Chris Henderson Catalysis Coaching
  • Home
  • Events & Blog
    • Women Howling at the Moon >
      • Women Talk About Howling
    • Blog
  • Work with Chris
    • Ways of working with Chris >
      • Acts of Liberation
    • Power into Your Next Zone
    • Unstoppable
  • About
    • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Login

Suggestions for a world without violence

18/6/2015

0 Comments

 
I've noticed that conversations about peace or a world without violence can tend to focus on ending warfare or something happening somewhere else than where I am. The inspiring gathering of women who made up the May Unstoppable Women for a World Without Violence gathering made it clear that the experience of violence is widespread, and that it frequently connects close to home. Wherever it touches ground, this is an issue that needs everyone being part of the change. For each of us, creating peace starts with where we are and who we are being.
The stories shared during the evening were powerful, and the suggestions clear and wide-ranging. The following suggestions were recorded from the evening's conversation.
Picture
Structural
  • be aware of the forms of violence
  • understand root causes and disconnects
  • understand and address inequalities
  • create gender equality
  • challenge the futility of war and the building of a national myth that war defines us
  • address domestic violence
  • address inequalities
  • address the historical and ongoing violence against the traditional owners of this land
  • address systemic violence - building gratitude, a nice life for all
  • address sex industry violence: punishing the victims
  • decriminalise sex purveyors, criminalising the buyers
  • build support for victims and emergency accommodation

Picture
Community
  • teach philosophy for children - build understanding
  • build connectedness with self and others
  • Consider how we can connect with others and not judge
  • work with resistance to change 
  • build support for Working Against Violence Support Service (WAVSS) and similar
  • create spaces and groups for women emerging from domestic violence to not be in victim role
  • increase support for victims and emergency accommodation
  • work with men and women
  • build the momentum of men against violence
  • practise and build compassion / support for Muslims
  • provide practical immediate and long term support for refugees in our communities
    • including welcome dinners, continuing practical support, connecting with others
    • address disrespect for the English languaging of migrants and migrant speakers.
Picture


Peace - from the personal to community: the change comes from within
  • build survival skills, autonomy 
  • connect with our own power / knowledge
  • work on living without worry
  • nurture an open heart policy
  • explore what is "choice"
  • practise nonviolence in diet
  • build connectedness with self and others
  • consider how we can connect and not judge
  • cultivate mindfulness - for self and others
  • develop empathy and compassion for self and others
  • engage in compassionate conversation / mindful dialogue
  • honour and practise peaceful communication

Useful tools
  • awareness
  • critical thinking
  • compassion and meditation
  • mentoring - peer support
  • persistence
The Invitation
Make a difference for peace and a world without violence over this next month
  • Positive action in any sphere creates a ripple effect.  
  • Make a difference: all the way from small daily actions through to large change

Your thoughts? Those who participated would love to hear.
0 Comments

Thoughts for a world without violence - after all!

5/6/2015

1 Comment

 

Requiem for a lost blog - and the gentle art of letting go

Yesterday I completed a most beautiful post on a world without violence. 

I'd been working on it, on and off, for a month or so. Then in a millisecond the whole post disappeared - just as I clicked the button to publish it. No sign of it.  Really. F#@rkkk. 

Did I mention that it was a pretty darn good blog? 

After initial disbelief and a good deal of searching, I recalled that I still had a couple of skerricks remaining, including this text on the right - a few of the suggestions for daily practice identified by participants in May's Unstoppable Women for a World Without Violence.

Suggestions for daily practice for a world without violence

Picture

Learnings in the space of loss

After the initial spak attack, there were some useful reminders and learnings for me...

1. Suffering is optional. This is a biggie isn't it. Once I get it (yet again), letting it go is way more enjoyable (well, after a little wallowing in a few emotions, that is!). The challenge is, this needs to be learnt and practised way before the actual event.

2. Consciously choosing things just as they are is way more empowering than hanging on to what was. (Though note I have emailed my web developer - amazing things can be retrieved these days. Magic can happen!). 

3. Compose your posts offline, offline, offline, kiddo - and save often! 

4. Be open for the good that turns up.
For me:
  • The chance to practise letting go yet again! Requires regular practice. (Thank you to all my teachers on this topic over the years!)
  • An appreciation of the calm available to me =these days in contrast to the self-flagellating angst of old.
  • Remembering that an apparent 'deviation' might be the essence of the matter after all...
  • And - most delightful of all - have space to enjoy what turns up - including this gorgeous koala joey. Ain't he s/he something?  Thank you Judy Williams for your perfect timing in sharing this photo.  
  1. 
Picture
Final word...
So funny. In the space left by the missing post I've ended up practising the suggestions for a world without violence. I've also been reminded yet again that getting over blah quickly is way worth it. I can choose anguish/anger ...or I can enjoy the world epitomised by this handful of gorgeous joey. Let me think, hehehe.....

Thoughts for action...

  1. What are your learnings at times like these?
  2. What else would you suggest I might learn from this?
  3. Is there anyone you could pay this forward to? eg by sending this blog post and photo + your love + a good learning of your own. 
  4. Any other ideas for how you can contribute to a peaceful world without violence, and fulfilling lives?  
Contribute your thoughts. Be part of the solution. 

1 Comment

    Claim your courage!
    Subscribe for updates on Women Howling at the Moon and other events.




    Author

    Chris is a Courage Catalyst and bold stand for women ready to claim their courage, creativity and unstoppability and achieve the powerful results they want for themselves, their personal life, their business, the world. 

    Archives

    February 2018
    September 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    January 2012
    December 2011
    September 2011
    December 1969

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly