13 Comments

There is lots of gold here, but this bit >> "It’s not your turn to speak until you’ve learned something about what the other person thinks and feels"... wow.

Imagine if we all did that! #goals

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I know. It's pretty aspirational for someone likes me, who is inclined to talk too much. But it's really worth aiming for.

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I don't talk too much exactly. In fact, I sometimes need to talk more than I do! Especially in larger groups of people. But I recently started noticing my tendency to interrupt people in one-on-one conversation. Will be exploring this with curiosity.

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This is lovely, Melanie. And well-timed. I also find personally sharing one's own story -- and why we care -- is helpful. That kind of one-on-one sharing has changed many hearts and minds in other social change movements. I know it can for this, as well (as long as one doesn't have the TV blaring!)

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I agree. It's one of those situations where talking about ourselves is definitely a help. I'm trying to get more courageous about starting conversations, although I've still got some way to go.

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Wonderful resources, thanks!

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Thank you, I really appreciate it.

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Dec 14, 2022Liked by Melanie Newfield

Hah. Did you write this for me? Just joking but you could have. I’m often on my high pedestal of righteousness in regards to climate change. I’m not convincing anyone. Need to adopt some of these methods

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I promise I didn't write it for you. I did write it partly to remind myself though.

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Such good resources! Common denominator: LISTEN. That is so hard when you have strongly-held opinions (about climate change, politics, whatever). I love the idea that you need to learn something about the other person first. Very concrete and so appropriate. Otherwise, we're guilty of making knee-jerk assumptions and stereotyping the person we're talking with. Exactly what we accuse the other side of doing...

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I know it's something that I struggle with, so I figure I'm not alone. I was motivated to write my "talking about" Turnstones partly because I was frustrated at hearing the way people I agreed with were talking, not making things better. And partly to build up my own courage for conversations I found intimidating.

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Feb 18, 2023Liked by Melanie Newfield

Loved this article so much, thank you for the fantastic resources here. Such important skills not even just for the climate crisis, but the general political polarisation of the world. Will be referring back to this often!

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Thank you. They are important skills. I'm still practising, I still feel as if I need to do more listening.

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