The Wise Words Actionable Newsletter #4
Take action with our favourite actionable idea of the week.
Greetings Wise Wordians!
Welcome to the latest issue the Wise Words Actionable Newsletter! Whether you're a first-time reader or a regular, our mission is simple: each week, we bring you one practical insight from a noteworthy book, offering you a tip you can immediately implement in your life. Let's get into it!
📚 Book Spotlight: Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone et al.
This week, we have taken an actionable idea from ‘Douglas Stone et al.s’ communication classic, "Difficult Conversations". This is a practical idea that you can use right away to help you frame disagreements. You will realise that all arguments are cut from the same clothe and revolve around trading our conclusions. If you want to see more of the ideas from Difficult Conversations check out our full book summary here!
🚀 One Actionable Idea: Arguments come from Conclusions
Arguing is not only a result of our failure to see that we and the other person are in different stories - it is also part of the cause.
Arguing inhibits our ability to learn how the other person sees the world. When we argue, we tend to trade conclusions -the "bottom line" of what we think:But neither conclusion makes sense in the other person's story.
So we each dismiss the other's argument. Rather than helping us understand our different views, arguing results in a battle of messages. Rather than drawing us together, arguing pulls us apart.In the normal course of things, we don't notice the ways in which our story of the world is different from other people's.
But, difficult conversations arise at precisely those points where important parts of our story collide with another person's story. We assume the collision is because of how the other person is; they assume it’s because of how we are. But really the collision is a result of our stories simply being different, with neither of us realising it.
✨ Your Challenge:
Now it's your turn! Take a moment to reflect on how you can reframe your conversations with this idea. Share your thoughts, experiences, or questions with us on Instagram using #actionablewisewords. Let's create a community of action-takers!
❓Question of the Week:
Our top question this week can be a powerful tool for self-reflection or coaching. It encourages individuals to identify barriers or challenges they may face in achieving a goal or making a change.
What stops you from…?
The question prompts introspection and can reveal underlying fears, misconceptions, or practical obstacles. Understanding these hindrances is the first step towards overcoming them and moving forward more effectively.
Give it a try today and discover your barriers.
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We hope you enjoy implementing this week's actionable step! Remember, small changes lead to big transformations. Until next time, happy reading and thriving!
Until next week,
Jes and Tristan