What the World Needs Now – Peace

/ July 19, 2016

What the World Needs Now is Peace, Love and Compassion!

Will you join me in the #PeaceChallenge?#PeaceChallenge

My response to the tension in the world is to offer more peace in my thoughts, words and actions. This challenge is for anyone who wants to help reduce the tension and bring more peace into the world. I’m calling it the #PeaceChallenge. 

The challenge is simply to write a post that speaks to peaceful solutions. Please be conscious of your words and energy, using them to feed peace. As the quote from Martin Luther King reminds us, peace is not only the goal but the means to achieve it. Tag your post #PeaceChallenge and link to this article if you want. Consider sharing this post even if you are not going join. Thanks!

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The news is filled with stories of killing, hate, racism, contentious politics, environmental disaster, and numerous other problems. So many people are attacking Donald Trump, blacks, police, Republicans, terrorists, or any group that doesn’t agree with their point of view. We liberals are just as much to blame for the state of the world as those folks. When we judge, label and verbally attack others, we add to the energy of hate and polarization that is feeding so many of the world’s problems.

It’s time to put on our big person pants, drop the name calling and sit down for an open-hearted discussion with people that have different views than we do. One of the best tools we have to solve the world’s problems is communication. We may never agree on all our views, but better communication can help us understand and accept our differences while finding things that bring us together. Like the universal desire for love, freedom, and connection.

Peace can not be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding. ~ Albert Einstein

Peaceful communication might be one of the best tools to help discharge the tensions and come together to find solutions.

We are all in this world together. How about we act like a loving family rather than warring tribes? Let’s try to understand and work with our “enemies.” Or better yet, let’s quit viewing them as enemies, but as blessed teachers showing us other points of view, or maybe our own shadow. We need to make peace with the dissenting voices within and without.

Here are some suggestions that might help us come together in peace.

  • Stop attacking people with judgments, labels, and hurtful words. Our words have energy and the only way to create peace is to offer peaceful thoughts, words, and actions.
  • The next time you are tempted to call someone an enemy, ask yourself what they represent in your own consciousness?
  • Explore if your intention is to connect or to be right. Far too much communication is feeding our desire to be right.
  • Consider that they may have problems and situations that you know nothing about. Groups like ISIS are composed of human beings who have often suffered terribly. This is an opportunity to grow in compassion.
  • Sit down with someone who has a different perspective and listen with the intent to learn and connect, not to change them.
  • Listen without an agenda or need to respond. Many of us crave to be heard at a deep level. Here’s a post I wrote on the power of listening called Listen Up!
  • Learn more about communication. There are many good books and programs on communication and using it to connect, heal and bring peace. Nonviolent communication is one such body of work created by Marshall Rosenberg.
  • Appreciate the differences in others while looking for common bonds.
  • Remember that communication goes far beyond words. About 90% of our communication is non-verbal. Give someone the precious gift of presence and acceptance. We don’t have to agree with everything they say to be kind and respectful.
  • Get involved with a group that is working for peace. One of my favorites is a local group called Compassion Fayetteville.

Here are 10 more suggestions from the Center for Nonviolent Communication on how to build peace.

Let’s bring more understanding into the world through peaceful communication. Please join us in the #PeaceChallenge.

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Here are some of our community who have joined the peace parade. Thank you!

Sam Red and her existential ponderings explore the causes of issues. Here’s the first in her 4 part series on what it takes to build a culture of peace called Microcosmic and Macrocosmic Aspects of Peace.

Camelia of La Place Sans Temps awes me with her dedication to teaching peace, kindness and activism in her classrooms. She reblogged my post to encourage people to live their values.

Neha of Forgotten Meadows is part of a peace initiative called PoetsforPeace. She is inviting people to add their voice to this collaborative poem to celebrate and promote peace.

Barbara Franken reminded me that our essence is peace and the best teacher of peace is to BE peace. Here’s Barbara’s post on how all is revealed once we choose peace.

Sue Dreamwalker posted about sitting in her garden and gratitude as being the way she finds peace. She also reblogged my post and wrote a post on peace called Now is the Time to Heal and Mend. Thanks for all you do for peace Sue.

Michael of The Poetry Channel wrote this beautiful poem called You, A Peace of Me as part of the challenge.

And thanks to all of you who read, comment and speak your own truths that contribute to the upliftment of humanity. Peace and blessings, Brad

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79 thoughts on “What the World Needs Now – Peace”

  4. A strong, insightful and compassionate post, Brad. Last week, the words to Bob Marley’s prophetic song “War” kept sounding in my mind, as the bad things happened in the US and France. This week, I’m glad to hear your call for peace and understanding along with those of others.

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  7. Wonderful Post Brad.. the world appears mental right now.. which is why I have disengaged from it for a while.. And you know I am all for Peace Brad.. and I will start by rebloging your excellent post.. xxx Wishing you a wonderful weekend Brad.. Hugs Sue.. xxx

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  8. Reblogged this on Dreamwalker's Sanctuary and commented:
    I so agree with Brad. Yes the world needs us right now..

    This is such a great Post from Brad that I just had to share it. I have been absent from WordPress this week, as I turned off my modem. As I wanted to withdraw into my own sacred space of Peace away from the turmoil of the media. I agree with Brad.. and I am sharing again the words from my Gravitar which says

    “Each of us, carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others

    As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word passes from person to person, its impact grows and can become a source of great joy, inspiration, anxiety, or pain.

    Your thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters, causing ripples to spread and expand as they move outward.

    I hope that I can send a few ripples out via the web of life, as we each of us weave the threads together… “

    Wishing you a wonderful Weekend filled with Peace and Harmony..
    Love Sue

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  10. Reblogged this on La place sans temps and commented:
    Dans ce temps mouvementé, la remise en question est le début du changement. J’ai toujours été une activiste du changement avec une forte voix (parfois douce) car je crois dans cette immense force qui nous pousse tous vers l’avant individuellement et collectivement.
    Je le sais… le cœur batte plus vite, la demande enflamme le cerveau et les mains cherchent les mains des autres pour les tenir… Un exercice de solidarité humaine devant l’adversité… nous vivons ça en famille à petite échelle quand le temps arrive d’affronter un échec, un deuil, un conflit…
    Les temps changent et notre attitude aussi…
    Comme enseignante, je n’oublie pas le devoir que j’ai de grandir des activistes du changement, de les inspirer et leur montrer le désir de changer.
    Je commence chaque année scolaire en paix pour la paix…

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  11. Very important post, Brad. You show us that we have the power to make a difference, which is a critical perspective if we are to engage with the challenges faced by humanity – as our group identity – rather than retract or feel overwhelmed by the pain and suffering we are witness to. Thanks for your inspired leadership. Love & blessing, Sam 🙂

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  19. You are a true peace offering, Brad! Thanks for showing us your beautiful soul and for spreading this energy into the world through your blog. The world needs healing and every single thing a person does to establish love and peace makes a difference! I know it! Sending lots of love for a wonderful week filled with the beauty of love ❤

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