marc Gopin, Ph.D., is the James H. Laue Professor of World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University's Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution in Arlington, Virginia. The author of Between Eden and Armageddon and Holy War, Holy Peace, he lives in Silver Springs, Maryland.

Gopin's guide transcends many self-help books by drawing on his two decades of experience in the field of conflict resolution worldwide, including the Middle East, Northern Ireland and Africa. Through his work and understanding of the dynamics and stages of international conflict, Gopin, a rabbi and director of the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, has learned how the same tools and approaches can be used to address and resolve day-to-day conflicts in business and personal relationships. "Destructive conflicts," he writes, "are based on primal emotions and cannot be solved by rational discussion and negotiation." They call, instead, for addressing and healing feelings of dishonor and humiliation, which in turn requires "self-examination and spiritual growth." Using wide-ranging anecdotes, Gopin presents eight primary steps, including recognizing the emotions at the heart of the conflict, learning how to listen to all sides of an issue, setting goals that represent the future needs and desires of all parties and keeping dialogue open and ongoing. He illustrates how these principles can be applied in work situations, within family relationships and in local community dynamics. Gopin (Holy War, Holy Peace) addresses how differences in politics, religion, gender, race and personal beliefs can serve as catalysts for conflict and how one might approach delicate situations with understanding so that opportunity for conflict is reduced. Though the eight steps are summarized with simple words (Feel, Understand, Hear, etc.), Gopin's solution is not a simple or easy one—but it is psychologically and spiritually grounded, compassionate and compelling.
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