Good morning 🙂 to you!

Come, walk along. Let’s face it, you took the high road, suggested mediation to resolve things amicably, and…crickets. Or worse, a flat-out “no.” Ouch.

This post is for you, Yes! “the brave soul” who reached out for a peaceful solution.

Have faith, we will navigate the sting of rejection and explore what comes next.

First, dealing with what is your control, dealing with how to receive this “no”. It’s normal to feel frustrated or even hurt. Maybe a part of you hoped mediation would be your best olive branch. Take some time to acknowledge those feelings – talking to your lawyer, or more preferably I would say – find a lawyer who specialises as mediation counsel, or even a good scream into a pillow can all be helpful, and prepare you for the next step.

Second, don’t let the rejection derail you completely. Remember, mediation is voluntary, and while it’s a fantastic option, it’s not for everyone, it takes that additional courage to gather self and sit in a mediation.

Third, let’s take a deep breath and see how you can use this as a chance to move forward:

A. Rethinking Your Invite: Maybe the initial invitation wasn’t clear enough. Ask these questions: Did I fully explain the benefits of mediation? Could I have framed it differently? Now, will a well-timed follow-up with some additional information might be worth a shot?

B. Asking for Reasons?: I understand the other party isn’t interested in mediation right now. But maybe there’s a way to understand their perspective without being accusatory. Could I phrase it as a desire to find common ground? Perhaps something like,

“I understand mediation isn’t appealing right now. Would you be open to discussing your concerns?”

C. Who Should Communicate? : This could feel the tough one. If I have a lawyer or mediation counsel involved, they could craft a professional message? But on the other hand, a sincere message from me could be powerful! A must remember: the key here is empathy and a genuine desire to find a solution. The last thing you want is for your Communication to wear the cloth of pushy and insistence.

D. Crafting Your Strategy: Having an objective in your corner would be helpful. A lawyer or mediation counsel could offer advice, anticipate roadblocks, and even help anticipate the other party’s concerns, and even role-play potential conversations. This adds confidence.

E. Helping Yourself: Absolutely! Here are some tips:

• Acknowledge Your Emotions: You will feel hurt or frustrated in this process. Journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or your own relaxation techniques can all help you manage these emotions.
• Focus on the Facts: Separate your feelings from the situation. Easy said than done, but try this – Write down the key details of the conflict and what you hope to achieve. This clarity will help guide your communication.
• Step Back and Reflect: Take some time away from the situation to gain perspective.

F. See Their Side: The other party has their reasons. Trying to understand their perspective could be a game-changer.

G. Remember:

• Empathy is key: Try to see things from the other party’s perspective.
• Patience is a virtue: Resolving conflict takes time. We cannot expect an immediate resolution or even a yes, let’s resolve this.
• Help is available: Don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance when you need it.

BUT.

You’ve Got This! Even with a setback, you WILL take positive steps towards resolution. By staying calm, clear-headed, and open to communication, you can increase your chances of finding a peaceful solution. Yes, HAVE FAITH in you sustaining being “the brave soul”!

Thank you for reading, and here is a question for you, dear reader:

Have you ever had mediation rejected? How did you navigate the situation? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Who knows! by reading your thoughts, you would have helped others who are sailing through a similar situation right now! 🙂

And, another point:

Wondering why I wished you “Good morning” at the beginning of this post? Because hey, common sense tells me you, the reader, might be diving into this at their own time – morning, noon, evening, night! So, how are you to receive this “Good morning” greeting? What are you supposed to do with it?

This “Good morning” greeting is inspired by a Gujarati saying from western India, “Jagya tyarr thi Savaar,” which translates to “Morning from when I wake up.” You can make whatever meaning this saying must make for you, in the given situation.

All the best! And, if you are the one who initiating sending the Mediation Invite, and have received a No, you will soon figure out how to deal with this No! I am confident on you.

Thank you for reading, and that you accept my’Good morning’ greeting 🙂