Why The True Peacemakers Usually Fail

Have you ever looked at a situation and asked...

Why can't we all just get along?

Wouldn't it be easier...

If we all just worked together?

If they would just listen...

We could have peace.

I know that I have been in this situation myself...

I have sat with clients in this situation...

And I have looked out at the different events in the world and thought about it.

There are people who seek to be peacemakers in the world.

But the reality...

Is that most peacemakers fail to create the peace...

And it can feel really frustrating.

I get it.

But there is a reason that true peacemakers usually fail...

And it is twofold.

The first...

Is that they have an idealistic picture of the world.

If everything worked "just" right...

We could have peace.

But that simply is not how reality works...

Much to the dismay of every peacemaker out there.

Things go wrong.

Misunderstandings happen.

Situations never pan out perfectly.

The second, however, is the larger problem...

Most people simply do not want to listen.

This is where things become frustrating for many peacemakers...

They believe that "if" the other party would listen...

Peace could be obtained.

But the reality is that if the other party does not "want" to listen...

Has no intention of being dissuaded from their pursuits...

Or has had such bad experiences in the past that they have turned their eyes and ears away...

No conversation can be had.

It does not matter whether you "could" convince them of peace "if" they listened...

Because they will "not" listen.

You will not be given an opportunity.

They, sadly, already have their hearts and minds set.

Which is perhaps what makes the reality of our world so sad today.

So many people...

Are not listening...

And they have no intention to listen.

Peace can only happen when there is understanding and conversation...

But many people seek neither of these.

They already believe they understand...

Whether true or not...

And they are not open to having any sort of conversation.

There is what they want...

Right or wrong...

And that is all.

What can you do in the face of this?

Well...

It puts us into a situation of asking what type of peace we want...

Because there are different types of "peace"...

But none of them is an "ideal" peace.

Usually it ends one of three ways...

One side gets what they want at the dismay of the other...

The other side gets what they want at the dismay of the former...

Or neither side gets what they want, and both are dismayed.

What can make this so difficult...

Is that often what people want...

Is not what they need.

So, when either side gets what they want...

They often are unhappy...

Then believe that the solution is to get more...

And when one side fails to get what they want...

They blame the other side for the lack that they feel...

Even if gaining what they want will never provide them with what they need.

This becomes the ultimate tragedy...

When no one is listening...

And the peacemakers are unable to do anything because of it...

The ultimate result is that no one wins.

Not really.

This becomes the ultimate dilemma of the peacemaker.

In a world that is not ideal...

And will never become ideal...

Amidst the majority of people who refuse to listen to anything other than what they want...

Where will the peacemaker plant themself?

Will they try to stop the fighting?

Or simply sit it out?

Will they lean toward a side at the expense of the other?

Especially if they believe that one side has a better perspective?

Or will they attempt to get the sides to meet in the middle...

Making no one happy?

For all the effort that they put into creating peace...

Will they be appreciated?

If not...

How much of themselves should they put into a cause that will largely forget or despise their efforts?

Where does one draw the line between their own peace...

And a greater peace?

There are not necessarily right or wrong answers here...

Especially because this is high-level theory in what always ends up being an extremely complex ethical dilemma...

But it is how the peacemakers will always be challenged in the real world.

---

Are You Ready to Go Beyond Leadership?

Tired of Broken Algorithms and AI Slop?

Excited to Dive Deeper into Psychophysiological Mastery?

Want to Change The World?

The Seeking Sageship Newsletter is for You!

Click Here to Subscribe for Free!