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Why Tough Conversations Matter More Now Than Ever

Growing inequality. Climate crisis. Forced migration. Human rights violations.  Rising anxiety, depression and mental health issues.

The world is becoming increasingly complex with every passing minute and along with that complexity, comes a growing list of complications and opportunities. As these complexities, complications and opportunities multiply and collide with each other, as they will in a hyper-connected world like ours, it becomes so damn important to stop, breathe and ask ourselves if the paths we’re moving along are for our greatest and highest collective good.

“My role in society, or any artist’s or poet’s role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.”

― John Lennon

It used to be that artists and poets mostly filled the roles of acting as mirrors for society – asking the tough questions and starting the difficult conversations that made us think twice. While this is still important today, the conversations that need to be had now, also need to be had over dinner with our families; over coffee among colleagues; while hanging with friends; and when meeting new people.

Where we find differences of opinions, we need to also find the strength to open up and see another perspective. And where possible, agree to disagree. 

Where we find differences of opinions, we need to also find the strength to allow a diversity of perspectives to live at the same time, in the same space without resorting to division. We have to challenge ourselves and each other to think long-term, even if it means sacrifice now.

Because a divided world is not a world where we can move beyond complexities and complications to uncover opportunities. And opportunities are what we so desperately need. 

Today’s tough conversations demand a lot from us as a collective of people living in a global world. 

Today’s real conversations are not about the things we can collect and consume.

They’re about values and what we want to continue valuing as we move into the future.

So let’s keep talking. 

Image cred: @NASA

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