12. A Peacebuilder's Life

"Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you and act accordingly." -- Thomas Jefferson

As peacebuilders, the first thing we must realize is that every word we speak and every action we make has the potential to change the direction of a relationship. Every moment is an opportunity to build bonds of peace.

The key to being an effective peacebuilder, is to be able to step back and monitor the things we say and do. With the goal of building bonds as our guide, we can choose words and actions that make our relationships stronger.

Dedication to peacebuilding is only half the battle to being effective peacebuilders. There are tools and skills that we can learn to make it easier to get along. With practice and determination, these skills can become integrated into our lives so that peacebuilding comes more naturally.