Make a donation
Укр / Eng
02.11.20

Dialogue projects, despite the effectiveness of this tool, are always a challenge for those who conduct and organize them, because of the difficulty to keep all the sides with opposing views included in the process. 

However, such activities allow not only to obtain additional information, but to look at the problem or situation differently. The participant of one of our dialogue projects shared with us his thoughts and impressions from the dialogues. So we decided to also share it with you.

«Last year I got acquainted with the dialogues. Those are not just talks about “how is the weather today”, but the main goal is to understand people, each other. And this is a very interesting process that leads to deep self-reflections (re-awareness).  But it’s not that simple. I don’t advise anyone to dive deep while trying to talk to people, because everyone has their own depth and you can dive way too deep. That’s not the most pleasant. But still, it works. The process gives the opportunity to understand and accept yourself and others.

[…]

We once discussed this with our family and realized that it is very difficult to explain what dialogue is and what is its impact. When you try to clearly explain you then got asked: “What is the result? And what’s the point? And which method?” And the answer is not so simple, because different people have their own ideas and it is difficult to explain that this is the thing that changes you as a person and not the situation around. In order for the situation to change, it is necessary for everyone involved to change it. And you’re not alone.

[…]

Dialogue is a tool. Being inspired by the process, I couldn’t understand why one would not easily come to the dialogue? Why wouldn’t one look for points of contact? How to focus on things which divide rather than unite. And the answer to all such questions lies on the surface. There should always be two sides in the dialogue, if one side vanishes, it then becomes a monologue. And it is perfectly normal not to continue discussion if such a decision is made. 

[…] 

After all, either the two sides of the dialogue are trying hard and looking for a common solution, or everyone dictates their terms and the stronger one wins (although usually in such case this results not in a win-lose, but into a lose-lose).

[…]

The result is achieved during the process. I came to the conclusion that this is exactly how it works. But there is a catch: the goal cannot become an end in itself. For example, people do not climb up the mountain just to visit the mountain. People do it to walk the long path, see the horizon and move on after all.

[…]

The way to achieve a goal is more expensive, because the end point will always change if development, not stagnation is a desired path. It is necessary to plan and look at life not by tasks and goals, but by the way. And be prepared for the fact that in the process goals may change. Always check them to see if they fit your purpose and mission. And most importantly, the goals must not become an end but a continuation of Your path.»