Recently I was sent an email with 2 thought provoking questions - I'll print some of my thoughts before and after the questions themselves!
NVC (Non Violent Communication) aka Compassionate Communication or ‘A Language of Life’ urges us not to judge - and explains why... Yes, we are taught the benefits of categorizing, but this is not to be mistaken for judging.
The bible also urges us “Not to judge lest we be judged. With those thoughts in mind, here are the questions:
Question One
You know a woman who is pregnant. She has 8 kids already,
three of whom are deaf, two blind and one mentally retarded. Oh, and
by the way, she has syphilis. Would you recommend that she have an abortion?
Would you be willing to read the next question too before scrolling down to the answer for Question One?
Question Two
It is time to elect a new world leader and your vote is crucial.
Here are some facts about the three candidates.
Candidate A:
Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologists.
He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10
Martinis a day.
Candidate B:
He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium
in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.
Candidate C:
He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke,
drinks an occasional beer and has never committed adultery.
Which of these candidates would be your choice?
Decide first - judge...
And then scroll down for the answers.
Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolf Hitler.
And the answer to the abortion question?
If you said YES, you just killed Beethoven.
I found these thought pretty interesting? What mistakes we can so honestly make.
Judging is powerful, that's for sure. Marshall Rosenberg of NVC (compassionate communication) fame calls judging 'life alienating'.
NVC has found that there is judgment - in one way or another - in so much of our language and that it's this judgment that often colours our conversation and responses. Often in a life alienating way. Rather than simple facts - and life enrichment.
Examine your sentences and try to take out the judgmental words that we all add without thinking.
We add emphasis to certain words and by that, add innuendo - and perhaps judgment - to our speech
Unspoken messages are also sent - in our letters and writing and especially in email and texts. Not saying things fully can make them sound harsh and not as we intend?
Do you want to be clearly understood?
Do you long for your loved one to really listen to what you have to say?
Check your language and clean it up! Perhaps try NVC. You might be glad you did?
Good luck,
Julie