Posts Tagged ‘peace’
Will Work for Peace – How to Get a Job as a Peacemaker
Every job has the opportunity to work for peace if you know how to look for it. Join professor, practitioner, and educator David J. Smith and Stephen Kotev as they discuss how to get a job as a Peacemaker. Whether it is thinking differently about the job you have or what types of jobs are out there – listen in on Tuesday, January 10th at 7 pm Central to learn more.
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The Gifts that Keep on Giving – Forgiveness, Communication and Peace. Holiday Gift Giving that doesn’t cost a dime!
Image credit to Subscription Boxes For Men.
December has now become a month full of stress and anxiety over picking the best gift. There is no disputing that Christmas has become a commercialized holiday where the whole point appears to be finding and giving the best gift to your loved ones. I created a holiday gift list in a previous post, presenting my picks for presents to give this season to the peace-lover in your life. I also compiled a gift list this week for those who find themselves in conflict with a loved one; that wouldn’t cost you anything.
Forgiveness. The ability to forgive someone can be difficult, especially when a lot of damage and heartache has occurred. Holding on to grudges and anger can be detrimental to your health and can destroy your relationships. The holiday season is the perfect time to let go and forgive. How can you forgive?
- Look inward and analyze. Acknowledge your feelings and take a moment to think about what and why you are feeling the way you do.
- Invite a face-to-face dialogue. Invite the person to have a conversation. Then, speak to the person directly, expressing your honest feelings letting them know you want to forgive and move forward.
- Write a letter. I lost a family member suddenly a couple of months ago, and before their passing, I had felt a lot of anger and hurt towards him. I lost the ability to express my feelings to him verbally, so I wrote him a letter and found that filling the pages was very therapeutic and allowed me to let go of my anger and hurt. You can write a letter to someone who is still here as well; you could seal and give it to them or not, that choice would be up to you!
Communication. The gift of communication to a loved one you are in conflict could change the course of your relationship. Effective communication allows you to build rapport and trust. Defensive communication causes confusion, anger, and blame, etc. The holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to communicate with your loved ones and resolve conflicts. How can you communicate effectively?
- Actively listen. The point here is to speak less and listen more.
- Clarify. Miscommunication arises when you don’t clarify what a person says, which then causes false assumptions and confusion. An example: Aunt Mary told Aunt Penny she needed to bring another dessert for Christmas dinner. Aunt Penny agreed to bring a dessert but didn’t clarify what kind of dessert Aunt Mary already had. Christmas day arrives, and Aunt Penny arrives with homemade gingerbread cookies only to find that Aunt Mary had already made that same family recipe. An abundance of gingerbread cookies is not a huge conflict, but if Aunt Mary was hoping for variety, she might be annoyed.
- Practice. Good communication requires practice, so listen often, ask curious questions to show you care. This is the ultimate gift.
Peace. Merriam-Webster defines peace as, ” a state in which there is no war or fighting; an agreement to end a war; a period when there is no war or fighting.” Achieving world peace in time for Christmas seems a bit unattainable, but peace with your loved ones is something that can be achievable. How can you achieve peace this holiday season?
- Apologize. Say, “I’m sorry” genuinely for whatever wrongdoing you might have done.
- Take a time out. If two weeks is not enough time to work through a conflict and an apology just won’t be enough, speak with your opposer and suggest putting the conflict aside for the holidays.
- Be empathetic. Try placing yourself in the other’s shoes. A favorite quote of mine by Ian Maclaren proposes, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” During the holiday season, the battle could be financial, emotional, physical, or mental, so be kind because you never know what someone might be experiencing.
The gifts given during the holiday season do not need an expensive price tag. A simple act of forgiveness, communication, or extending an olive branch for peace could bring more cheer to a loved one you are in conflict with than any store- bought gift you find.
Happy Holidays,
Abigail R. C. McManus M.S Negotiation and Conflict Management
Apprentice
Holiday Shopping List: Gift-Giving Made Easy for the Peace Lover in Your Life
The holiday season is creeping into stores earlier, and earlier it would seem. By Thanksgiving, you almost feel like you are behind on your Christmas shopping. Well for this post we have compiled a list of our top gift choices for the peace in your life. Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be stressful, give a gift to bring peace and resolve conflict to your loved ones!
Holiday Shopping List
Books:
Minibük® Stop the Dreaded Drama: 55 Tips for Ending Destructive Conflict
Author: Pattie Porter
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Author: Thich Nhat Hanh
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
Author: Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen, forward by Roger Fisher
Being Relational: The Seven Ways to Quality Interaction and Lasting Change
Author: Louise Senft and William Senft
Stories Mediators Tell
Author: Eric R. Galton and Lela P. Love
Games:
Conflict Resolution 6″ Thumball
Smart Sharks – Art of the Deal: Conflict Resolution Card Game
Wish Deck
Movies:
Endgame
Starring: William Hurt and Chiwetel Ejiofor
Freedom Writers
Starring: Hilary Swank and Patrick Dempsey
The Interrupters
Directed by Alex Kotlowitz and Steve James
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Abigail R. C. McManus M.S Negotiation and Conflict Management
Apprentice
Theatre of Witness – Finding the Medicine in Stories of Suffering, Transformation and Peace
Theater of Witness is a form of performance in which the true life stories of people whose voices haven’t been heard in society are performed by the storytellers themselves as a way for audiences to bear witness to significant social issues. The theater productions are scripted from individual and group interviews as well as a variety of creative process techniques and consist of scripted text, music, movement, imagery and film projection. The productions are created with the performers who themselves have directly experienced the issues being explored. Theater of Witness invites audiences to put a face and heart to societal issues of suffering and to celebrate the power of the human spirit to grow and transform. Theater of Witness is a form of peace building and inspiration.
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Coexistence and Conflict June Radio Show Series
Coexistence and Conflict Radio Show Series
What happens when we are faced with a situation when our values and belief systems are so polarized it motivates us to hide or to fight vehemently? Our so-called conflict becomes a protracted dispute for years to come. And yet, how do we begin to acknowledge these differences, embrace our diversity and learn how to coexist in these challenging situations.
The Texas Conflict Coach blog talk radio show will host a number of special guests.
When: Every Tuesday evening in June
Time: 5:00-5:30 pm PST/ 7:00-7:30 pm CST/8:00-8:30 pm EST
How: Call in live at 347-324-3591
Listen live and join the chat at www.blogtalkradio.com/texas-conflict-coach
Listen to archive shows or learn more at Texas Conflict Coach
June 7 – Coexistence and Conflict with Mari Fitzduff
Professor Fitzduff is the Program Director of the Coexistence and Conflict program at The Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. She will discuss her personal experiences living near the Killing Fields of Northern Ireland and how this motivated her to start the Coexistence and Conflict Program.
June 14 – I Shall Not Hate with Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish
Dr. Abuelaish will talk about his education as a Palestinian becoming a doctor, his work at an Israeli hospital delivering babies and going back and forth over the border to Gaza, and the night that 3 of his daughters were killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza. Despite this tragedy, Dr. Abuelaish, who now lives in Toronto, Canada, still speaks out for peace.
June 21 – Mediating with True Believers with Beth Padgett and Xan Skinner
People often firmly hold onto beliefs about religion, sexuality/gender concepts, and even family traditions and child-rearing practices. Xan and Beth will identify and discuss barriers to transformation in conflicts related to firmly held beliefs and values. They will share successes they have experienced in their work with individuals and groups who came to mediation entrenched in fixed beliefs. They will also discuss what they learned about mediation, and about their roles as mediators, from mistakes, mis-steps and mishaps along the way.
June 28 – A Look Back at Hurricane Katrina – A Radical New Role for Conflict Management Professionals with Cindy Mazur
Cindy Mazur, a Director for Alternative Dispute Resolution at a federal agency that delivers emergency management services, will use Hurricane Katrina as a model to discuss the phenomenology of disasters in America. Various deleterious factors can be forecast that impede effective emergency response. These factors can be better managed when one person is placed in a role to oversee and manage the crisis phase of a disaster. A Conflict Management Professional can unify the ad hoc crisis management team and ensure its accountability and engagement. Provision of a structural solution of this nature would signify a commitment by our government to mitigate human misery in disasters.
Fashion & Philanthropy
Founder of Little Black Dress Society, Amanda Graybill inspires women to give back while wearing their LBDs to take a stand against the abuse of women. Forming Societies (chapters) nationwide, women can join other like-minded women in dressing up, having fun, and giving back for a great cause. Because Abuse is never in Fashion!
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International Women’s Day-March 8
Today is International Women’s Day celebrating 100 years of women’s achievements. Tonight, we will have a show dedicated to women and peace. We would love to hear from you. Call in at: (347) 324-3591 any time from 7:00-7:30 pm tonight, March 8th and share your story of the women who have inspired you.
Meanwhile, check out these links.
Top 10 Wins for Women’s Movements
Women Building Peace – The Work of Peace X Peace
The Women and Peace series introduces Peace X Peace an international organization that lifts and multiplies women’s voices, strengthens women’s capacity to connect across divides, promotes leadership and gender equity, and nurtures our global network of peace builders. It was founded after 9/11 with the question “How can women promote peace?” It boasts an international network of 17,000 women in 120 countries. This show will examine the questions “Why women make good peace builders?” and the power of feminine leadership…”what it is and why it is important?”
Join us as we talk with Kim Weichel, CEO of Peace X Peace, she has had a long background working in global development, peace building and on programs that advance women. She is a passionate internationalist and works to bridge cultures, heal divides and build peace. She has worked in many countries, including Russia, South Africa, East Africa, Pacific Rim, Germany, Canada and Australia, and has worked with many international agencies. She is also a published author, TV correspondent and radio producer. She is now living in the Washington DC area.
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Women and Peace: Celebrating International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day, March 8, is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. This 100 year celebration of women’s achievements is chocked full of activities around the world. Listen to Helen Reddy’s 70’s song “I Am Woman” and hear who inspired me.
Check out these links.
Top 10 Wins for Women’s Movements
CODEPINK: Women for Peace Kicks Off Women’s History Month
How did a satirically named small women-led organization become a force for criticizing US foreign policy and a leader in the peace movement? Hear CODEPINK’s story through the lens of one of its longtime members and current staffer, Janet Weil , who is also a military family member with a loved one in the Marine Corps. Janet will talk about her personal experiences as a peace activist, CODEPINK’s history, and the Bring Our War $$ Home campaign she’s working on. She will share stories of women around the US and the world working to end war and redirect our resources toward life-affirming projects.
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