Harmony within Groups or Communities

The alignment between communities or groups can be very challenging work.  It can be complex to bring about alignment.  On the other hand, alignment can be very simple when people remember the interconnectedness they share because of common core values.  We believe alignment is possible between communities when people focus on their shared core values.

Some people believe that there is conflict globally because people have different values.  We believe differently.  A cross-cultural study by Rushworth Kidder of the Institute for Global Ethics states five values that commonly surface across nationalities and religions when people are asked how they can root their decisions in moral values.  They include: honesty, respect, responsibility, fairness and compassion.  In addition, we believe that all people have a desire for happiness and for the experience of living fully. 

In the illustrations of a wheel below, you see the spokes of a wheel and a hub that keeps the spokes united.  We believe the hub of a wheel represents the core values that are shared within a community, and each spoke represents an individual.

A community may be a school, town, church, family, social club or other collection of people.  Within a community, the group will only be as strong as the spokes that come together to support the hub of core values.  Sometime people need to be reminded of the values that bind them together with others.  Sometimes they need to be encouraged to look beyond immediate conflicts or differences, to see the commonalities that are shared with other members of the group.

In addition to the dynamics within a community, every community is connected to other communities.  The recognition of our interconnectedness is the beginning of a new journey towards global harmony. 

To inspire reflection about our interconnectedness, we ask the question, “What is shared among all human beings?”  and "How do we use these commonalities to create common intentions and new partnerships based upon our service to each other?".

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