Thinking Things Through - Nov. - Dec. 2007

THINKING THINGS THROUGH
November/December 2007

Peace: it can be more than a holiday wish.

Diane Grigg: Speaker/Coach/Mediator
Specializing in Effective Communication and Conflict Resolution
Telephone 847-965-8970
www.dianegrigg.com

To make peace alive in us
is to actively cultivate understanding,
love, and compassion, even in the face of
misperceptions and conflict.
Peace is there for us in every moment.

Thich Nhat Hanh’s beautiful words never fail to move me, and so I provided them to recipients of my fall “Inspiration” mailing. These words are resonating even more deeply as the holidays unfold, as peace is a wish we often share with others.

Yet peace can be more than a wish!
Whether we are visiting with relatives we rarely see,
shopping in a busy mall,
or attending a holiday office party, we can interact peacefully by:

reaching out with a sincere greeting,
listening well,
conveying genuine interest in others’ experiences (joys as well as hardships), and
responding (rather than reacting) to differences and upsets that develop.

Engaging in these activities may seem like pure service, yet heartfelt connections with friends and strangers have immediate and potentially far-reaching benefits. In the same moment these communications and gestures create calm in our own lives, they positively affect those with whom we interact.

Then, these exchanges—felt by recipients and witnessed by those nearby—may be replicated in relationships, households, and communities unknown to us . . . engendering a more peaceful world.

A very personal story illustrates these ideas. When I learned that my brother would be coming to Chicago during Thanksgiving, I made a commitment to myself to connect with him in a new way. Over the years, he and I have experienced our share of differences that have prevented a closeness we both desire. So this year I decided to eliminate my typical childhood jokes and sassy humor—and made a commitment to create time for just the two of us.

Dropping my expectations of him and giving him the gift of peace had particularly pleasant results. Not only did I enjoy our time together, I learned more about my brother than I’d known in decades—and I was able to talk about what’s been going on in my life. Beyond our holiday time together, post-Thanksgiving communications have signaled the beginning of an improved relationship.

Now and into the New Year, may you experience the gift of peace—remembering that it is available to give and receive at every moment.

Interested in my quarterly inspirational mailing? Provide your complete postal mailing address, and know that your information will never be shared with anyone!

Diane Grigg: Speaker/Coach/Mediator
Telephone 847-965-8970
www.dianegrigg.com