Further Thoughts on Mediation and the Japanese Art of Kintsugi
{2:00 minutes to read} Recently, I published an article entitled Mediation and the Japanese Art of Kintsugi. In my article I shared a wonderful metaphor of beauty and strength, demonstrated by the “golden” repairs the old Japanese masters made to their bowls and other pottery when these pieces were damaged.
In a comment on my blog, a colleague asked if I was familiar with the song “Japanese Bowl,” written by Peter Mayer.
6 Basic Tips for Handling Conflict
{3:06 minutes to read} While conflict in our lives is inevitable, how we handle it is ultimately our choice. That’s true whether we’re dealing with conflict in our private lives (with our partner, children, other family members, friends) or in our work lives (with our colleagues or other professionals).
Mediation and the Japanese Art of Kintsugi
{2:30 minutes to read} Kintsugi is a centuries-old Japanese master craft for repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with powdered gold. If you’ve ever been to a museum exhibit of old Japanese ceramics, you may have noticed the patterns of gold veins that run through some of the pieces. These pieces had been broken at some point, and the gold clearly shows where the repairs had been made as the master craftsman put the piece back together again.
How Do I Tell My Spouse I Want a Divorce?
{4:24 minutes to read} Not infrequently, when someone first calls me to discuss the possibility of divorce mediation, they will mention that they have not yet brought up the subject with their spouse. The caller (the initiating spouse) typically describes a marriage that has not been good for some time; the marriage no longer works for him or her and it needs to come to an end.
How Is Mediation Different From Therapy?
{3:24 minutes to read} Both mediators and therapists play important roles in helping couples who are experiencing difficulties in their marriage. When couples come to me for divorce mediation, I find that at least half of them have spent time, recently or in the past, working together with a therapist to try to save their marriage. I certainly view this as a positive sign. At least the couple has tried to work through the issues in their marriage, even if it didn’t ultimately work out.
Can a Mediator be Omnipartial?
{1:00 minutes to read} I explained in my last article that I would be reposting two earlier blogs on the subject of mediator impartiality, since this topic is of great interest to clients and professionals alike. The second blog was entitled “Can Mediators be Impartial and Address an Imbalance of Power?”
Mediator Impartiality: Is It Possible?
{3:24 minutes to read} Two of the most frequently read articles I’ve posted on my blog have addressed the subject of mediator impartiality or neutrality. While both articles were published nearly three years ago, this subject is as relevant and important today as it was then. And after re-reading these articles, I don’t think I could say it any better now. So, without further ado, here’s a link to the first article entitled “Can a Mediator Really be Neutral or Impartial”?
What Happens When Only One Person Wants the Divorce?
{Read in 1:10 minutes} A mediation colleague of mine, Rachel Alexander, recently posted an excellent blog explaining why mediation is the best process for divorcing couples, especially when each of the parties is at a different stage of wanting, or not wanting, the divorce.
The Importance of Empathy
{3:54 minutes to read}
In my last blog, entitled Whatever Happened to Civility, I discussed some of the basic tenets that hopefully form the framework of our relationships with others. These include:
- Acknowledging others;
- Listening;
- Respecting others;
- Being inclusive;
- Accepting and giving praise; and
- Speaking kindly.
Whatever Happened to Civility?
{3:06 minutes to read} I’ve been thinking a lot recently about Civility, especially with everything that’s been going on in the U.S. political arena and the stark difference between the two presidential candidates. I suspect that young people today may not even recognize the word or know what being “civil” actually means. It has fallen out of use in today’s world.
