January 30, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, begins a yearly observation of a Season for Nonviolence. It’s been celebrated since 1998. The Season ends on April 4, the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination. For 64 days, participants commit to living in peace. The Gandhi Institute offers 64 ways to build peace and nonviolence into your daily life. Here are a few ideas from the organization that can empower you to work for a more peaceful world.
Adopt Non-Violent Language
Consider the words you use that might be considered violent. We talk about bullet points when we mean main ideas. Straight shooters are honest people. Have you ever “killed it” when you did well? Many common phrases have a violent undertone. Marketing “targets” consumers. A “silver bullet” is a good solution. While using this language may seem innocent enough, it actually normalizes violence. Think about the violent language that is the norm and find alternatives.
Strengthen Your Convictions Through Education
Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world.” Learn more about peace and non-violence to put them into practice and to share with others. Once a week, read an article about peace or non-violence to give you a foundation to support your new lifestyle of peace. Choose to read a biography of some of the Nobel Peace Prize recipients to see how they lived their life to make a difference.
Forgive Yourself
Living in peace isn’t just about living peacefully with others. To show kindness, forgiveness and hospitality towards others, it’s important to live in peace with yourself. Forgive yourself for past actions to take steps to move forward in your own life. When you don’t forgive yourself for things you have done or have left undone, you can be stuck in the past. Find a way to make amends if you need to, but don’t live with regrets.
Actively Listen to Others
In “The Wizard of Oz,” the Wicked Witch of the West is considered the villain. In “Wicked,” she gets a chance to tell her side of the story, and it’s no longer clear who is the real villain, Elphaba or Glenda. Listening to others can help you understand why they are who they are. Actively listening isn’t easy. It involves being genuinely interested in someone’s story. You have to put down your device. Wait until the other person finishes talking before asking questions or commenting. You also need to make eye contact and focus on what they’re saying, instead of how you want to respond.
Watch Your Attitude While Waiting
It’s been said, “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” When you’re waiting in traffic, think about how you respond. Do you honk your horn, leaning toward road rage, or do you try to find ways to use your time wisely? If you are impatient, talk to someone about ways to be more patient in just one area of your life. Start small with the goal of taking back your wait time to reduce stress.
Small Steps Lead to Big Changes
Sometimes, it can feel as if the small things you do in your own life aren’t making that much of a ripple into your community. Peace doesn’t have to be the big demonstrations. Make a change in one person’s life by offering kindness or gratitude. One small pebble makes a big ripple in a calm pond. Your small act of kindness toward someone may be the biggest thing in their life. Don’t discount what you do for peace. You have no idea of your reach.