Welcome to “Don’t Believe Everything You Think”, Episode #135 of Co-creating Peace, a series about conscious communication and conflict transformation.

If you listen to “Co-creating Peace” on a regular basis, you’ve probably recognized that many of the recent episodes have been related to ways that each of us can bridge the divides that exist between individuals, groups, and countries. Clearly, it is essential to our survival as a specie that we learn to co-habitate this planet in peace, which can only happen if we learn to collaborate with one another for the mutual benefit of all. Competition for territory, resources, and power has brought us nothing but death and destruction, time and again.

As I look at the world around us, I can’t help but notice that the ever-expanding divides we are experiencing are being fueled by rhetoric, assumptions, judgements, and bias, all of which are triggering escalations of hatred and violence.

How do we transcend this? There are many answers to this question. One is: don’t believe everything you think.

Join me as we explore the intricate workings of our minds and the ways in which our unconscious filters shape conflicts and communication. Listen in as I discuss the primal brain's lightning-fast judgments and associations that often go unnoticed, influencing our reactions and potentially escalating conflicts. I discuss how important it is to critically evaluate our automatic thoughts to ensure they align with reality and the current situation. We also delve into the transformative Iroquois Rule of Six, a tool that offers a multifaceted understanding of different perspectives, which is invaluable in transforming conflict into collaboration.

We’ll address the common trap of 'if-then' thinking and the critical role of questioning our personal filters and assumptions, and the importance of curiosity over conclusions. 

Highlights you won’t want to miss:

• the influence of unconscious filters and biases on communication and conflict
• the primal brain's role in instant judgments and how these can subconsciously affect how we relate to others
• the importance of mindfulness to bring unconscious thoughts to the forefront for critical evaluation
• the Iroquois Rule of Six as a method to consider multiple perspectives in conflict situations
• the dangers of 'if-then' thinking

I hope it helps you on your path to co-creating peace in your life. If each of us strives to co-create peace in our own world, we can build a strong foundation for co-creating peace across the globe. 

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Visit BridgesofPeace.com to learn more about Kathleen and her work.

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Kathleen Oweegon Educator, Podcast Host, Communication Coach, Mediator, Facilitator

Kathleen Oweegon is the founder of Bridges of Peace with offices in Oregon and New Mexico. She also serves on the Board of Directors of International Institute for Global Leadership.

Kathleen has been a educator in communication and leadership skills for over 40 years, working with institutions and in the private sector. She has received over 250 hours of training in conflict resolution and related skills, and has created, co-designed and delivered many trainings in mindfulness, leadership, mediation, facilitation and conflict-free communication.