A brain based plan for peace might draw on a few tactics from Henry
Kissinger, Condoleezza Rice, Martin Luther King, Madeleine Albright and others who found themselves dragged into war of one kind or another and who desperately looked for ways to create peace. But for the most part... it draws on how your brain and mine can be conditioned LITERALLY for peace. The human brain is wired for peace when we go after a plan ... based on how the human brain works. Our brains are designed to take us past perceptual blocks that lead to war. So what would a brain-based-peace-plan look like?
1. Start with the words “What if…” and stay with those two words until you find the ending that brings peaceful benefits to opposite sides of the battle. Human brains can adapt to change and peace! The brain is wired to go after a challenge and it has tools such as brainstorming… listening… admitting mistakes … trying other people’s ideas… and evaluating progress that will take you to winning solutions with more accuracy that any gun takes out a problem.
2. Show vulnerability to beliefs on both sides. When we act vulnerably and compassionately… the brain releases serotonin … a chemical that increases solutions, cooperation and well being when we respect others with look for the solutions together with them… beyond problems they bring to wage war, often from frustration of poor treatment. 
3. Avoid flame war statements which create cortisol and stress chemicals in people’s brain… especially who hold opposite views. Step back from others’ angry words and look for the reason for their anger … rather than react with the same and increase the rage. Cortisol causes people to lash out… strike back… and get revenge…. Spark too much of this chemical and war becomes inevitable.
4. Refine your tone... and learn from other cultures so that the brain expands to see new solutions for opposing views. With peace in mind … apply that knowledge to create relationships that will promote more global interests. See others as people “just like you …” and respect their wide mix of intelligences. Use their best ideas to prosper the peace plan you have begun.
5. Develop peace teams with the brain in mind. Don't blame the “bad guy” but instead look at your resources to learn something new from each side and to resolve what people want as a means to revive the chances for peace among different people. Teach leaderships tactics for higher interpersonal intelligence and ask two-footed questions rather than give answers.
6. Practice peace and live smart security practices in your own circles… so that others who face an overwhelming dilemma see how it is lived successful in your life. Rather than battling against cells of well-trained militias energized by anger and rage… put war money into peace plans that teach innovative ways to succeed … based more on how the human brain rewires for genuine peace… than on the fast shot to victory that underlies wars.
7. Turn from war traditions and recreate freedom that starts with regional peace … and then spread through nations. War rewired our brains in scary ways because of traditions we created. Talk freedom as it connects to peace and explore the new neuron pathways in your mind to make it happen. Every time you read a war plan in your history text – you built more neuron pathways to war as a solution. That is how the brain operates. It’s time to create great plans for peace – plans we can begin to apply to our lives first and then share with others who will line up to stop the violence that kills their families and friends.
8. Encourage those who pray to pray more for peace that can take us into a new pattern of bringing war torn humanity back to a peaceful place where it can prosper. To prepare for peace is to rewire your own brain for more well being. Now there’s a start…. What do you think?
Not only might these strategies bring peace to the world, but I sense they would certaily bring peace in our homes as well!
Posted by: Robyn McMaster | July 23, 2006 8:29 PM | Permalink to Comment