Originally from Alternatives to the High Cost of Litigation

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Emotions are present in all mediationsession participants, including the mediator. The dynamics of the overwhelming majority of litigated cases and interpersonal claims involve negative emotions.

But in more than three decades of serving as a neutral, there have been bright and shining moments of joy, hope, gratitude, humor, kindness, pride, admiration, grace and humility. In the Master Mediator columns over the next few months, each of these will be explored in the context of mediation.

WHAT CONSTITUTES JOY?

There are many definitions of what constitutes joy. The definition in Merriam-Webster online is helpful to launching our consideration of joy and happiness in mediation.