Interpersonal Relationships & Conflict Resolution:
Habitats for Happiness respect the truth of their members and create safe spaces for it to be spoken. They value and support the Language of the Heart, where people take ownership of their own emotions and reactions, speak in “I” statements, and can share honestly and non-judgmentally how they have been inspired, touched, puzzled, hurt, frustrated, or angered as a result of something another has said or done. The Centers encourage people to come from a place of love and care, speak subjectively, and know that with the right presence and the right questions, interpersonal communications can be transformed into rituals of celebration and exploration of our self-hood and calling.
Code of Values & Ground Rules
Each Center decides on its own Code of Values & Ground Rules to govern Interpersonal Relationships. Here is a good starting point:
- Members use the Advice Process prior to doing anything that affects other members of the Center and take those effects into account when making their decisions.
- Members have unlimited power to enter into agreements with each other and shall honor those commitments with integrity. Agreements may define specific consequences of failing to honor the commitments being made.
- Members respect each other’s confidentiality & refrain from gossip or spreading conflict via enlisting support & building rival factions (negative triangulation)
- Be kind, open, and respectful: do not use force, intimidation or belittlement against each other…
The Appreciation System:
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One of the best ways to encourage more of a behavior that you like is to tell the person how much you appreciate it. This type of positive reinforcement creates pleasure and motivation to continue the good juju that you noticed in the person being appreciated. Therefore, DomeGaia Communities embrace a culture of appreciation. At least once a week, reach out and publicly appreciate someone for something via the online social network where everyone can see. Be grateful (great-full). In person, feel free to appreciate each other as often as you like. Look for things you appreciate in people who you are not yet close to. Realize that we are all interconnected and that the #1 law of energy is: the more you give, the more you receive. So appreciate those around you to let them know that their light is seen and they will shine even brighter. As will you…
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Conflict Resolution
Each Center decides on its own Conflict Resolution Process, ideally one that restricts conflict to the conflicting parties and any mediators who assist them so outsiders are not dragged in, because that just enlarges the conflict.
Proactively Identifying & Preventing Conflict:
Centers may choose to engage in an annual ritual wherein they rate the quality of their interaction with other members. The result is a community-wide “heat map” which reveals which members *may* want to (but are not required to) engage in a little assisted relationship improvement
Coaching, Mediation, & Expertise
The talent pool of Habitats for Happiness reaches beyond a single community to embrace all of the Sister Communities. Members can reach out to other Centers using the Communities Intranet to access the expertise found in other Centers in a wide range of skills, including Coaching, Mediation, & so much more. These are available as a Skills Exchange between communities.
