“Let There Be Peace on Earth and Let it Begin with Me”

Conflict is inevitable. It is a natural part of human interaction and group dynamics. Each person responds to situations and engages with others differently because we all come from diverse backgrounds, hold unique experiences, pursue distinct goals and have our own perspectives about just everything. Hence, often when someone is convinced that their perception is the only ‘truth’ or ‘reality’, it may not be the same for another.

Although certain conflicts lie outside our control, many others can be managed through our own actions.

Peace is a cornerstone of Rotary International (https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/promoting-peace), and while we cannot halt wars or dictate the choices of world leaders, as Rotarians who are proponents of peace, we have the ability to foster peace and understanding within our homes, schools, workplaces, neighbourhoods and community organisations.

Let us be the ambassadors of peace the world needs. Let us choose to be wise and create such peace where we can, as opposed to contributing to or fueling any conflict. And what better place to start but with ourselves and with those whom we relate to daily. As the song that so many of us may have heard or sang at school says:

“Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.”

We can begin by engaging in the following:

1. Have open dialogue: share feelings and perspectives
2. Have a witness or mediator present: sometimes this is necessary to maintain protocols and for unbiased record keeping, as well as to encourage finding a resolution
3. Do not be quick to judge: very often, you may not have all the facts, especially when it is reported many times over
4. Do not be quick to form an alliance or feel obligated to choose a side: loyalty and passion can often cloud one’s focus on the issue
5. Express empathy: this indicates that you acknowledge the other party’s view(s)and want to make them feel understood
6. Be respectful: listen to each other without interruption, no name-calling or condescending remarks, do not walk away or walk out while the other party is speaking

Effective conflict resolution is crucial for personal, professional, and social well-being, and we can try to resolve our differences by taking heed of these simple tips. It is not that we do not already know some of them or even try them before, but we often need to be reminded and encouraged to persevere with them.

Conflict is inevitable, but fighting is optional!