“Our willingness to look into the abyss places us at the edge of awakening. It is in the face of danger that we either do or die. And when forced to confront our fears, our only recourse is to step in to the abyss, to surrender and let go. Conflict leads to rebirth and transformation. It is only in the presence of challenging circumstances that we awaken to the possibilities of the moment. Because heaven is the realm of infinite possibilities, danger forces us to break new ground, to discover latent resources. Conflict stretches us, forcing us at times to adapt, to learn, or to yield.”  page 67

“There is an ancient Chinese saying -’embrace the tiger/return to the mountain’- from the martial art tai chi chuan that suggests a methodology for managing conflict. If to ‘return to the mountain’ is synonymous with equanimity, peace, and harmony, the ancients believed that it could only be realized by becoming present to life, by embracing the ‘tigers’ that crossed one’s path.”  page 69

“If your soul is a force within you that seeks to push you toward ever – increasing levels of spiritual growth and development, then your resistance to this pressure is what produces discomfort, stress, and ultimately the storm. When you resist the movement of Spirit, you create friction, heat, and conflict. When you struggle with conditions that challenge or threaten you, you invariably reinforce their presence in your life.”  page 70

Gary Simmons, The I of the Storm, Embracing Conflict, Creating Peace.