Most men think avoiding conflict keeps the peace. But what if I told you that avoiding confrontation is actually the fastest way to kill intimacy in your relationship?After years as a firefighter struggling with PTSD and nearly losing his marriage, Markwell discovered something counterintuitive: conflict isn't the enemy of connection - it's the golden pathway to deeper intimacy. The very thing we're taught to avoid is actually what our relationships need most.In this conversation, we explore why "nice guy" behavior backfires, how to transform reactive patterns into conscious responses, and practical tools for navigating difficult conversations without losing yourself or your partner.If you've ever felt disconnected in your relationship, walked on eggshells to keep the peace, or wondered why being "agreeable" isn't working - this is for you. It's time to stop avoiding the hard conversations and start using them to build the relationship you actually want.What's one conflict you've been avoiding that could actually bring you closer?🔥 READY TO STOP DRIFTING? → Take The 7-Day Reset for High-Performing Men: https://www.stumurray.com/7-day-reset Seven questions that separate the men who change from the men who stay stuck. Most won't finish it.ABOUT STU MURRAY & BROTHRI help high-performing men break free from the performance prison that's left them successful on the outside but hollow within. This channel is your roadmap from isolation to brotherhood, from achievement to fulfillment, from doing to being.🔺Key Timestamps :00:00 – A retreat that sparked transformation05:15 – From PTSD to the first taste of self-awareness11:40 – Discovering breathwork, meditation & men’s circles17:20 – Why men’s work begins with brotherhood23:05 – Breaking shame by speaking the unspeakable31:45 – Surrounding yourself with people who challenge your limits40:10 – Conscious confrontation: navigating conflict with truth48:20 – How relationships become mirrors for growth57:05 – The biggest mistakes men make in self-discovery01:08:30 – Final message: why community is the cure