October 11th, 2007
More from Peace & Process
Peace is not:
- Letting things slide for the sake of friendship.
- Doing whatever is required to keep on good terms.
- Criticizing someone behind her back.
- Being silent at a meeting only to rant and rave afterwards.
- Letting things drift if they don’t affect you personally.
- Playing safe in order to avoid confrontation.
- Manipulating someone to avoid open conflict.
- Coercing someone to do what you want.
- Hearing distortions of truth without refuting them.
- Indulging another’s behavior when it is destructive.
- Withholding information in order to protect someone else.
Having Good Intentions Is Not Enough
Having the intent of peace is critical when you are entering a group interaction. However, intent is not enough. Actions that flow from intent are essential; actions are the critical test of intent. Examine how fully your actions flow with your intent by asking questions such as:
- Do I know what I do, and do what I know?
- Am I expressing my own will in the context of love and respect for others?
- Am I fully aware of myself and others?
- Do I face conflicts openly and integrate differences in forming solutions?
- Do I value growth and change for myself, others, and the group?
From Peace & Power: A handbook of feminist process by Charlene Eldridge Wheeler and Peggy L. Chinn (1991, National League for Nursing Press).
