Nonviolent Communication is one of the most profound tools and perspectives I have come across to support a culture of trust and compassion; a fundamental ingredient for any group of people trying to live, learn, work or collaborate together interdependently. It offers an underlying consciousness which enriches my connection with myself and others and I am passionate about sharing it as a fundamental part of my greater mission to contribute to a global culture of peace and compassion.
Nonviolent Communication is a transformational communication process developed by Marshall Rosenberg. It guides us in expressing ourselves honestly and being able to listen to each other, and ourselves, with deep empathy and compassion.
At its heart it holds an intention to connect so that even in the most challenging conflicts we are able to see the human longings in one another’s behaviour and choices. On the surface it is a very simple 4-part process. In its deepest practice, it offers a radical paradigm shift and a pathway to embodying a life of compassion.
My Journey with Nonviolent Communication
I first came across NVC in 2012 while living in a permaculture community in Australia. While I was inspired by the enthusiasm and motivation of the community to care for the earth and nature, I was also dismayed to witness ongoing and lasting conflicts about how this was to be done. With some despair I wondered: “How can we create an environmentally and socially sustainable future together when we struggle to cooperate with those who hold the same vision?” One day Marshall’s book fell into my hands (and was eagerly devoured) and gave me hope that true collaboration can be possible once we centre our communities and relationships around the joyful fulfillment of universal needs.
Since 2016 I have been a long-term student and regular assistant of Yoram Mosenzon’s Connecting2life courses in The Netherlands and have thrived on deep-diving into learning, embodying and teaching NVC. Since 2018 I have been enjoying sharing NVC through 1-on-1 empathic support sessions, mediation, and workshops and courses.
Connection . Compassion . Community 