On “Being Right”

March 20, 2026 Center for Compassionate Living

Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash

This post is part of our weekly series of peacemaking practices during the Season of Nonviolence.

One challenging invitation to accept in peacemaking is to let go of being right. It’s complicated but being right is a strategy we use to feel seen and valued, which can translate into feeling safe. We use it to feel safe with experiences that oppose our beliefs about how things should be. As a safety strategy, it’s difficult to let go of.

In our culture it’s not uncommon to judge others when they act differently than they’re “supposed to.” …

Listening without Joining the Judgment

March 13, 2026 Center for Compassionate Living

Photo by Metin Ozer on Unsplash

This post is part of our weekly series of peacemaking practices during the Season of Nonviolence.

In Compassionate (Nonviolent) Communication, judgments are expressions of needs or values; however, they include a right/wrong, good/bad element that separates us from the humanity of the situation. Since all actions are efforts to meet universal human needs or values, judgments can separate us from that perspective and cut us off from our compassion. How can we acknowledge someone’s experience without reinforcing the judgment? …

Creating Your Own Season of Nonviolence

March 1, 2026 Denise Torres

I would like to share a poem with you. It’s called “Peace is This Moment Without Judgment,” by Dorothy Hunt.

Do you think peace requires an end to war?
Or tigers eating only vegetables?
Does peace require an absence from
your boss, your spouse, yourself? …