Others will show you where you are stuck. They say or do something and you automatically react in your familiar ways of shutting down or getting worked up. Without others provoking you, you remain ignorant of your habitual responses and cannot transform yourself.
Questions for contemplation: When working are you happy with what you do? When speaking are your words without guile? When you meet the suffering do you help? When you meet conflict do you work towards harmony? When facing problems are you far seeing and tenacious?
When we emphasize just the body with the exclusion of mind or spirit we are not balanced and this leads to exhaustion. Self-cultivation involves the holistic integration of mind, body and spirit, this way you achieve unity within and without.
In life conflict between differing opinions arises everywhere. Generally, dispute arises from not having the flexibility in considering the others opinion. Whether you win or lose is not enjoyable, its better to solve the dispute before it goes too far, usually by meeting your opponent halfway.
Quote: When you are pleasant with yourself, you are pleasant with all those around you.