06-08-2026 Conflict Resolution - Knowing Yourself06-08-2026 Conflict Resolution - Knowing Yourself
Levelheaded Talk
Dr. Andrea Vitz and Jon Leon Guerrero talk about how self-knowledge is central to resolving conflict, especially for leaders and those working on emotional sobriety. Through Jon’s personal work story and Andrea’s framework, they show how taking responsibility for "my part" can turn clashes into healthier, more constructive outcomes.
11:51•8 Jun 2026
Conflict Resolution and Emotional Sobriety: Know Yourself First
Episode Overview
- Conflict does not have to damage relationships; handled well, it can lead to repair and even deeper connection.
- The most common mistake in conflict, even among top leaders, is not knowing oneself well enough.
- When ego, self-beliefs, biochemical addiction, and triggered behaviours collide on both sides, conflict becomes a cycle of blame and resentment.
- Focusing on "my part" in a situation rather than finger pointing creates space for honest dialogue and future reconciliation.
- Teaching self-knowledge across teams, companies, and households can reduce conflict and improve communication and productivity.
“"When we don't know ourselves enough, then it causes a lack of awareness that someone is even contributing to the problem."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? Levelheaded Talk answers this by zooming in on one practical skill: handling conflict by truly knowing yourself. Dr. Andrea Vitz and co-host Jon Leon Guerrero chat about emotional sobriety in everyday clashes, from the boardroom to the living room. Jon shares a work conflict where he and a colleague chose to part ways for a while.
It didn’t look friendly at first, but because of how the conflict was handled, they later reconnected, repaired the relationship, and even deepened their friendship. As Jon puts it, they each returned talking only about "my part" in what happened, with no finger pointing. Dr. Vitz uses this story to highlight the biggest mistake she sees even in top leaders: "not knowing themselves enough" in conflict.
She explains that real problems arise when "my ego, my self-beliefs, my biochemical addiction, and my emotionally triggered behaviours" clash with someone else’s in the same state. That’s when disagreements turn into what she calls "in sobriety fighting in sobriety"—a loop of blame, surprise, and resentment. Instead, she stresses the power of radical self-awareness: asking what beliefs you’re filtering events through, what behaviours you’re actually showing, and whether you might be acting childishly or not really listening.
Jon’s experience of spending an afternoon looking only at his role in the situation shows how this kind of reflection can lead to healthier decisions, new beginnings, and a calmer re-entry into difficult relationships.
Whether you’re a CEO, a parent, a partner, or someone working on emotional sobriety alongside addiction recovery, this conversation keeps bringing things back to one practical question: do you know yourself well enough to keep conflict from running your life, or is it time to start getting curious about your part?
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