Yep, some of these principles are definitely refrigerator worthy! I'm guilty as charged on this one. I'd like to think that I always answer without arguing, but that would be unrealistic. When I'm approached in an argumentative tone, I often answer in the same manner. I'm also guilty of misinterpreting a completely innocuous remark and responding negatively.
I think it's important for partners to air their disagreements before they eventually turn into big blow-ups down the road. In other words, get rid of the rain clouds before they develop into thunderstorms. However, it's crucial to conduct respectful disagreements, rather than destructive "my way or the highway" arguments.
It's also important to keep the end goal in mind at all times during disagreements. The intention should be to resolve the conflict rather than to win. The goal shouldn't be to beat your partner into submission, but to make the cause of the argument go away.
Sometimes the only viable resolution is to agree to disagree, and that's OK too. However, this solution takes a lot of self-restraint--it's often hard for me to take off the boxing gloves and suppress that natural urge to "win"!
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