Be the change-Part 5

Skillful Communication: The Foundation of Change

In the next series of posts, I will suggest a few essential components to consider when forming a local "Be The Change" Action-Support Group or simply for navigating life more skillfully. The first of these is Skillful Communication.

1. Finding Common Ground

We can use communication models, such as Nonviolent Communication (NVC), to skillfully engage with people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Our goal is to find common ground that is acceptable and sustainable for all while discussing urgent matters like climate change, global warming, plastic waste, rampant consumerism, corporate greed, and toxic capitalism.

A Crucial Note:

It is essential to understand the toxic impacts of mindless consumerism and toxic capitalism—how they are linked and how they directly cause climate change, plastic pollution, inequity, and social injustice. However, poor communication skills can hinder or even prevent positive change from occurring.

You need to communicate skillfully, not only with like-minded people but also with those who may not support, accept, or understand your mission. It's up to you to find common ground and collaborate on projects for good, using skillful inquiry, communication, and empathy.

2. Managing Conflict and Building Consensus

B) Manage disputes and disagreements by building empathy, understanding, and consensus. This requires attentive listening to each other's points of view, ideas, or positions—even when we don't agree or can't immediately find a path forward. We must always strive to arrive at a place of mutual respect, cooperation, and common ground.

C) Collaboration for the Greater Good: We should make our best effort to communicate wisely and skillfully as we collaborate on projects that everyone can enjoy and that serve the good of all.

For example, I enjoy cleaning litter from my local beach while exploring and studying the ecosystem, birds, flora, and fauna. Several others join me in the morning, focusing on different tasks and goals, but we share a non-partisan common interest: keeping the beach clean and ensuring the ecosystem is beautiful and thriving. This shared focus brings people of all backgrounds together for a common cause.

Communication Mastery: The Key to Harmony

Communication mastery is the foundation of a peaceful and harmonious life, both as individuals and as a community.

This is especially true when engaging with people we feel tension or are at odds with—which can include family, friends, and neighbors who may not accept the validity of climate change or believe that mindless consumerism is ruining our planet (while also putting people into more debt and cluttering our lives).

The good news is that there are many useful tools for having civil discourse and finding consensus. It's okay to agree to disagree, as this allows us to learn from one another while keeping the flow of communication, respect, and understanding moving in a positive direction. We can often develop a deeper understanding and discover we have more in common by utilizing better listening skills and letting go of our agenda to "be right" or our rigid attachment to how things "need to look or be."