Listening For PEACE Community Councils - people are encouraged to bring all sides together so they may hear one another, speak and share their ideas and suggestions to better their communities and their own lives. It also provides opportunities for people to speak who are seldom if ever listened to.
Listening For PEACE Community Councils are for listening for what can be better. Suggestions, comments for better ways expressed from the heart and simple ways are also encouraged. The audience is invited to listen carefully without interruptions, and deeply and honestly hear the thoughts and ideas expressed by others. Reparations and better ways are also encouraged before the Listening For PEACE Community Councils session is over. All members of the community are invited to attend frequent meetings.
Listening For PEACE Community Councils fosters cooperation, encourages involvement, social integration and creativity for the betterment of the community and its members.
Listening For PEACE Community Councils are facilitated by a member of the community with proper listening skills.
Cooperative and Compassionate Listening skills:
1. Listening to the facts that the speaker is saying.
2. Give full attention on the person who is speaking.
3. Allow yourself listening before you begin to talk.
4. Listen patiently. Listening takes time. Listening is a precious gift of time.
5. Listen to nonverbal messages.
6. As a good listener, develop the skill to put yourself in the shoes of the speaker.
7. Good listening requires the temporary suspension of all unrelated thoughts -- a blank canvas.
8. Keep an open mind.
9. Ask questions only to ensure understanding of something that has been said (avoiding questions that disrupt the speaker's train of thought).
10. It is not helpful to be judgmental while listening. Open your heart... forgive and nurture good healing energy.
11. Release negative energies and invite love into your body, mind and spirit before you begin to talk.
12. In listening there must no be reacting.
13. The conflict's resolution and understanding can be offered on the basis of benefit to both sides.
Listen as you open your mind and heart and
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!
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