A cheat sheet, if you will, of what to say and do when it starts getting ugly with your nearest and dearest. Everyone loses when there's a fight, but here are some rules, comebacks and ways to at least win the peace (16 Photos)
Allison Pennell on Oct 16, 2012 at 12:21PM
chime in now
Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and Happier At Home, advises lowering the volume -- not the boom -- when engaged in an argument. Instead of a tempting-but-unproductive comeback, use one of these equal-opportunity phrases:
“This is important to me. Please listen.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”
“Let’s agree to disagree on that.”
“Please keep talking to me.”
“I see how I may have contributed to the problem.”
“Please try to understand my point of view.”
“I realize it’s not your fault.”
“You don’t have to solve this -- it helps me just to talk to you.”
“I can see my part in this.”
“You may be right.” (Leave out the “but….”)
