Fold an origami crane with video help
May 31, 2008
Back in March I offered up instructions for folding an origami crane.
The crane symbolizes peace in Japanese, Chinese and Korean traditions. In Japan, tradition holds that anyone with the commitment and patience to fold 1,000 paper cranes will be granted their most desired wish. For the true story of Sadako Sasaki and the thousand cranes, visit Why an Origami Crane as Your Logo?
If you’re new to Conflict Zen and haven’t seen the print instructions, or found they didn’t fill in all the blanks, you’re now just 10 minutes away from your own folded origami crane, courtesy of the following clear video instructions from Lisa Shea.
No origami paper? No problem. Use office paper from your recycling stack, used wrapping paper, the funnies, or the map inserted in your last National Geographic. You’ll need a square to start and, if you’re new to origami and cranes, start with a sizeable piece, at least 6″.
[If you can't see the video in your email or feed reader, click here.]
Have fun,
Anger management along a muddy road
May 30, 2008
Two monks, Tanzan and Ekido, were walking together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was falling and had swollen the stream running near the path.
Rounding a bend, they saw a beautiful girl dressed in formal kimono, crying at an intersection.
Tanzan asked, “What is wrong?” The girl explained that she was on her way to a wedding and could not cross the muddy stream without ruining her kimono.
“Come” said Tanzan, reaching out his arms. Lifting her, he carried her across the muddy stream and set her down on the other side. Then, [Read more]
How to debug a disagreement and focus on what matters
May 28, 2008
I was putting my kayak on the car the other day and mosquitoes, now in full season here in northern New England, kept distracting me from my task.
Tighten one strap, slap at the mosquitoes. Start attaching the other strap, slap, slap. They’re large enough here to have landing lights, so ignoring them is out of the question.
I finally stopped what I was doing, walked into the garage, applied bug repellent, then returned to my task. The 30 seconds it took to apply the bug repellent allowed me to focus my attention on the task at hand, and gave me some relief from the infuriating whine in my ears.
Happily paddling across a lake 30 minutes later, I mused about those mosquitoes. [Read more]
The art of doing conflict slowly
May 26, 2008
“Whatever the tasks, do them slowly with ease, in mindfulness. Don’t do any task in order to get it over with.” – Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness
It’s the rare person who’s willing to confront a difficult conversation slowly with ease, in mindfulness. So many I talk to take the latter approach: Get it over with. As quickly as possible.
Slowing down is one of those insider tips that good mediators know. We know to help the conversation slow down at the points most people want to pick up the pace out of discomfort. We know the importance of attending carefully to the parts that feel uncomfortable, because in those parts are the keys to unlocking the conflict. [Read more]
A simple meditation for tense and stressful moments
May 15, 2008
A Unitarian Universalist minister was once my student in a negotiation course. At the end of the course, by way of thanks, he gave me the gift of one of his books, a collection of reflections on life. There’s a gentle calmness about the collection, and one entry in particular that I return to again and again.
In Consider the Lilies Rev. Stephen Shick reflects on a colleague who had a habit of putting the present moment into perspective by comparing it to well-known historical moments. He’d say things like, “We are in the same moment as the Union Army was at Gettysburg right before the reinforcements arrived.”
Stephen turned his friend’s historical predilection into a lovely meditation for tense and stressful moments: [Read more]
What change, rumors, Seinfeld and Shamu have in common
May 11, 2008
Timothy Johnson of Carpe Factum tagged me in his “blogospheric recycling meme,” inviting me to share 5-10 past posts that I think were under-appreciated. I’m picky about the memes I participate in because I like to stay on topic, and Tim’s let’s me do that.
- How Do You Get Someone to Change?
- Persistent Workplace Rumors Defy Conventional Response
- I’m Sorry: The Four Types of Apology
- Negotiation Potholes of the Mind
- Secret to a Happy Marriage: The Shamu Maneuver
- Channeling Elaine: How Seinfeld Helped Me Apologize
- How to Let Go of Unresolved Conflict
I’m tagging Stephen Hopson, Ann Michael, and Alex Blackwell.
Thanks for the opportunity to highlight some of my past work, Tim!
A little gift for the weekend: an origami crane
May 9, 2008
It’s the weekend, it’s spring, and it’s sunny.
What better excuse for giving a little gift that symbolizes peace?
I’m giving a way a single paper origami crane to anyone in the U.S. who’d like one. Want to see what it looks like? Check out this photo of my business card and crane by Becky McCray, whom I was lucky to meet at SOBCon 2008.
Just leave a comment to let me know you’d like one and I’ll follow up by email to get your mailing address. No strings attached. No getting added to a mailing list. Just something I’d like to share.
Happy weekend,
