Dialogue: A Habit Of The Heart with John Backman

MP3 Download What often passes for dialogue these days is negotiation or debate. However, John Backman feels the true aim of dialogue isn’t about convincing another to see things the way you see them, “Dialogue is aimed at mutual understanding …to nudge [toward the] reality of the situation as it is. [I]t's about understanding one another much more deeply so that, if we do have to act together, we might be able to take up joint action.” If we walk away from the table, agreeing to disagree, we cut ourselves off from each other and cannot tap into the deep wisdom of a diversity of viewpoints. Backman feels that dialogue, as a habit of the heart, has a spiritual dimension and is a place in which our deepest yearnings and our deepest self come into play. He gives many examples of why it is important to hone and practice our deep dialogue skills. He feels we must make ourselves ready to enjoy the fruits of connection with others at any moment, whether it’s conversing with a stranger on a bu