Empowering Courageous Conversations

I have found myself more often lately in conversations with clients, students, friends, and family who are in fear and feeling ‘controlled’ by popular (often false) narratives. I lean in. I listen more deeply. I ask challenging questions inviting them into a discussion that is based on critical thinking about facts/opinions and their own reflection. We flush out the either/or, polarizing rhetoric and move into a deeper truth. We seek to understand. Sometimes we find common ground. Everyone counts or we agree to come back together on this issue another time.

“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”
~ David W. Augsburger, Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard

In empowering conversations, we reframe and flip the perspective out of feeling disempowered, put upon, or a victim. We shift into a dialogue about making choices from a place of personal sovereignty, strength, abundance, and wisdom. Can WE ALL make decisions on behalf of the highest good for all involved? How do we create a safe and sacred space in our conversations to invite EVERY person involved to shift their narrative and engage in empowering courageous conversation?

Here are a few topics I have encountered lately in conversations that required me to level up into a courageous conversation. What topics are you discussing that feel unexamined, disempowered, and fear based?

• Scarcity, there is just not enough to go around.
• Imposing opinions is the best way to get what I want.
• Comply to vaccinate or not vaccinate without evaluating the research.
• Continuing oppressive and entitlement policies keeps the status quo where I have an advantage.
• Fundamentally there is lack of abundance in energy, creativity, money, relationship, and time.
• Power over and dominating works the best.

“Life is change, growth is optional.  Choose wisely.”   ~ Karen Kaiser Clark

Yes, I am inviting what seems to be a radical departure from the often-displayed reactive mob mentality that seems pervasive in too many conversations these days. If you are reading this, YOU are likely engaged in mindful living. YOU have the skills of authentic communication, non-violent communication, and high levels of conversational and relational intelligence. (Need a refresher? Let’s connect!)

YOUR skill and willingness to engage in empowering courageous conversations is needed today more than ever. YOU are likely a lifetime learner and continue developing these competencies as you shift into expanding your awareness and accessing greater levels of consciousness. Surround yourself with community who is positively impacting the world locally and globally as we shift into the NEW ERA. It takes courage to co-create a future with the highest potential for all living beings.

YOU got this!

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love.
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love.
No not just for some, but for everyone.”
~ Lyrics by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach,
First recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon