More about Hope-Based.Com and their work
Thomas Coombes, as a human rights communicator, believes social change activists should focus more on the solution and the change they want to see, than on the problem and the issues they are against. Through hope-based communications, activists can change their narrative in debates to be more effective in creating an empathic and supportive audience. In this sense, communication can be a way to instil hope instead of fear.
Hope reaches out, fear shrinks back
Thomas Coombes has worked to determine how our emotions drive our politics. It became evident, through psychology and neurosciences, that when we feel fear related to survival mechanisms that make us alert and stressed, a part of our brain and wellbeing is at stake. However, a different part of our brain is activated when we feel empathy and compassion for other human beings.
American philosopher Martha Nussbaum states that hope reaches out and fear shrinks back. People have to feel hope to care, to act and to change their minds - not fear.
It is extremely important, as Thomas argues, to shift the focus from the problem to the solution, from threat to opportunity, from fear to hope. Only then can we have a system of communication based on values instead of issues, so that we can look at people, especially those in vulnerable situations, as heroes instead of victims. This becomes even more important for both individuals and groups like you and us - social movements, organizations, and advocates of refugee and human rights who actively seek to create a conversation for change.
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