The world needs more peace makers not social innovators.
Why?
Because there are already tens of millions of social innovators out there. Maybe more. There always have been. There always will be. People are very ingenious about inventing themselves out of adversity.
The real challenge is to spread the best of these innovations so that as many people as possible will benefit. That can’t be done alone. It must be done in relationship.
A good place to start in any relationship is by making peace with your own imperfections and limitations.
Then you might consider making peace with the imperfections and limitations of others.
Now that you have that in common you might want to consider making peace with difficult conversations.
Not the kind where you speak your mind, listen half-heartedly and leave.
But the kind where you speak whole-heartedly. Where the discussion is tough and uncomfortable but authentic. Where disagreements remain respectful but forceful. Where you stay engaged. Even though you want to flee.
Finally you might want to consider making peace with your impulse to dominate, to win and to destroy the other side.
Eventually every social innovator who seeks cultural change will have to walk through the doorway of relationships and engage with people they don’t like, don’t trust and can’t stand.
Making peace is not about acceptance. Or going soft.
It’s hard work. Perhaps harder than anything you’ve ever done.
Hesitant? Consider the following peacemakers: Alberta’s Douglas Roche and the late Ursula Franklin.
EH!
Unconventional stretch collaboration abandons the assumption of control and lets go of unrealistic fantasies… ~ Adam Kahane
Musical selection this post is What Kind of Love is That by Donovan Woods. Pretty amazing isn’t he? Do support his music.
Making Peace with the Unforgivable
Death’s Tug of War with Mystery and Science
Percé Rock and the Crumbling Patriarchy
Confessions of a Non Swimmer in the Currents of Culture
Emancipate Yourself from Mental Slavery
A Bystander’s Guide to Civility in a Time of Rage
Visit socialchangequotes.com to browse Canada’s largest collection of quotes about social change, curated by Al Etmanski.
2 Comments
Sarah
Love that song, and love this post! “Where the discussion is tough and uncomfortable but authentic. Where disagreements remain respectful but forceful. Where you stay engaged. Even though you want to flee.” What great advice – the more deeply into the work I dive the more I find myself in these situations. Thanks for the great food for thought.
Al Etmanski
thanks Sarah