How are you? Really, how are you? These are wild uncertain times, so it’s ok if you’re struggling. Or maybe you’re actually thriving.
No matter how you’re feeling and navigating this season, times of transition and turmoil can be a natural opportunity for pause and reflection.
- What are you emerging into?
- How do you want to be and move in that new reality and world?
It can be a time to clarify what’s essential to you, a clarifying of your values and vision of the kind of life and world you want to live in.
This requires deep honesty and humility.
Humility to really listen. And honesty to honour and act on what you hear.
In challenging situations, I exercise my curiosity muscle to dig beyond the surface, get to the root, and really listen to the heart. For example:
1. With myself:
- Why am I finding it so hard to rest during this pandemic?
- What am I afraid of?
- What underlying values do I feel are threatened if I were to slow down?
- How can I honor those values?
2. With someone who has a complaint against me:
- What is the heart behind it?
- Is there a value I’ve offended?
- Is there a raw spot I’ve struck?
3. With a person or group who holds a different view than me:
- Why do they feel so strongly about this issue?
- What experiences have shaped or led them to this?
- What is the underlying value that they are protecting?
This month’s printable is all about helping you to slow down to gain some understanding by listening to the heart of a challenging situation – with yourself, with others, and with the world.
My hope is that it will help lead to a little more understanding, grace, and kindness.
If you find this helpful, be sure to check out the work of Jessie Sutherland at Intercultural Strategies. She is a trusted friend who I met as my group partner while we were being trained as facilitators. I learned this values-based model of conflict management from her important work, that has power to change your life and the world, if we apply it!
If you like getting these resources, please snap a pic, share and tag me on social media, so others can benefit too. Thank you!
