Click here to listen to today’s Daily Power Prayer for Compassionate Communication!:
Sometimes when people disagree it becomes a power struggle. One or both people find themselves struggling to establish that they are right. Many times people are simply of differing opinions. Why does someone have to be wrong and someone right all the time? It used to be when I felt powerless or insecure, then sometimes I’d choose to make the other person wrong in order to have the illusion of power that being right brought. Afterwards I’d always feel badly about myself and then either stuff that down or have to do self-forgiveness work.
This kind of power struggle isn’t helpful and certainly can’t bring the true understanding that we most desire. On the other hand, dialogue can bring understanding, compassion and love. Therein lies true power. Imagine if Gandhi and King had not had the capacity to dialogue with those they didn’t agree with? Where would we be today if they were argumentative and insecure?
Marianne Williamson describes a healthy society as one in which “those who disagree can do so with honor and respect for other people’s opinions, and an appreciation for our shared humanity.” In the Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, he says “Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others.”
Today instead of arguing see if you can choose to dialogue. This means you must listen. Speak the truth and seek to understand rather than make someone right and someone wrong. Making someone else wrong so that you can be right is a habit that doesn’t serve you in living to your highest potential of love. Instead of power over others, choose dominion over your thoughts and the emotions that are the result of your perceptions. Today we can choose peace, love and understanding. Our nonviolent choices move the all of humanity in a direction of peace and harmony.
Affirmation:
I AM willing to listen with compassion.