Thoughtful Thursday & The Oatmeal Rule

ON THE BLOG

THE OATMEAL RULE

Have you ever left a bowl of oatmeal out of the counter?

I recently was reminded of what is called the Oatmeal Rule.

Unresolved conflict is similar to this bowl on oatmeal.

At first, it seems like no big deal, just like a little argument might not seem important.

But as time goes by, the oatmeal gets cold and hard, making it tough to clean.

In the same way, if we ignore conflicts, they can turn into grudges and bad feelings, making it harder to make up.

It's easier to clean the bowl when the oatmeal is still warm and soft, just like it's easier to solve conflicts when they first happen.

If you wait too long, it becomes a bigger problem, and what was once easy to fix turns into a stubborn mess.

The longer the oatmeal sits, the more it sticks to the bowl, just like unaddressed issues stick to our relationships, making it harder to fix.

The best thing to do is to clean the oatmeal while it's still fresh.

In the same way, it's important to deal with conflicts right away to keep our relationships happy and healthy.

Do you have a bowl of oatmeal that needs cleaning?