Nonviolent Communication

I have been asked to teach Nonviolent Communication classes this fall!  I am teaching at the Ahimsa House in Philly on Monday nights, and in Media, Pa on Tuesday nights.

Non-violent communication (NVC), or compassionate communication, is a method used to understand and train ourselves to overcome the conditioning of anger and conflict.  NVC views each of the parties in a dialogue as divine beings worthy of respect.  Through awareness, good tool sets, and practice, we can all communicate more compassionately. 

The four basic steps of the NVC process include 

1. Observation (without Evaluation)
2. Feelings 
3. Needs 
4. Requests

So the idea is in an interaction to understand for either yourself or others, or both, what is being observed, the feeling that it is bringing up in the person, the underlying need that is being expressed, and the request for change. 

For example instead of a mother saying "You're so lazy" (a judgement not an observation), "why don't you ever pick up your socks?!"  she could instead say "When I see your socks on the living room table and sofa (observation), I feel stressed (feeling).  I need an organized home to feel peaceful (need), would you mind putting  your socks in the laundry bin?" (request).

Stop by my classes to learn more!  Email Rahmanheals@gmail.com to find out more and to register.