Confrontation is a necessary and inevitable “byproduct” of existence. Of the desire and need to place oneself in the world, among things, against people, out of the strength and power of who you are. It is a source of fear and apprehension, excitement and elation. Growth and suppression. An encounter with uninhibited, hidden and often denied forces, which calls for action that steps outside one’s “prudence.”

Thus, one must be careful not to turn conflict into principle – into violence – an expression of brute force: Strong versus weak. Reduce ourselves to the abilities and possibilities demarcated for us. Confrontation is about setting boundaries, and not about setting conditions. Exposing and caring about what is important to you. As such, it can serve as the foundation for a community and dialogue that emerge from a place of interest.

Confrontation calls to transform the passive perspective – being “a victim of circumstances” into an active state: You are the hero in your life. The tragic hero in your own life. It carves out the character underlying the action: persistence (repetition), overcoming, waiving, and endurance; and offers a chance to be who we are: Knowing the difference between right and wrong. Honest. Able to decide what is worth the confrontation.

Use the sense of power and heightened vitality to propose a confrontation that is all about care and sharing.