“In every moment we are choosing…in the way we regard our children, our spouses, neighbors, colleagues, and strangers we choose to see others either as people like ourselves or as objects. They either count like we do or they don’t. In the former case, since we regard them as we regard ourselves, we say our hearts are at peace toward them. In the latter case, since we systematically view them as inferior, we say our hearts are at war.”
– From Anatomy of Peace: Resolving The Heart of Conflict by The Arbinger Institute
And there is the anatomy of peace. Amazingly simplistic and equally amazing in its significance.
In every moment. That means all moments. Not “some” moments, or “most” moments….in every moment.
We dropped some news on The Three this week, and as they process their unique, emotional, real and honest reactions we have to regard them first as people. Not our kids. Not 16, 13 or almost 10. Simply as people like us.
In our workaday lives, there may be a jerk somewhere. (More than one?) He / she is a person, like we are. In our neighborhoods, someone might not ever weed his yard. Seriously. Like never. He’s a person, like we are.
Imagine a heart at peace almost all the time. Sign me up.
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