We agree to differ, we resolve to love, we unite to serve. It is a beautiful sentiment, but what does it look like to really live our motto in the world? Human beings are designed for connection and community, but when those connections are damaged a distance is created that makes it easier to cast people as “the other,” and conflict is more likely to arise. If we are all made in God’s image, then we all have a higher self and gifts to share with the world and we can’t raise each other up from arm’s length.
This fall as we prepare to gather with family and friends over the holidays, the Board of Spiritual Growth is hosting a three-part workshop to help people learn how to bridge divides, repair connections, and start communicating well again. Plymouth Member Kristen Boldt is a trained and experienced facilitator in non-violent communication tools, helping individuals repair past damage and learn to hear each other differently. Kristen will discuss the insight theory of conflict to provide a new understanding of where conflict comes from and how we can use hope and curiosity to break the cycle of defensiveness. The workshop series will be interactive with small group exercises. Participants will have an opportunity to become more aware of their language and gently change their patterns and habits to form healthier communication. When we can change how people engage with the world, the world starts to change.
The three part workshop is as follows:
- Saturday, November 12 from 10 a.m. to noon: Learn new communications tools and practice as a small group.
- Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to noon: Follow-up session and gain additional understanding of what to adjust for your given family environment.
- Saturday, January 7 from 10 a.m. to noon: Final follow-up session to discuss how your communication has evolved and to learn how to use it in other areas of your life.
To sign up, please go to the church website or use Church Center to locate “Healthy Conversations Workshops”. For more information, please contact Kristen directly at kristen@harmonylawdsm.com.
