If you know about compassionate communication, you’re likely familiar with the ways that being mindful of each other, asking questions, and actively searching for ways to implement authentic connections can improve your life. Perhaps you celebrate the differences that using empathy and compassion has made in your experiences… so, what’s the difference between the two? … Continue reading Empathy and Compassion: History & Research [p. 1]

In this exercise, you’ll reflect on people to whom you relate specific emotional responses, in order to work on applying open-heartedness across embodied emotional spectrums to see how doing so changes your actions, words, and intentions. Take a moment and reflect on when you were feeling angry towards someone or disconnected. How did that impact, … Continue reading Exercise: Empathic Reflections on Emotions

When I was new to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and first experienced empathy, I was awed. How could someone understand so deeply what I was experiencing? Empathy was so simple and powerful it seemed like magic — or at least telepathy. However, because it seemed magical, that meant it was beyond my comprehension. I recall thinking … Continue reading Empathy Guessing Demystified

PART TWO Now you will have an opportunity to understand the other person more deeply. For this part of the exercise, we’re guessing or imagining what was going on for the other person—we don’t know for sure their feelings or needs (unless we check directly with them). 1) Go back to the words you wrote … Continue reading Exercise: Communication Transformer Part 2

HOW TO PLAY THE COMMUNICATION TRANSFORMER PART ONE 1)    Write down some words that you did not enjoy hearing. These can be words someone said directly to you or that you overheard another person saying to someone else. Regardless, make sure it’s a direct quotation (rather than your summary or interpretation of the words).  For … Continue reading Exercise: The Communication Transformer Part 1

By Gary Baran & CNVC (1)          Spend some time each day quietly reflecting on how you would like to relate to yourself and others. (2)          Remember that all human beings have the same needs. (3)          Check your intention to see if you are as interested in others getting their needs met as your own. (4)          … Continue reading 10 Things You Can Do To Contribute To Internal, Interpersonal, & Organizational Peace

Hear what four of the 2012 Women's Retreat facilitators will be sharing about! Dian Killian: Simone Anliker: Kristin Masters: Phoenix Soleil:  

Learning NVC brings us to a place where in every single conversation, we hold capacity for needs to be realized and met. With a recent coaching client, Dian heard her while she talked about an upcoming project at work and everything she “should” do to get it done. Coaching her in self-empathy led to the … Continue reading Exercise: Creating a Partnership Paradigm

“Something with depth happens when we come together in community. It’s not just cognitive learning – it’s the impact of receiving empathy, living among people who share your values, and having the direct transmission of compassion.” Are you interested in finding that depth and experiencing the impact of positive change? Below are two Certified Trainers … Continue reading Peaceful, Powerful Change Happens In Person

How can empathy assist you at work? Recently, we held a workshop about managing change at work — a place where decisions and hearing others and being heard can feel loaded with additional pressure, making connecting to our source needs and feelings more of a challenge. Led by Marie Miyashiro, a change management and organization development … Continue reading Empathy & Decision-Making in Organizations