Our Own Nobel Peace Project
I could spend this third week on Instant "Ahah!" #3 reminding you again to go through the instructions with your significant others and set up the "structures" necessary (a place to sit, a timer, a mutually-agreed upon "signal" word, like "popcorn") so they will be in place if needed when argument starts. And I will ask you again to email any experiences you are having trying Passive Listening Turns to the CEF e-support group or to me.
But, I am going to spend today instead talking about what it would be like to start a "campaign" to get Passive Listening turns, or some other aspect of Listening/Focusing, incorporated into every household, every situation, in the world.
Al Gore, and the millions inspired to work with him, are doing this around the issue of Global Warming. Al Gore took it upon himself to take action, to respond to what he perceived as a life-or-death, urgent issue for all human beings.
That is how I feel about Listening/Focusing, especially as they can be used for conflict resolution, between individuals, lovers, parents, parent and child, in schools, in cities and communities, in governments, in national and international conflicts. And Passive Listening Turns is the most simple, small-step in that direction that I have come up with.
Brainstorm With Me To Find "The One Small Step"
Do you think spreading Passive Listening Turns is a good first step, if there were to be a campaign to bring listening/focusing, and the "creation of the new" that can come when people can speak from felt-sensing, to everyone, every situation, worldwide? Do you have a better idea? I'm open!
Can you imagine participating in such a campaign? What "one-small-step" might you be willing to do, or willing to encourage your friends, neighbors, colleagues, elected officials, school systems, doctors and nurses, etc., to do or to spread?
I'd like to imagine a bumper sticker campaign: "Listen, Don't Lecture," "Speaking, Not Arguing," "Popcorn!" Get Out The Listening Timer!", "Passive Listening = Active Solutions" - got better ideas?!!! Certainly, I can use help!
A bookmark-sized handout that obstetricians, pediatricians, counselors, teachers could hand out, outlining the procedure (maybe with a magnet for sticking on the fridge!)
Maybe "Passive Listening Turns" isn't the right name for the process. What would be better? "Timed Turn-Taking"? I can't do this alone, but it would be fun to brain storm it! I know we would come up with something hugely creative.
So, for this week, besides setting up the structure and trying the Passive Listening Turns procedure if an opportunity arises, I'd welcome any consideration of the Passive Listening Turn "campaign," how we might do our own Nobel Peace Prize effort to get Listening/Focusing Conflict Resolution known. Email Dr. McGuire with your ideas and reactions. Thank you!
