Hope

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. There are lots of reasons to fear. Fear doesn't seem to have gotten us very far. The more we turn away from hope the more vulnerable we are to violence.  How do we start breaking this cycle of fear and hatred? 

I keep coming back to a poem by Meg Wheatley. It takes courage to talk to people you don't know or don't understand. Hate is easy and it just seems to breed more hate. So maybe it's time we try curious. Which can lead to understanding. Which hopefully reminds us all that humans are innately good creatures. 

Are we capable of such bold courage? I hope so. 

 

Turning to One Another

There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about.

Ask: “What’s possible?” not “What’s wrong?” Keep asking.

Notice what you care about. Assume that many others share your dreams.

Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.

Talk to people you know.

Talk to people you don’t know.

Talk to people you never talk to.

Be intrigued by the differences you hear. Expect to be surprised.

Treasure curiosity more than certainty.

Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s possible.

Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something.

Know that creative solutions come from new connections.

Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know.

Real listening always brings people closer together.

Trust that meaningful conversations can change your world.

Rely on human goodness.

Stay together.