The Power of Staying Calm in Conflict: What Happened When 20 Women Got Honest
Last week, I hosted a live workshop here in Dubai for the Women Who Thrive community — a session that reminded me just how deeply people crave spaces for honest, judgment-free conversation.
My signature workshop, The Power of Staying Calm in Conflict, was scheduled for 60 minutes. We ended up staying for 90. Not because I lost track of time — but because the discussion was that rich.
Together, we explored:
Why communication often breaks down across cultures
How to recognize our emotional patterns in real time
How to speak with clarity without letting reactivity take over
The room was full of women from different backgrounds, professions, and life experiences. And yet, the themes were universal:
“I never realized how much my tone changes when I feel dismissed.”
“I always thought staying silent was the ‘mature’ thing to do.”
“I didn’t know how to speak up without sounding defensive.”
These reflections are exactly why I created this workshop:
To give people tools to stay grounded in the moments that matter — especially when things feel tense or emotionally charged.
💡 A Tool to Regulate Yourself in High-Stress Moments
One of the tools I introduced during the session is something simple but powerful: the physiological sigh.
It’s a science-backed breathing technique that helps your body calm down almost instantly. Here’s how it works:
Take a deep inhale through your nose
Take a second, shorter inhale on top of that
Slowly exhale through your mouth
This activates the parasympathetic nervous system — the part of your body that helps you feel safe and grounded. Research from Stanford University and Dr. Andrew Huberman shows that this method (also called cyclic sighing) is more effective than even mindfulness meditation at reducing anxiety and improving mood.
📖 Read the Stanford article here
Try it once a day this week, or right before your next challenging conversation.
🎤 Upcoming Workshop: August 3 in Dubai
If this resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to my next live session.
🟡 The Power of Staying Calm in Conflict
🗓 Sunday, August 3 | 🕐 12–2PM
📍 Terrace Tashkent, Dubai
🤝 Co-hosted with Kristina, founder of Your Women’s Circle
🎟 To register, send a DM to @your_womens_circle on Instagram.
Spots are limited — and this space fills up fast.
📥 Want Free Tools to Practice at Home?
I created a free resource called the Calm in Conflict Toolkit — a practical PDF with tools I teach in my workshops. It includes:
Neutral language scripts
Tone & delivery tips
Emotional regulation tools
A 4-step communication framework