“Makes me want to puke.”

Of course, talking about complex topics doesn’t mean you actually want to puke. But the feeling makes it difficult to talk about hot-button topics if we can’t control our natural response when we wholeheartedly disagree with something.

I get it. Even when we are in alignment, it is better to separate our emotions in controversy to better understand what is actually happening. This is not because your emotions don’t matter. It’s because, in this instance, they aren’t productive.

The question is, what do you want to signal every time something is brought up that doesn’t align with how you see the world?

And…

If you can’t stomach the conversation, how can you stay in the room to contribute to a resolution?

We need you. Not when things are easy but precisely when things are hard.