22 Oct A speaking lesson inspired by the Dalai Lama
I went to see the Dalai Lama at the 02 centre last month. He was amazingly optimistic as he explained that unless we learn to develop more compassion in society, we will continue to kill, steal, betray and defy one another.
When asked HOW we are meant to develop compassion, he answered with ‘by educating our children to think differently’. He said that we need to teach our children to stop seeing a difference between ‘Us’ and ‘Them’. There is only an ‘Us’, there is no ‘Them’. We spend too much time dividing ourselves from others, causing feelings of isolation and fear of anyone different.
Is he right? Think about it…
On a global scale, there are borders separating countries, religions separating faiths, money separating classes. On a local level, there are schools, skin colour, and postcodes separating identities. In families there are jobs, wealth, values and political opinions that endlessly rip apart tight units. We are constantly dividing, rather then uniting.
How is this relevant to communication? Directly. We must start educating ourselves and our children by learning how to speak to each other.
- When you are speaking to your best friend, please remember this person was once a stranger to you.
- When you are speaking to your enemy, please remember that this person was once a friend to you.
- When you are speaking to a stranger, please remember this person can one day be your friend, lover, or even family.
The way we communicate with each other can stop further division. Speak to everyone as equals, because that is how we will eliminate ‘Them’, and be left with only ‘Us’.
Sorry no Vlog this week, I have the flu.
JT – Janet
speakingrights.com
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@janettaras
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