Embracing Our Common Humanity

Micro and Macro Conversations

As we process and react to unthinkable world events that continue to unfold, a call to “not lose our humanity” stays with me.

The words were from Hitendra Wadhwa, a thought leader who focuses on the intersection of leadership and spirituality. (An introduction to the depth and breadth of his work can be found here.)

Exploring how to respond after being seriously wronged, he said there is not a single fixed “outer path” that is always right, but there is one right “inner path.” He further explained,

“That path, I offer, is to keep your heart pure, preserve your sense of humanity, and never lose your compassion.”

He was writing about Israel and Hamas events, but the same holds true for our personal world and interactions. This is where I believe intentionally honoring conversations comes into play.

Humanizing Each Other

We have become a polarized nation, and I doubt that is uniquely American. When discourse is reduced to binaries of yes/no, right/wrong, red/blue, and so on, nuance and curiosity are lost.

Without nuance, meaning cannot be fully understood. Without curiosity, we cannot expand our worldview. Conversation becomes contentious. Embracing our common humanity becomes nearly impossible.

How can that shift?

I am reminded of the Zulu greeting Sawubona, “We see you” — and its response, Yebo, Sawubona, “We are seen.” “We” refers to each of us in our totality — our experiences, ancestors, spiritual self.

We, in our full complexity, see you, in your full complexity — each of us richly unique and multi-faceted.

Shared humanity is acknowledged in the greeting which is also a starting point to a conversation — one that is intentionally honoring. It is a way forward through difficult experiences and interactions. It opens a door to understanding.

“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” — Desmond Tutu

Moving Forward

At the end of Being Seen — Sawubona, I wrote, “We see you. Who is the you who sees me?” Can we now expand this to include communities of our fellow humans?

If we shift our view from the macro to the micro — beyond countries and borders, beyond ideologies, to individuals with whom we share a common humanity — the “we” emerges. With an open heart, compassion follows.

Ripples appear, positivity spreads, and we start to find inner peace. And in that moment, our world begins to change.

The Random Conversations blog intends to inspire deep, meaningful, glorious conversation — delicious conversations. Interested in reading more? cathyjoseph.co