The structure of conversation shapes our consciousness into different “worlds” or realities. One world is that of connection, care, wellbeing and cooperation. Another world is that of disconnection, separation, suffering, violence and domination. There is an empathic structure of conversation that leads to connection, and also gives the ability to transform the world of fear, hate, and violence.

In a famous speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1962, he pointed to the moon and said we’ll be landing there by the end of the decade. Seemingly impossible, breathtakingly bold and electrifying, Kennedy declared this vision as if it was already a reality, and then was fully committed to making it happen. Similarly, I hold the seemingly impossible vision of a critical mass of people in the world this decade having empathic conversations on the social-political-environmental issues and challenges we face.

I believe a critical mass of people using empathic structure in difficult and healing conversations across our personal, social and political divides is essential for humanity to be able to work together to respond to the many enormous and daunting social-environmental challenges before us. I see this as integral to the health and wellness movement and to creating a healthy and sustainable world for all people and all life on our planet.

The mission of this project is to spread the idea of empathic structure in conversation and that we can use it to heal our social divides and work together to respond to the challenges we face.

I call these “3Chairs Conversations” because I see empathic conversation embodying the “duality” of opposing and conflicting perspectives (two chairs) held by a larger capacity of consciousness to experience a “nondual” unifying awareness and language (third chair) that leads to new emergent possibilities. My hope is that you will be inspired to have these conversations, and that you will inspire others.