09/16/2026
"The Dance of Love: Mastering Your Relationships through Aikido Wisdom," starts with this premise. Known sometimes as "the art of peace," Aikido never condones destructive actions. At the same time, its peace is dynamic rather than passive. Peace ensues when we live fully expressed and know how to resolve conflict constructively.
And so here, "fighting" might look like:
👏 Telling your truth to your partner, friend or family member— in order to both honor yourself and the relationship
👏 Daring to live in alignment with your values, even in the face of pressure to compromise
👏 Standing up for yourself versus letting others dominate
👏 Speaking up artfully when you witness injustice or harm, rather than silently condoning it
You can attempt love without conflict, however this often results in more inner conflict and hurt on both sides. One can hurt because things feel flat or disconnected, or because resentment builds up when we give up our power.
How are you fighting in order to love more in your life? Or how could you? I'd love to hear in the comments.
And, learn more about "The Dance of Love" book here: https://annobrienliving.com/books/ 😀
