The Communication of Important Ideas

The Communication of Important Ideas by Harvey Jackins is the "pamphlet of the month" for July and August. I have agreed to monitor the discussion of this important article, which is available as a pamphlet from Rational Island and is in Harvey's book The Human Situation.

What a pleasure it is to read The Communication of Important Ideas again after all these years. It is as important and relevant in 2004 as it was as when Harvey wrote it in 1962 or when I first read it in the early 70s.

In only nine pages Harvey describes the challenge facing humanity in applying "rational methods to ending armed conflict, to the relaxation of international tension, to progressive disarmament, to solving the problems of transition to a peace economy, to meeting the real needs of the world's peoples." And he outlines the solution - the communication of the ideas of Re-evaluation Counseling, one to one by people like us. He reminds us that communication is essentially a personal, individual process - that a person who likes or loves the communicator will best accept new ideas from him or her.

If enough people carry out this process it will provide a massive change of opinion and relationships that will enable humanity to make the transformation to a more rational society. That is the way effective changes of opinion have occurred historically and personal one to one communication will still be necessary for the important ideas of RC to spread throughout the world. The development of mass media does not change this principle.

The challenge, therefore, is to show people that we like them and invite them to like us - and not only people with whom we agree politically, but with all people. And then help them understand Re-evaluation Counseling. Are we shy and embarrassed about doing this? Of course! But Harvey reminds us "we have in hand the tools and techniques for freeing ourselves from fears, embarrassments, shyness, self-consciousness and all similar impediments".

Reading this article rededicated me to freeing myself from any distress that interferes with my communicating my love of others and accepting their love and being able to communicate rational solutions to individual and world problems. I will be attending and leading at an institute for my wide world organization in a few days. I will have a chance to put theory into practice. Reading the article has already influenced what I am going to say in my opening remarks.

I encourage you all to read, discharge on, and discuss this important booklet.

Julian Weissglass
Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Dear Tim and Julian,

Re-reading the pamphlet and the opening to the discussion I thought about writing a response. Then I found myself shaking and feeling a sense of helplessness "not knowing" "not understanding". What a surprise! Now I know why I enjoy the RC Literature - it's a wonderful contradiction to my learning distresses!! to my childhood towards the end of World War 2; to a spell in hospital where they took a book away from me; and so on and so on...

So a big thank you to setting up the "pamphlet of the month" on The Communication of Important Ideas.

Warm wishes and love,
Margaret Barrett
Kent, England