Restorative Practices for Conflict Transformation: What does Restorative Justice have to do with my life?

Susan Raffo says: “There is no essential ‘right way’ to do anything. There is only relationship, connection, being present with what is happening and then, even if that relationship is with disconnection, determining the next step.”

Our relationships are complex and many are with disconnection. Conflict is everywhere. There are conflict zones, government shutdowns, political strife, family tension, work disputes, and traffic jams. How does your jaw feel after reading that sentence? Where are your shoulders? Conflict can feel stressful. How do we learn about and understand conflict? Is conflict bad? How do we determine that next step?

Restorative Justice is a framework for strengthening and healing relationships with self, family, friends, community and society. Restorative practices have to do with the ways we view conflict and how we choose to respond to it. For example, sitting in circles, with no hierarchy, listening deeply to one another and also being deeply listened to…these simple tasks can profoundly change how we experience and move through conflict. Being grounded in our bodies instead of overthinking is a counter-cultural shift for many of us in the US. What are other restorative practices and how are they relevant to our lives? Where do they intersect with our UU values? And how does this help us to get through the day?