In this episode of "All Things Conflict," Maria engages in a profound conversation with Abdul Karim, a multifaceted individual with a rich background in athletics, spirituality, and community leadership. Abdul shares his journey from the Bronx to becoming an imam and the founder of "Cultivate Mercy," a movement aimed at fostering mercy in people's hearts through knowledge, experience, and action. The discussion delves into the importance of self-reflection, the need for mercy in a conflict-ridden world, and the interconnectedness of humanity. Abdul emphasises the significance of being present and truthful with oneself, as well as the role of music in inspiring positive change. This episode invites listeners to explore the concept of mercy and its relevance in our lives and communities, encouraging a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Cultivating Mercy: The movement aims to foster mercy in individuals' hearts through knowledge sharing, experiences, and actions, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection and personal growth.
Self-Reflection: Engaging in self-reflection is essential for understanding one's feelings and experiences. Acknowledging emotions, whether positive or negative, allows for personal growth and deeper connections with others.
Interconnectedness: Recognizing that everyone is interconnected can help reduce conflict within communities. Understanding that individuals bring their unique experiences and perspectives can foster empathy and compassion.
Leadership Redefined: Leadership should not be viewed as a position of power over others but rather as a role that facilitates collaboration and honors the sovereignty of each individual within a community.
Music as a Medium: The use of music, particularly through the albums "Project Inspire" and an AI-generated album, serves as a tool to inspire thought, provoke questions, and promote positive vibes, encouraging listeners to connect with their shared humanity.
BEST MOMENTS
Maria Arpa: "When I heard you say, it's mercy, sort of 360 degrees, but it starts here and the pebble and all the rest of it. If I was being merciful to myself first, in order to be able to understand something that I can model, what would I be telling myself?"
Abdul Karim: "Mercy is because in my experience, that is what life is, and at the same time, it's what we're all missing out on a lot of."
Abdul Karim: "We're all walking around wearing help me signs around our necks in languages we don't understand."
Abdul Karim: "When we think of something, it's a snapshot of something that's fluid in constant flux."
Abdul Karim: "Even though we want to get out of, we don't want to have conflicts, it's going to happen."
SOCIAL LINKS
www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org
www.peacefulsolutions.org.uk
www.workplacehuddle.com
HOST BIO
Maria founded the Centre for Peaceful Solutions in response to the fatal shooting of a 7 year old in her neighbourhood. She developed a model of conflict resolution for violent crime using her brainchild, the Dialogue Road Map (DRM).
Over 30 years she has mediated everything from threat to life gang disputes to high stakes business deals gone wrong, Maria empowers people to resolve conflict without reliance on experts. So she trains violent prisoners to be facilitators, leaders to be effective communicators, teenagers to be peer mediators and neighbours to be tenant listeners within their respective communities.
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/