We tend to exhibit a preference for the status quo, while perceiving any change from the baseline as a loss. But examine your choices objectively and you may find that the potential gains of change outweigh any potential losses.
Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. The WSBA ADR Membership Committee will be hosting its first event of the year next Wednesday, January 21, 2015, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Impact Hub Seattle. "Exploring Career Options in ADR" will feature a diverse panel, where each panelist will share information about his or her career, experience in ADR, and advice for young lawyers (and other interested practitioners) seeking to incorporate ADR into their careers. There will be a networking reception following the panel presentation. Speakers:
I start teaching a Mediation Skills class at Seattle University Law School today, which means that I have been reading my mediation textbooks a lot lately. In the introduction to one of the books that are assigned for the class, former SU Law Professor Melinda Branscomb quotes Charles Darwin: Charles Darwin observed in humans a "capacity for bonding, cooperation and altruism" that he viewed as "an essential factor in our successful evolution." His seminal survival-of-the-fittest research and writing referred not just [to] survival of the biggest, strongest, and most aggressive, but also survival of those [...] most capable of forming mutually-protective, mutually-supportive relationships. However, the latter dimension of his research is lesser known to general audiences. We tend to emphasize and define success as survival of the strongest and most aggressive - in business, law, and many other aspects of our social interactions - while neglecting our species' particular aptitude for cooperation and collaboration. In both my teaching and my mediation practice, I hope to demonstrate that a cooperative problem-solving approach can lead to better communication and greater understanding, as well as to more powerful and more durable agreements. Tip of the Day: Under pressure, we have a tendency to do the opposite of that which is recommended, in an effort to avoid a perceived limitation of our freedom of choice. Try to make an objective assessment - the recommended option may in fact be the best outcome. Tip of the Day: We have a predisposition to solve a given problem in a specific manner (using previous experience), even though "better" or more appropriate methods of solving the problem exist. Be aware that a solution that has worked in the past may not be the most effective means of solving the problem at hand. |
Blog Archives
January 2021
|
