Peace Treatments

Watching the Republican leadership race and listening to the rhetoric of Trump and his supporters,  I've been struck with a sense that there is an undercurrent of something quite distasteful in the culture of that particular demographic that I've not been able to put my finger on. It "feels" hostile, bitter, and contagious and I think I've finally stumbled upon a word that best describes it... ressentiment.    Not resentment...but ressentiment, a French word that suggests a malady in the human spirit that carries with it resentment integrated with contempt, but a contemptuous resentment that is born out of frustration with self that emerges as blame towards others. It's like an infection and has much to do with un-justified indignation that one is unable to obtain that which one envies and covets, particularly when they envy and covet from those they see as  rivals. Ressentiment convinces one that they are an underdog, especially underdog to their rival

When it comes to transforming conflict, whether that be one's own interior conflict or an exterior conflict with other people or even circumstances, so much starts with willingness. What is your WQ?  How does your willingness stack up against your willfulness, particularly when it comes to engaging in the kind of  personal change often necessitated by, in, because of, and through your conflicts? Over the course of my conflict coaching practice, I've seen people land on the realization that they need to undertake some real heart and attitude change, only to almost immediately decry "but why should I be the one who has to......?!"   It seems to me that there is a constant tension between our willingness to learn and change attitudes, mindsets and behaviors and our willfulness to stay self-protecting behind them. This tension between willingness and willfulness manifests itself most obviously in one's default response to being legitimately confronted on an issu