Confession to a Neutral Party

Once you have written your statement of responsibility for wronging someone, it’s time to put the show on the road. The essence of taking responsibility is to declare it to someone. It makes no sense to take responsibility in such a way that nobody hears it. When this particular tree falls in the forest, ifContinue reading “Confession to a Neutral Party”

If You Want People to Listen to You, Stop Talking

You know the type: the type of person I call a fire hose. This is the person who, as soon as he thinks he has your ear, lets loose a flood of words without regard to the give and take that is found in normal conversation. If you’re a political activist, you might have aContinue reading “If You Want People to Listen to You, Stop Talking”

How Do You Make Amends When You Can’t Make Amends?

Making direct amends can be difficult, but necessary, when the harmed party is looking for it, and rewarding when you do it well. The payoff is reconciliation. But not everyone you have harmed is all set to forgive you. Some are gone, many don’t know they were harmed, and a lot don’t want anything toContinue reading “How Do You Make Amends When You Can’t Make Amends?”

Building Walls

When people change from being non-engaged politically to becoming activists, the first thing they do hinders everything they try to accomplish afterwards. They rally like-minded people to their cause and build a wall. This renders their activism less effective and obstructs the exercise of statecraft.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Bringing you the best of mental health every week. Most methods of psychotherapy are designed for the therapist to help the client. Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) seems to be one of these; but it’s actually therapy for the therapist  when standard Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) just ain’t working.