our conflicts aren’t really about the surface issue
Emily Barben Emily Barben

our conflicts aren’t really about the surface issue

From an EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) lens, conflict is rarely about the surface issue.
It’s about tender places. 💚

Places that learned long ago:
“This hurts.”
“This isn’t safe.”
“I could lose you here.”

When we slow down, we can begin to notice what’s underneath the argument—the raw spot, the attachment wound asking:
Do I matter? Am I safe? Will you stay?

To protect these places, we develop strategies. We shut down. We get critical. We pull away. Not because we’re “too much,” but because we’re trying to stay emotionally safe.

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