No Bad Parts – In the Violence of Our World
No Bad Parts is the title of one of Richard Schwartz’s latest books on Internal Family Systems (IFS), an approach to trauma healing. In the IFS model, inner “parts” of our psyche take on more extreme beliefs and roles in order to keep our system safe, particularly to protect other hurt parts that have been…
Read MoreEmpathic Understanding in War — A Revolutionary Act For Peace
The violence and suffering happening in Israel-Palestine is excruciating to witness. I can only imagine how truly horrific and unbearable of an experience it is for those living there. So much is being written and spoken about what’s happening. What can I possibly add to the conversation that could be helpful? There is talk about…
Read MoreNavigating Conflict and the Hero/Heroine’s Journey
It’s so interesting to me how what’s new builds on what has been, but in unseen ways. I see now how what is emerging in me about what is needed in the world has been growing and developing since early in my life and in the early roots with Nonviolent Communication and Mediate Your Life…
Read MoreHolding Paradox to Bridge Our Differences
Bridging our differences is, I believe, what we humans now need to do to survive and support the flourishing of Earth, yet it seems impossibly out of reach. We may think we need to choose between pessimism or optimism, but why not be both? What happens if we hold the paradox? There is much to…
Read MoreMLK, Nonviolence, and Communication
Today in the U.S. is the holy-day each year we celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., his nonviolent approach to social change calling society towards the soaring ideals enshrined in the U.S. Declaration of Independence of freedom and equality for all. Dr. King was a tremendous light shining out…
Read MoreFear and Trust Facing the Year Ahead
At the boundary between 2021 and 2022, looking out over the future landscape of the coming year, I see conflict, violence and suffering growing and spreading in the world, And I also see, at the heart of the dissolution, a tremendous light getting brighter and brighter, brilliant and beautiful. Sharing with a dear friend and…
Read MoreBecoming Regenerative
I am feeling deeply inspired by the regeneration movement. Paul Hawken, an environmental activist for many decades and one the leading voices in this movement, has written a new book called Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation. The movement as I understand it is about not only living sustainably on the planet but…
Read MoreInoculation For Outrage
This weekend was the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attack on the U.S.. Thinking of 9/11 reminds Americans of the trauma of that day and entering into the “War on Terror.” It can remind us also of the daily trauma and terror of the staggering amounts of violence and human-generated suffering still happening around…
Read MoreOur Afghan Story Revisited
Close to 20 years ago I went to Pakistan with my close colleague Ike Lasater to work with Afghan tribal elders in a refugee camp along the border. It was January 2002, soon after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. and our bombings and invasion of Afghanistan. It was a particularly dangerous time for…
Read MoreCode Red for Humanity
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Monday released a major report of over 200 leading scientists from around the world confirming dire, catastrophic consequences from climate change if we humans don’t take rapid, radical action. Although we have been hearing about the potential effects of climate change for decades, Monday’s report from…
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