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Relationship Topics
Dialogue The Key to Family Harmony
Why Dialogue?
The aim of dialogue is to get to know and better understand one another. In fact, it would be a great goal to become fascinated with the most important people in your life, discovering more about their uniqueness and how they differ from you.
Dialogue usually means simply asking the question Why?
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Dialogue usually means simply asking the question Why? over and over again. When you ask a person why, the response usually reveals a bit of new information. Another why question yields even more. When a why question seems hard to think of, then any simple, friendly, nonjudgmental question motivated by curiosity is fine.
Do you see what dialogue is? It is learning about other people so you can understand them and relate to them sensitively and, when needed, be more helpful and understanding.
Dialogue Helps People Understand One Another
Dialogue is not used to change people. However, when people feel listened to and understood, then they are willing to listen to how others see things. This approach will often lead to change. In fact, it is much more effective than arguing or even discussion.
Because dialogue involves no manipulation, especially manipulation by force, people can adopt other peoples way of viewing things or doing things and consider that it was their own choice. People dont like to be told what to think or feel.
So, dialogue:
— Dick Wulf, MSW, LCSW
Dick Wulf is a professional Christian counselor, psychotherapist and clinical social worker with over 37 years of experience. Formerly the program director of the Pikes Peak Mental Health Center in Colorado Springs, Dick is the author of Find Yourself Give Yourself and the Family Conversation Tool Kits.
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