20 January 2007

Start the year with Nonviolent Communication

Do you long for more harmonious relations with the people around you but are unsure how to achieve this? Do your attempts at asking other people for what you need from them often lead to an unsatisfying or hostile response? If this is the case then learning about Nonviolent (or Compassionate) Communication might be something to consider adding to your list of resolutions for 2007.

Several months ago a friend introduced me to the concept of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), a way for people to relate to each other with compassion. More than just a process of communication, it allows a person to express herself/himself assertively, with clarity and honesty, while being respectful of others' feelings and needs. By applying NVC you will improve your speech patterns and be able to better satisfy your own needs, by making requests of others in an undemanding and non-confrontational manner. Even if the other person with whom you are conversing is unfamiliar with the concepts of NVC or has little desire to respond compassionately, he or she will notice your compassionate approach and may gradually begin to communicate in the same fashion.

This very brief introduction does not begin to provide an adequate explanation of Nonviolent Communication and how to practice it. To gain a better understanding of its concepts and their transformative power please see the Center for Nonviolent Communication or the BC Network for Compassionate Communication web sites.