PLEDGEtalk

✝️✨A Christmas message from PLEDGEtalk!✨✝️

The Christmas season can be can be a very FULL time of year for many (ok, MOST!) of us.

As we trek through this season together, how can we ensure that we are leaving room for THIS ONE THING? The most important thing!

Watch this video for a heartfelt Christmas message from Zerrin and I. ❤️

Wishing you and yours the most blessed Christmas!

Mark (and Zerrin!) Oelze, Author & Creator of PLEDGEtalk

Why Make Room for THIS during Christmas! This Christmas is like every other - BUSY! Now is the time to make room for one thing. Watch to know what that is!

💭 Joy and Marriage 💭

It is safe to say that most of us want a happy lifetime of marriage.

Sometimes, it can be hard to keep the joy of the dance of marriage alive, though.

What can you and your spouse do to work together and create more harmony in your marriage?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/joyandmarriage

Had the best time sharing PLEDGEtalk at ~Bridge The Gap~ last weekend!

I'm pictured here with the amazing Tyjuan Davis. His Heart and Passion is to connect people who desire to help others so that TOGETHER we can create a FORCE and bridge the gap between ALL people and organizations in our community.

Taiwan and his mission are beyond inspiring and I'm so proud to be part of this movement!

Thank you Taiwan for "being the change" and inviting PLEDGEtalk to help in bridging the gap!

💭 Word Choice 💭

Negative wording is often used during conflict, whether we mean it negatively or not.

You may find, though, that a simple change in phrasing or omitting certain words from your vocabulary during conflict allows for a better learning experience from conflict.

What words or phrases are these and how can you use them through PLEDGEtalk?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/word-choice

Had the great honor of presenting PLEDGEtalk at the Faith and Social Work Conference at Oral Roberts University this past weekend!

It's always a Gift to share the power of PLEDGEtalk with others. I can't wait to hear how this new process is applied by attendees outside of this conference!

💭 Surrender! When? 💭

No one wants to surrender during a conflict.

Whether it's due to pride of lack of introspection, surrendering is a hard task when arguing your side.

But it may be necessary to diffuse conflict.

How and when should you surrender during a conflict?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/surrender-when

I had the great pleasure of sitting down with ​Michael Proctor, a certified financial planner​, from the ​Real Wealth podcast,​ to chat! Leading Edge Financial Planning, LLC

We discussed how PLEDGEtalk can be applied to enhance and improve your financial well-being and relationships!

Watch or listen to the episodes at the links below! 🎧

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDCbKbHXt0c
LISTEN: https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ugnih-14c66ed-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=3267a3

💭 Halting Conflict 💭

For various reasons, I suspect almost everyone is afraid of conflict.

Because of this, we do all we can to avoid it.

But there are ways to halt conflict, and there are ways to ease the anxiety!

Continue Reading: pledgetalk,com/halting-conflict!

💭 Pausing in Conflict 💭

We talk about PLEDGEtalk being a six-step process to resolve conflict - and then miss the most important time to put it into practice.

The time is the VERY moment when you experience even the smallest amount of tension in you, in the person in front of you, or in between you.

How is using pausing beneficial during a conflict?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/pausing-in-conflict

💭 Supporting Grieving 💭

It can be hard to emotionally support someone who is dealing with loss.

Do they need space? Companionship?

What can you do to best support someone who is in mourning?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/supporting-grieving

💭 Solving Conflict! 💭

Do we fight with or against each other when in conflict?

Normally, it's against!

How can you learn to fight WITH the problem instead of another person?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/solving-conflict-2/

Look at what I saw at Milkfloat coffee shop the other day!

The legos spell the word PLEDGE! How cool is this find??!!

💭 Decrease Polarization! 💭

We all differ in opinions..

But we can't always have productive conversations when we are at odds with others!

How can you introduce more peace into your life?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/decrease-polarization

Had an amazing time speaking at Eastside Rotary last week!

Their “Peacemaking” and “Service Over Self” missions are in perfect alignment with PLEDGEtalk!

It’s always an honor to share tips on how to navigate conflict with peace!

Thank you, Mindy East, my speaking agent, and Talor Jinks, member of the IMPACT WICHITA leadership team, for joining me at this transformational event! .

💭 Silent Moments! 💭

Silent moments can be awkward.

They can be uncomfortable.

But they can necessary to provide support to an individual who needs it.

With a simple shift of focus from our self to that of others, we can offer the wonder of silence.

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/silent-moments

💭 Words Matter! 💭

Do you ever wonder how your words affect other people?

It's surprisingly easy to reflect on your interactions with people!

Read this week's PLEDGEtalk thoughts to learn a few tips on how to reflect on your words and actions!

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/words-matter

💭 Falling out of love! 💭

It is not uncommon to question your feelings for your partner.

These feelings are scary, they're jarring, they're uncomfortable!

How do you navigate these times of uncertainty?

How can you help yourself?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/falling-out-of-love

I had an amazing time sitting with ​Katherine Ambrose of Empowered Senior ​last week at the studios. We ​filmed an episode of Empowering Seniors​ that I can't wait to share more details with you on soon! Keep an eye out!

💭 Being interrupted! 💭

Being interrupted is jarring!

It's unpleasant!

We feel dismissed!

Being interrupted, though, doesn't have to mean that the conversation is no longer meaningful?

How can you turn being interrupted into a learning moment?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/being-interrupted

💭 Good Conflict! 💭

Did you know that, in some cultures, conflict is a marker of a healthy relationship?

How could this be the case when we actively avoid it?

There are many methods you can use through PLEDGEtalk to change the way you view conflict!

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/good-conflict

True confession - I am a bit of a bookaholic. 💭

But I have often said to my wife that if I get even one idea from a book that helps me personally or professionally, it is worth the price of the book AND worth sharing with others. 📚

Well, I got two great ideas from the first page of the Introduction of Leading With Questions!! One helped me with my clients this week, and another with my vision.

​I can't wait to read the rest of the book!! Thanks Michael and Bob!

Check it out on Amazon here:
https://a.co/d/cNMSqEE

💭 Embracing conflict! 💭

What is it about conflict that causes most of us to despise it?

It is uncomfortable! It CHALLENGES us!

Thankfully, for those of us who know and understand PLEDGEtalk, this can be mitigated!

What can you do every day to embrace conflict?

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/embracing-conflict

I had the great pleasure of recently sitting with Mark Ramsey, fellow coach and consultant for individuals and teams, who produces the Hip Socket Podcast. 💛

We discussed how to navigate conflict at work - one of the things I am asked most about!

Watch or listen to both episodes below! 🎧

PART 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6KSmHOkWDE
PART 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caA31g0OFlM&t=1s

💭 Fighting FOR each other rather than AGAINST each other!
💭

"What do I do when I am so mad at him (or her)?"

This is a common question I suspect we have all thought about at one time or another.

The good news is that there are many ways to diffuse conflict and figure out a solution TOGETHER!

Read this Thursday's post for methods on how to fight FOR each other!

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/fighting-for-eachother

So thankful for this guy, Talor Jinks and Lead Wichita / Global Leadership Summit Wichita for giving me the opportunity to have a booth in the lobby during the Global Leadership Summit so I could tell everyone about PLEDGEtalk!

Already excited for !!

💫 What a phenomenal Global Leadership Summit 2023! 💫

Had a wonderful time of the second day of the , attending the sessions from leaders all over the world and sharing PLEDGEtalk with hundreds of individuals.

Seen here with my brother John, Shaun, and Linda (John’s wife) with Hope Ranch for Women, a ministry to help women get out of s*x trafficking.

FYI, Hope Ranch is having a fundraising banquet with Tim Tebow! Date is September 7, but you have to buy your tickets by August 25! hoperanchforwomen.com

💭 Being Better Together
💭

There are many ways that you can improve long-term relationships!

But, how do you improve it using the PLEDGEtalk method?

And how do you build off of that?

Read this Thursday's post to learn more!

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/better-together

Excited about attending the Global Leadership Summit Arena in Wichita once again this year. And I’m thankful that I get to have a booth for PLEDGEtalk! 

💭 Connecting with Others 💭

We all know that making and maintaining connections is important!

But what exactly can happen when you take the time to actively listen and connect with someone new?

Read this Thursday's post to learn more!

Continue Reading: pledgetalk.com/connecting-with-others