As the holiday season approaches, many Americans are bracing themselves for the inevitable: heated dinner table conversations with loved ones they may not always see eye-to-eye with. For those navigating these treacherous waters, a word of wisdom from Samantha Quigneaux, a licensed marriage and family therapist, is timely: take a deep breath.
In an era where social media amplifies even the most minor disagreements, it's easy to get caught up in the idea that we must resolve every issue immediately. But this approach can lead to a toxic atmosphere, with everyone becoming increasingly agitated and entrenched in their positions. Quigneaux cautions against such a dynamic, arguing instead for an intentional pause.
"When the conversation starts to heat up, I encourage people to take a deep breath," she advises. "It's not about avoiding the issue entirely; it's about giving yourself space to collect your thoughts and respond thoughtfully." By taking a moment to compose themselves, individuals can begin to de-escalate tensions and refocus on finding common ground.
This approach is particularly crucial in today's polarized society, where we're often forced to engage with people who hold strongly opposing views. Rather than trying to "win" the argument, Quigneaux suggests that we should aim for a more nuanced understanding of each other's perspectives. By listening actively and seeking to understand the underlying concerns driving someone's viewpoint, we can begin to build bridges rather than walls.
Of course, this isn't to say that difficult conversations will ever be easy or painless. But by adopting Quigneaux's advice and approaching these discussions with empathy and patience, we can create a safer space for sharing our thoughts and feelings – even in the midst of disagreement. As the holidays approach, let's take a cue from Samantha Quigneaux: breathe deeply, listen carefully, and seek to understand one another, rather than simply trying to "win" the argument.
In an era where social media amplifies even the most minor disagreements, it's easy to get caught up in the idea that we must resolve every issue immediately. But this approach can lead to a toxic atmosphere, with everyone becoming increasingly agitated and entrenched in their positions. Quigneaux cautions against such a dynamic, arguing instead for an intentional pause.
"When the conversation starts to heat up, I encourage people to take a deep breath," she advises. "It's not about avoiding the issue entirely; it's about giving yourself space to collect your thoughts and respond thoughtfully." By taking a moment to compose themselves, individuals can begin to de-escalate tensions and refocus on finding common ground.
This approach is particularly crucial in today's polarized society, where we're often forced to engage with people who hold strongly opposing views. Rather than trying to "win" the argument, Quigneaux suggests that we should aim for a more nuanced understanding of each other's perspectives. By listening actively and seeking to understand the underlying concerns driving someone's viewpoint, we can begin to build bridges rather than walls.
Of course, this isn't to say that difficult conversations will ever be easy or painless. But by adopting Quigneaux's advice and approaching these discussions with empathy and patience, we can create a safer space for sharing our thoughts and feelings – even in the midst of disagreement. As the holidays approach, let's take a cue from Samantha Quigneaux: breathe deeply, listen carefully, and seek to understand one another, rather than simply trying to "win" the argument.
You know what's wild is how much drama we put ourselves through during holiday dinners? 
Like, can't we just take a chill pill for once? 
Samantha Quigneaux makes total sense, though. Taking a deep breath and calming down before responding to someone is like the ultimate stress-reducer. I mean, think about it - when you're all caught up in the heat of the moment, you're not even listening to what the other person is saying... 
It's easy to get caught up in "winning" the argument, but honestly, who cares? Can't we just try to understand each other for once? 
And I love how she says it's not about avoiding the issue entirely, it's about responding thoughtfully. Like, a deep breath can make all the difference between a huge fight and a minor disagreement 
. Samantha Quigneaux makes sense, though - taking a deep breath and listening carefully can actually make those awkward conversations kinda bearable 
. I mean, we're not all gonna see eye-to-eye with our loved ones, but being able to have a decent chat about our differences is way more important than "winning" the argument 
. And honestly? It's a lot easier said than done... still gotta work on that for me too 
It's easy for marriage and family therapists like Samantha Quigneaux to say that, but what about when you're dealing with actual trauma or hurtful stuff? Just taking a breather ain't gonna cut it, fam. 
I get where she's comin' from, but let's not oversimplify this. We need more than just a quick pause to address the real issues at hand. 
like samantha quigneaux says take a deep breath and let your thoughts settle that way you don't wanna be that person who's all worked up and yells at grandma 
think about it like if u r havin a convo with ur fam about politics or somethin n u start gettin all heated but then u just pause 4 a sec breathe in some air nd think abt what u wnt 2 say next lol it cud make all the diff 
just take a deep breath, step back, and try 2 see where theres common ground 
I feel like we're living in a world where everyone's got an opinion on everything 
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. It's so easy to get caught up in trying to be right, but what if the real goal is just to connect with someone and find common ground? 
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. It won't always be easy, but I think it could make a big difference in how we communicate with each other 
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the key is just to listen to each other without getting all defensive and try to find that common ground, you know? 
. honestly, i think samantha quigneaux is onto something with taking a deep breath before responding... but let's be real, how many of us are gonna actually do that? probably not me, at least