Conflict can strengthen connection when truth survives without punishment.

When you can say the hard true thing and the other person does not punish you for it, the relationship gets sturdier rather than more fragile. That is what makes conflict useful: it proves that honesty is survivable here.

Pay attention to what happens after someone tells you something you did not want to hear. If you go cold, they will learn to stop. Responding well to unwelcome truth is what buys you access to the truth later.