Conflict Aversion is Such a Pain

[unspeakablehorror]

I am extremely conflict-averse, probably partly because I can never imagine good things coming from conflict.  I don't tend to imagine I can persuade people of anything, or that I will gain anything from it.  Most of the conflicts I've experienced were ones I was either forced into or felt some kind of personal obligation involving them.  I know that's something I should work on.  But for me I think it's less a self-confidence issue and more a fear of failure.  It's not that I think I shouldn't defend my positions or myself, but that I don't know how to do that a lot of the time and I'm worried failing at that will be worse than not trying at all.  And I mean...sometimes that's true.  But sometimes it's not.