The Art of Fighting: How Conflict Can Strengthen Relationships | Ipsita Das | TEDxNirmaUniversity

In this powerful and deeply relatable talk, Ipsita Das challenges the widely held belief that fights are destructive and harmful to relationships. Drawing from personal experience and insights from her work with clients, she reframes conflict as an opportunity for connection, understanding, and emotional growth.

Through a personal story involving a painful misunderstanding with her best friend, Ipsita reveals a crucial truth: behavior and intent do not always align. She explores how unaddressed emotions, misinterpretations, and the need to “win” arguments often deepen disconnection, while empathy and validation can transform conflict into healing.

Ipsita introduces three essential mindset shifts for healthier conflict—looking beyond behavior, not taking things personally, and choosing to validate hurt over winning arguments. She also shares a practical conflict-repair framework, the MIS Repair Method (Moment, Interpretation, Solution), offering audiences a simple yet powerful tool to repair and strengthen relationships after disagreements.

This talk offers a refreshing perspective on conflict, reminding us that relationships don’t break because of fights—they break because of a lack of repair. By learning how to fight well, we can build relationships that are stronger, safer, and more enduring. Ipsita Das is a relationship coach and emotional wellness practitioner who works with individuals to improve communication, emotional awareness, and conflict repair in relationships. Through her practice and personal experiences, she helps people understand the deeper emotional needs that surface during conflict.

Her work challenges the common belief that fights are harmful, instead highlighting how conflict—when handled with empathy and intention—can strengthen relationships. Ipsita is passionate about making emotional intelligence practical and accessible, empowering people to build healthier, more secure connections. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx