Resolving Differences: Hate vs Misunderstanding

We all have things that trigger us – a word or phrase, or a concept or a person that sparks a fire in us or shuts us down and make resolving differences seem impossible…

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“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
~Stephen Covey

What are your triggers? Words? Concepts? People? Groups? What reactions come up in you when you encounter them? Have your triggers cut you off from people you care about? Have they stopped you from opening your mind and heart to what may be a way forward toward your personal fulfillment and growth?

I just finished facilitating a 10-day online summit on Climate Change. It focused on the effects of Animal Agriculture on the current climate crisis.

The V-word was a central topic of discussion – Veganism. “Vegan” is a trigger word for many people. It can spark instant reaction and push back – lashing out, fear, criticism, “Heck to the No!” (my great-nephew’s favorite phrase.)

Perhaps the negativity comes because veganism is so often associated with activist groups that seem to disrupt the peace in the name of peace, and therefore are judged as hypocritical.

If we take a closer look at activist groups – yes, they are passionate people who are not perfect, but they seek to disrupt the status quo which has become comfortable in order to ultimately create a more peaceful way of life.

Many of the comforts we enjoy depend on our willingness to turn a blind eye to violence and destruction. If we want to create peace and sustainability, we have to transition to more peaceful ways of living, and we will likely get a little uncomfortable in the process. However, a little uncomfortable now is better than mass extinction a little further down the road.

We all have things that trigger us - a word or phrase, or a concept or a person that sparks a fire in us or shuts us down. What are your triggers? Share on X

What are your trigger words? Concepts? People? What reactions come up in you when you hear them?

Have your triggers cut you off from people you care about? Have they stopped you from opening your mind and heart to what may be a way forward toward your personal fulfillment and growth?

That’s the topic of today’s Prayer & Healing Circle.

We’ll take a look at the frames that house our triggers and seek to understand – to understand them by understanding our own inner reactions, resolving differences within ourselves and thereby more clearly understanding ourselves.

You’re invited to join us.

As always, you are welcome to bring your prayers for personal struggles, challenges of and with those you care about, for peace, for fulfillment, and for the health and sustainability of our planet.

Bring whatever is on your heart. Come as you are, receive, heal and grow. Please invite your friends to join us, too.

In the future, if you’d like to join us live, there is time for Q&A and sharing at the end of the call – off the recording.

Hope to see you there next time…

Is there a topic you would like to hear about? You’re invited to join our discussions in the Facebook community. You’re welcome to introduce yourself and let us know what you’d like to receive. Click here to access the group.