The ripple effect.
There’s a social impact that occurs when space and time is created to allow useful conversations to happen. It gives proof that tricky topics can be addressed and a sense of isolation can be reduced, once the parties are working on something with mutual interest. It gives practical experience of relating in ways that keep conversations open.
In Aotearoa, New Zealand there’s little opportunity for people to learn how to effectively take a stand about something that’s important to them, when others have differing priorities and concerns, without becoming defensive, attacking or withdrawing.
Isolation and being unable to connect to people is a source of frustration for many. Anger can be a result of rejection, loneliness, pain, sadness or disappointment. Depression can be brought on when people feel a failure in relation to not measuring up to some ideal and get stressed about not fitting in. Frustrations, of not being heard or appreciated, can be taken out on others, loved ones or the self (self-harm, addictions, substance use).
In the meetings, we look at the context from where issues arise. We focus on keeping conversations open to co-create new ways of relating. We discuss what’s getting in the way of where we want to go or how we’d like a relationship to be.
It’s really tiring when isolation takes hold, and taking that step to having company to reduce the effects of it, helps.
Every sparkling moment in exchanges reminds us of what’s possible, and for many, it’s in line with how we’d prefer to keep living.
Changing the way you respond and turning insight into action not only makes a difference to how you are in the world. It affects the lives of others.
Whiti (a): to relate, change position, emerge, shine