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Disappointing Decisions
By Sherry Bruckner |
What do you do when you know a decision will disappoint someone? My friend, Joe, went to the…
Choosing Peace
By Sherry Bruckner |
What does it mean to truly experience peace? Do you and the people around you feel peace at…
Act from Love
By Sherry Bruckner |
What do you do when you just do not feel love for someone close to you? We all…
The Heart of the Feelings
By Sherry Bruckner |
During conflict resolution trainings and peace building classes, I talk about feelings. What do feelings have to do with…
Choosing Who to Be
By Sherry Bruckner |
What determines how you show up in any given moment? Is it other people, circumstances, or situations? During January, my blogs focus on…
Peaceful Transition
By Sherry Bruckner |
ow do you handle change? What helps you through transition? Would you like to create a peaceful transition?
Five Tips for Conversations between Co-Parents
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you ever felt a little uncomfortable around an ex? What if you have children together? While it…
Transitioning from Couples to Co-Parents
By Sherry Bruckner |
“I cannot wait to be done with that person” commonly escapes the mouth of a divorcing couple. Often times, divorce…
Peaceful Resolution
By Sherry Bruckner |
To remember my Minnesota friends, a friend gifted me an address book when I moved from Minnesota to Kentucky. Turning the…
The Gift of Grace
By Sherry Bruckner |
What role does gift giving play in your celebrations? As a child, I would search through the catalogs anticipating possible gifts. I did not…
What is Your Reason?
By Sherry Bruckner |
What is your instinctive response when someone asks you to do something? Whether it is for a ride to…
Communicating for Couples: Three Tips
By Sherry Bruckner |
Are you and your partner able to communicate clearly? What helps couples keep strong connection? A wise friend…
Speaking Your Truth
By Sherry Bruckner |
Where do you speak your truth? Are other people comfortable sharing their truth with you? A few weeks back a woman shared that she…
Thank You for Being You
By Sherry Bruckner |
Truth be told, I believe people to be inherently wonderful. The human design contains a light of wonderfulness.
Knowing What to Say
By Sherry Bruckner |
Do you ever just not know what to say? Caring about what words to use may be a sign of compassion and…
Creating Ideas for Resolution
By Sherry Bruckner |
When you disagree with suggestions about how to fix something, how do you typically respond? Are you open to considering what the person is…
The Power of Listening
By Sherry Bruckner |
When do you most feel connected with someone? What happens in that moment? Whether talking with a friend,…
Freedom of Thought
By Sherry Bruckner |
What does it mean to exercise freedom of thought? Am I really free to think as I choose?…
Allowing Space for Respectful Disagreement in the Workplace
By Sherry Bruckner |
What does respect look like? How does it impact dialogue in the workplace? If Chris, the company owner, issues a directive that many believe…
Be Right, or Be in Right Relationship?
By Sherry Bruckner |
What happens when someone says you are wrong or bad? Does it bring a greater sense of connection or…
What Behavior will you Accept?
By Sherry Bruckner |
What do you do when someone “crosses the line”? Do you match the behavior, name it, or walk away?…
Speaking Your Truth
By Sherry Bruckner |
Are you comfortable speaking your truth? Under what circumstances and with whom? It sometimes feels uncomfortable to share…
Welcoming Debate and Differences
By Sherry Bruckner |
“What we can learn from the justices, though — beyond how to be a friend — is how to welcome debate and differences. Not for a moment did one think the other should be condemned or ostracized. More than that, they believed that what they were doing — arriving at their own opinions thoughtfully and advancing them vigorously — was essential to the national good.”
Appreciating both Red and Blue
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you ever appreciated someone else’s different skills? To function as a civilized society, we need people to have and share their different gifts and…
Showing Compassion this School Year
By Sherry Bruckner |
In recent weeks and coming days, school across the United States reopen unlike any other school year. Administrators…
Third Side of the Story
By Sherry Bruckner |
Most mediations involve two people who bring their perspectives. Based on where each person stands, their story is the truth. However, in any situation, particularly when emotions are high, it may be a challenge for the people involved to see the full picture.
When Parents Talk, They Teach
By Sherry Bruckner |
When it comes to talks between parents who no longer live together, words impact more than the adults….
Choosing Hard Conversations
By Sherry Bruckner |
As a divorce mediator, I regularly meet couples who disagree about selling the house, dividing the retirement accounts,…
Engaging with Empathy during Conflict
By Sherry Bruckner |
Ever experience that someone “really gets me” or “understands where I am coming from” feeling? That feeling may be a…
Allowing the Answer in Conflict Resolution
By Sherry Bruckner |
What do you do when you do not like someone’s answer? Or the answer seems unclear? Remembering these five…
Judging Myself for Judging You (For Judging)
By Sherry Bruckner |
As a friend shared about another’s recent error in judgment, I found myself reacting. As she told how the person involved should…
Going Behind the Boundary in Conflict Resolution
By Sherry Bruckner |
Very few vehicles pull into my driveway these days, so when a man stepped out of large truck…
Listening for Needs in Conflict Resolution
By Sherry Bruckner |
How often do your pay attention to your own needs? Are you listening for other people’s needs? As an…
Fear of Feeling?
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you ever consumed yourself with a work project when you felt sad? Or turned to something sweet or…
More than that…
By Sherry Bruckner |
A college friend would say that I was my worst me while watching Packer football. Living in Minnesota,…
The Unplanned Walk
By Sherry Bruckner |
Last week, my brother and I enjoyed our traditional bike trip to Tip Top Dairy in Osakis, Minnesota. As the sun rays increased the thermometer to 93,…
Staying in Your Lane?
By Sherry Bruckner |
Are you living a life you think you should, or a life you love? What does living your dream life…
Are You Seeing the Full Person?
By Sherry Bruckner |
If you enjoy the gift of sight, do you notice skin color? What does it mean to notice…
Facing the Pain
By Sherry Bruckner |
Are you comfortable talking about pain? Why is that? Is it helplessness, insensitivity, or something else? Humans tend to completely avoid…
What Influences Your Beliefs?
By Sherry Bruckner |
Ever consider who or what shapes your beliefs? Curious about anyone else’s? People hold strong opinions on a wide…
Time to Update the Communication Toolkit?
By Sherry Bruckner |
What kinds of tools do you have to make life easier? Do you have a good set of…
Generosity of Gratitude
By Sherry Bruckner |
Ever receive a call or text from someone you have just been thinking about? Or enjoy a smile…
Making the Molehill a Mountain
By Sherry Bruckner |
Do have ever experience a moment, and give it a whole lot more meaning than it calls for?…
Hiding the Hurt?
By Sherry Bruckner |
As a little girl, I liked to run with the boys, namely my three older brothers. I liked…
Curiosity Changes Conflict
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you ever thought, “she does not know what she is talking about” or “he could not be…
How Long Will You Carry That?
By Sherry Bruckner |
I once attended a funeral where the priest read an obituary that did not acknowledge two of the…
Avoiding or Allowing?
By Sherry Bruckner |
Who likes to feel happy? Me! Anyone like to feel sad? What fun is that? Avoiding sadness seems…
Does Time Matter?
By Sherry Bruckner |
Know anyone who tends to be late? Do you start thinking, “how rude and disrespectful,” wonder “what’s going…
Gratitude, Grief, and Letting Go
By Sherry Bruckner |
Where are you in this experience? While I have not been to my office for eleven days, I…
Time For…
By Sherry Bruckner |
Growing up in rural Wisconsin, I knew and trusted that neighbors looked out for each other. We considered…
“Should” I?
By Sherry Bruckner |
As we face an unprecedented situation with coronavirus (COVID-19), I hear “should” frequently. I have never really be…
Solution or Resolution?
By Sherry Bruckner |
Whether it is children quarreling about who gets to play with a toy, or adults arguing over who…
Beneath the Frustration
By Sherry Bruckner |
With fifty-five parts scattered about, a screwdriver in hand, and a set of directions, I recently sought to…
Meaning in the Workplace
By Sherry Bruckner |
Has anyone ever misunderstood something you said? Have you ever mistaken someone else’s intentions? Why or how does…
Curious as a…?
By Sherry Bruckner |
My ideal approach to mediation combines curiosity and compassion by understanding a person’s thoughts about the situation, where…
I Don’t Have to Take That…
By Sherry Bruckner |
You don’t have to take that, or anything from anybody. But what does “not taking that” look like?…
What is Your Truth?
By Sherry Bruckner |
When framing a question to a colleague recently, I characterized something as a “story.” He responded that it…
Speaking of Connection
By Sherry Bruckner |
Whether a marriage, friendship, or working relationship, I hear time and again from people who stop feeling connected…
The Meaning of Stuff
By Sherry Bruckner |
A young woman’s husband promised to buy her a brand new bedroom suite. To her, the furniture symbolized…
The Fine Lie
By Sherry Bruckner |
How often do you respond with “I’m fine” or “good” while your mind and body says otherwise? Even…
More Than Two Options
By Sherry Bruckner |
How do you respond when someone calls to do a survey? Often times, I tell the caller it…
Restoring Grace Mr. Roger’s Way
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you seen, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood?” The consummate gentle grace-filled man, Mr. Rogers (Tom Hanks),…
Thank You, Trusted Truth Tellers
By Sherry Bruckner |
Do you have a person who speaks truth to you? Is that person also someone you trust? Does…
Right Person, Wrong Seat
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you ever encountered someone who just did not seem to be the right fit for the job?…
Confronting Conflict with Curiosity
By Sherry Bruckner |
How do you approach or confront conflict? Humans sometimes avoid acknowledging that any disagreement or dispute exists out…
Getting Comfortable with Conflict
By Sherry Bruckner |
Do you ever see something differently than someone else? Are you in a situation where you disagree with…
Behind “Unreasonable” Behavior
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you ever wondered how someone could behave so unreasonably? What is the person really seeking? If you…
May We Reduce Domestic Violence by Learning Conflict Skills?
By Sherry Bruckner |
During domestic violence awareness month, it is common to talk about the myriad of reasons victims stay in…
Does Your Organization Have a Plan?
By Sherry Bruckner |
If your business or organization suddenly finds itself without a key team member, who will take responsibility? Many…
Airing Grievance Privately in Mediation
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you ever complained about a person, group, or business? Or heard through the grapevine that another spoke…
Conflict Coaching Helps Make the Ask
By Sherry Bruckner |
What stops us from asking for help? For me, it may be a combination of pride, stubbornness, and…
Keep Words Soft and Sweet
By Sherry Bruckner |
In my grandma’s kitchen hung a picture of a grazing cow with the words: Be Careful Of The…
Peace Begins with You
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you ever said “yes” to something and regretted it five minutes, five days, or even five years…
The Family Farm and Conflict Resolution
By Sherry Bruckner |
Working the same land as your grandparents and great-grandparents brings both a tremendous sense of pride and responsibility….
Working it Out
By Sherry Bruckner |
Have you ever felt frustrated when talking with a co-worker or supervisor? You are definitely not alone. You…
In the Neighborhood
By Sherry Bruckner |
Years ago, a roommate and I returned to our apartment to find our upstairs neighbor (who we had…
Planning for Peace
By Sherry Bruckner |
What do you do when a loved one shows signs of being unable to safely drive? Or adequately…
Knowing Your Needs
By Sherry Bruckner |
What do you need? When most people state their needs, they really list strategies for meeting them. Whether…
Church and Change
By Sherry Bruckner |
The existence of religious institutions may bring peace, grace and healing to many. Since human beings lead, work,…
School Talk in Session
By Sherry Bruckner |
Whether a student, teacher, parent, faculty or staff member, administrator, school board member, volunteer, or taxpayer, schools impact…
More than Business Partners
By Sherry Bruckner |
As so often happens, a couple of friends or family members share some common interest or idea and…
Self Determination in Senior Living
By Sherry Bruckner |
Deciding where an aging adult will live out their final years, months, or days can feel overwhelming. Too…
Changing the relationship
By Sherry Bruckner |
Does ending a marriage really end a relationship? Or does it change the nature of the relationship? Instead…
How do you experience conflict?
By Sherry Bruckner |
Part of being human means experiencing conflict. It generally does not feel good, which leads to a variety…