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NVC Resources on Compassion

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Giraffe Consciousness

Trainer Tip Try not to become a man of success, but rather, try to become a man of value. —Albert Einstein In Compassionate Communication, we use giraffes as our metaphor because they have the largest heart of all land mammals (40 pounds!). They remind us to connect from the heart. They also have long necks, a metaphor for seeing far down the road. So when we say or do something, it is...
Enriching Life

Trainer Tip What I want in my life is compassion, a flow between myself and others based on a mutual giving from the heart. —Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D. In Compassionate Communication, we believe that enriching life is the most satisfying motivation for our actions. If you are motivated by fear, guilt, blame or shame, your actions will usually be motivated by avoiding pain. The best way to...
Radical Understanding In A Post-Truth World

data to incorporate into our ever-expanding understanding of the world. Taking this relationship to truth into the realm of social change, empathic understanding can be practiced in the form of compassionate non-cooperation with what one believes to be harmful, both on personal and societal levels. I can refuse to cooperate with what I perceive to be unjust and unhealthy, while still staying...
The Powers No One Can Take Away From Us

war, nor climate change. When stories omit a lens that includes impacts of interdependence, oppression, and structural inequities, stories can also keep us disconnected and blocked from compassion for self and others -- and perpetuating an oppressive status quo. However, with this lens we can make greater compassion and collective liberation possible. Even as the outcome is unknown. Read this...
Nonviolent Communication

contrast, Nonviolent Communication teaches us that true safety lies in our ability to openly connect with ourselves and other people, to live authentically and to respond to all situations with compassion and humanity. This process promotes peaceful living on a daily basis. Be aware today of the times that your behaviors or attitudes promote distrust and self-protection, rather than compassion...
Making The Evolutionary Leap

caught in a polarizing story; try shifting focus to observing your mind; somatic presence; underlying commonality; consciousness as universal need, energy, and spaciousness; and the natural compassion and generosity that flow from this. It’s the end of August 2020 in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last week in the U.S. was the online Democratic National Convention, and this week is the...
Setting Intentions with Attention

Kristin Masters explores how to approach goal-setting and self-reflection with compassion and mindfulness grounded in NVC principles. Kristin encourages you to examine how conscious choice plays a role in how we treat ourselves and others. By shifting away from judgment and self-criticism, and instead embracing the NVC practice of meeting our intentions with empathy, we can foster deeper...
The Basics of Life-Serving Boundaries

making conscious choices about how you relate to another or behave in a situation. Such clarity allows you to put your attention and energy where you want it to go. Thus we can have care and compassion without taking responsibility for others, nor feeling guilty when we say “no”. This takes awareness, skills, practice, healing and compassion. Read this practice exercise Keywords: boundaries...
Tips for the Road Series Tip 13

parts, healing wounds, following dreams, finding your purpose, and building inspiring relationships take time and courage. For healing work and growth to be successful and sustainable, self-compassion needs to be your home base. Do not assume that you know everything about yourself or have all of your answers. Stay curious and open to discover more and more about who you are and why you act the...
Using Anger to Serve Life

empathize with a person before he can hear our anger. Consider that all anger is an expression of an unmet need. If we focus on the need, rather than the actions, we are more likely to connect compassionately with other people. For instance, if your son shaves your cat, what do you suppose his unmet need might be? Could it be attention, fun, or adventure? Rather than staying stuck in your...