When It Feels Easier to Shut Down: How to Stay Open in Conflict
Many people are tired. Conversations feel heavier. It can be easy to become defensive, make assumptions, or check out altogether — especially when we’re navigating difference, tension, or the ongoing stress of the world around us.
As part of Mental Health Week 2026 and the theme Come Together, Toronto, this workshop invites us to slow down and reflect on what it really takes to stay connected to one another during challenging times. This isn’t about being “perfectly empathetic.” It’s about being real about how stress, identity, bias, and lived experience shape the way we see and respond to each other — and how we can stay open when shutting down might feel easier.
Together, we’ll explore what it looks like to listen in a way that feels grounding rather than draining, and how to stay present in difficult conversations without jumping to fix, argue, or withdraw. In the spirit of coming together, we’ll focus on building understanding across differences with care and intention.
By the end of this workshop, you will:
- Understand empathy as a skill that can be practiced, not something you simply “have or don’t have.”
- Reflect on how your own experiences, identities, and biases influence how you listen and respond.
- Build practical skills for listening with greater presence, curiosity, and care.
- Learn ways to stay grounded in challenging conversations without escalating or shutting down.
