From the Real Divorce Mediation Blog of Nancy Hudgins and Debra Synovec
John Medina
Curious mind. Cpen mind. Responsive mind. All three advance your divorce settlement conversations.
Invariably there are points in divorce settlement discussions where your spouse makes a proposal that you just can’t swallow. Your immediate negative reaction suggests that the proposal was never seriously considered. It’s easy to shoot down a proposal without full evaluation. Before you automatically reject your spouse’s proposal, cultivate your curious mind.
Ask questions.
Have a conversation. By asking good questions, you both will think about the proposal more deeply. Perhaps through more brainstorming, ideas and options will come up that meet each of your objectives better. By having a conversation, the original germ of an idea may grow into an option that works for both of you.
Being curious and showing an open mind may create more options for the two of you. A reactive “No!” shuts the door and cuts off the conversation. Curious questions can open the door to more opportunity.
What do you think?
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