Step 3: Naming 3 Issues as "News Titles"

Let me ask you a question. Have you ever been successful in an argument in which multiple issues were brought up at the sametime (i.e. Piling-on)? My guess is that this is a no. Hence, a process to move towards one issue at a time for potentially higher chances of resolution and success.

The goal is to not start the argument, or many arguments, in an outloud process. Instead, creatively frame each issue as a "News Title," which presents the concern in a clear and observable manner. For instance, a news title might be "Communication Breakdown During Important Discussions" or "Lack of Acknowledgment for Each Other’s Achievements." This approach helps to define the issues concretely and keeps the focus on specific, actionable concerns while also not figurately reading every article because that is not how you read a newspaper.

Once the news titles are established, the participants agree to alternate turns addressing each title individually. They focus on one issue at a time, discussing it thoroughly and working toward a resolution before moving on to the next title. This method prevents arguments from becoming overwhelming or turning into a "war" of grievances where multiple issues are raised simultaneously. By handling one issue at a time and providing each person with the opportunity to express their perspective and propose solutions, the process fosters a more organized and constructive dialogue. This approach ensures that each concern is given adequate attention and prevents the conversation from devolving into a list of complaints or a general critique of the relationship.