When a conversation takes a turn into the sometimes uncomfortable and often contentious topics of race, religion, gender, sexuality, and politics, it can be difficult to know what to say or how to respond to someone you disagree with.
Compassionate Conversations empowers us to transform these conversations into opportunities to bridge divides and mend relationships by providing the basic set of conflict resolution skills we need to be successful, including listening, reframing, and dealing with strong emotions. Addressing the long history of injury and pain for marginalized groups, the authors explore topics like social privilege, power dynamics, and political correctness allowing us to be more mindful in our conversations.
Each chapter contains practices and reflection questions to help readers feel more prepared to talk through polarizing issues, ultimately encouraging us to take risks, to understand and recognize our deep commonalities, to be willing to make mistakes, and to become more intimate with expressing our truths, as well as listening to those of others.
"There is a depth of wisdom and practice in this book that makes it unique and necessary. It grounds the conversation in Zen wisdom of who we fundamentally are and how we can claim that awareness as we engage in the challenges of being together in deep conversations. It brings this wisdom to our current divisive challenges of intolerance and conflict, including political correctness, social privilege, inclusion, and identity politics. For its clarity and bravery, its deep and practical guidance, its gentleness and fierceness, I wholeheartedly recommend this book."
— Margaret Wheatley Author of Leadership and the New Science and Who Do We Choose to Be?
Conversations on Compassion
Welcome to my Compassionate Conversations resource library! Browse video recordings, webinars, reviews and interviews related to this unique collaborative project co-authored by Diane Musho Hamilton, Gabriel Menegale Wilson and Kimberly Loh.
FEATURED DIALOGUES
How to Communicate in the Midst of Strong Emotions – Free Online Class June 28, 2022
This seminar is designed specifically to increase your awareness and range of options of how to communicate in the midst of strong emotions, whether anger, sadness or the numbness of confusion or disassociation. Together we will explore the Compassionate Conversations approach that honors the intelligence of our feelings, without being consumed by them, so that we become more conscious of our own states and our responses to others.
{ ... }Gratitude meditation
This quote caught my attention lately: Your depression is connected to your insolence and refusal to praiseRumi You can shift how you experience your life by including gratitude in your…
{ ... }Compassionate Conversations topics – playlist on Youtube
In the lead up to the publication of Compassionate Conversations in summer 2020, my co-author Gabriel and I went live on Facebook to share a series of exchanges and invite our…
{ ... }Bridging the Space Between You and Me: Compassionate Conversations in Action
Join a conversation with Kimberly Loh and Gabriel Wilson, co-authors (with Diane Musho Hamilton) of “Compassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart”. This conversation was hosted by…
{ ... }The Neurology of Sameness and Difference – Getting into the deep roots of division with the Association for Conflict Resolution in New York
Neuroscientists are coming to understand far more deeply the functioning of the brain and nervous system and its relationship to conflict. This understanding has tremendous relevance to the work of…
{ ... }Mediation Beyond Borders Webinar: Mediation and Evolving Worldviews
At a time where polarization is heightened, taking larger, more inclusive perspectives is not only helpful, but necessary. In this session, Diane, Gabe and I invited participants into a powerful…
{ ... }Leaning into conflict
During these turbulent times, mediators are uniquely positioned to lead by helping weave narratives that give meaning and direction. Catch the recording of Meditators Beyond Borders’ engaging online discussion with…
{ ... }Shambhala Publications book release announcement
When a conversation takes a turn into the sometimes uncomfortable and often contentious topics of race, religion, gender, sexuality, and politics, it can be difficult to know what to say…
{ ... }PODCAST: Peacemindedly with Sara S. Jamishidi
When a conversation takes a turn into sometimes uncomfortable and often contentious topics of race, religion, gender, sexuality, and politics, it can be difficult to know what to say or how to respond to someone you disagree with.
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