It's about to Explode. What Now?
How can I have conversations with students about explosive topics?
There is no shortage of hot-topic issues today that are important to youth. These issues can cause significant tension in relationships, like ticking time bombs. They can blow up in your face and cause permanent damage to your relationships with youth. What can you do to start defusing the bombs?
Put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience just like Colossians 3:12 says.
Here are 5 tips:
1. PREPARE
Remember that it’s the work of the Spirit to change hearts, and you are not the Holy Spirit.
Ask the Holy Spirit for his guidance and rest in the truth that he is already at work.
Get ready to authentically listen and care
2. DON'T TRY TO "WIN"
Having a conversation to hear and understand another person’s viewpoint can preserve a relationship.
It generally takes more than one conversation for a person’s beliefs and assumptions to change.
Trying to win can quickly and easily destroy opportunities for further conversation.
3. BE GENUINELY INTERESTED
Ask open-ended questions and listen to show that you care and want to understand.
There may be deeply emotional stories behind why they believe what they do, and you may be challenged in healthy ways.
4. TALK LESS. LISTEN MORE.
It takes courage for people to share personal thoughts and beliefs.
Listening cultivates feelings of safety in others more naturally than talking and helps others to let their walls come down.
Lecturing or doing most of the talking is a good way to cause someone to get defensive, shut down, or disengage.
5. STAY HUMBLE
You don’t know everything, and humbly admitting when you don’t know can strengthen credibility.
Recognize that we can learn something from everyone.
If someone perceives little humility in you there may be no path to peace.
Even if you still disagree with their view on a topic, humility can preserve relationships where pride would destroy them.
What are your thoughts?
We want you to win,
The YouthHOPE Team