Pursuing God with Gene Appel

Episode 1261: Four Common Conflict Styles and What They All Get Wrong

Gene Appel

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0:00 | 6:25

Most of us handle conflict the way we were taught, even when what we were taught wasn't healthy. There are four styles that show up again and again. The Eskimo, where nobody talks about the tension and everyone just waits for it to thaw. The Cowboy, where you square off and start firing verbal bullets that wound but never resolve. The Escape Artist, who disappears into distraction or shutdown until everyone forgets what the fight was about. And the Manhandler, where physical force or intimidation takes over when the pressure gets too high. Here's what all four have in common: they're rooted in self. They protect, express, numb, or dominate. None of them make space for the other person. None of them move toward reconciliation. So which one do you default to? Awareness is the first step toward change.

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.