Over the last several years, more than ever in recent history, there is a gap in being able to take action, speak our minds in a collaborative environment or stand up when it is blatant that wrongs are being engaged in. We have become more divided between right and wrong, decency and garish behavior and more splintered in our conversations where the middle ground no longer seems to exist—it is either black or white. Despite this uncertainty is that fact tucked inside us: the power and strength to make a real difference. Each day—faced with challenges of wrong and right, bad and good, reaching for conflict or peace, being tough or gracious—we can often wonder what we should do. Where do we find the courage to make a difference?
Headlines of the day, from all directions, have been screaming about the horrendous behavior of using power over others. A sad aspect of these tragedies and many other injustices have gone on before and still do. These are tips of the iceberg for a whole range of what might be simply “bad behavior” and, sadly, even “dreadful behavior” in our business, personal and community lives. One clear message springing from these indiscreet, awful situations is that many wishes they had made some difference, took a chance or did the “right thing” when they were moved by what they had learned or experienced. For all of us, when faced with the decision of how to act for the better good, it may be hard to know what to do. These challenges come in different shapes, different forms. How do we know what to do when to do?
Our Peaceful Voice is there for us when we need it, though. Taking that voice inside to the outside can seem impossible, daunting, scary. Maybe, it’s the burning anger that we feel or the enormous passion that comes from wanting to right a wrong that slows us down or allows us to park these thoughts, never to be experienced again. Or, maybe, it’s the fear of retribution or standing out there alone or of making a mistake. This can bring our desire to do better to a halt. What stops us in these situations is not realizing the power our voices have. As with the headlines, somewhere down the road, this tragic behavior is exposed or it creates such chaos that things around it fall into destruction and oblivion. And, in many cases, our Angry Voice needs to step forward to shine the light on the magnitude of pain, suffering, failure, collapse and, sometimes, lifetimes of regret and shame. It’s heartbreaking that years come and go, while pain and destruction smolder and futures are destroyed! Everyone suffers in these situations.
What if our Peaceful Voice could show what it can do? If we could offer our personal inspiration and tap into our desire peacefully to do the “right” thing, there’s a chance that help can reach the surface and make a difference. Time and suffering might have been saved for everyone involved. Consider the power our voices have. Conversations can move things forward, advance the process, one interaction at a time, creating meaningful changes. Our Peaceful Voice can start small and gather others along the way so that we learn, again, that our desire to make a difference is real and that there is a way to accomplish it. Our Peaceful Voice needs us to know and to act on making sure that we dialogue and converse with those appropriate and close to us in these matters of inappropriate, destructive behavior anywhere and everywhere. Our spiritual leaders, our best and most confidential friends, our business partners, our human resources department, our therapists, our counselors, our lawyers–someone of trust can support our starting the process.
No matter what, it starts with a conversation and begins with our desire for peace. Sometimes, we don’t acknowledge that peace is what we are seeking. However, we know it when we see something that grabs us emphatically, brings tears to our eyes or sets our anger afire. We do have the courage—it is in us all. Back up and say: What can I do? In a way, we are asking ourselves for help. What is our first step? It is amazing how we can stand in the impossible, own our part and know that we can right a wrong and bring peace to a situation, creating a foundation for an even more peaceful future.