This document discusses Nonviolent Communication (NVC), an approach to communication founded on connecting with others through compassion. NVC aims to foster understanding and empathy through carefully observing one's own needs and feelings, as well as those of others, without judgment. The four components of NVC are observation, feeling, needs, and requests. When used, NVC can help individuals give from the heart and enhance relationships on personal and larger scales.
1. Giving from the Heart: The heart
of Nonviolent Communication
“What I want in life is
compassion, a flow
between myself and others
based on a mutual giving
from the heart.”
- Marshall Rosenberg
2. What empowers us to stay
connected to our compassionate
nature even under the worst
circumstances?
3. “ I am not easily frightened. Not because I am
brave but because I know that I am dealing with
human beings, and that I must try as hard as I can
to understand everything that anyone ever does.
And that was the real import this morning: not that
a disgruntled young gestapo officer yelled at me,
but that I felt no indignation, rather than a real
compassion, and would have liked to ask, ‘Did
you have a very unhappy childhood, has your
girlfriend let you down?’ Yes, he looked harassed
and driven, sullen and weak. I should have liked to
start treating him there and then, for I know that
pitiful young man like that are dangerous as soon
as they let loose on mankind.”
- Etty Hellisum: A Diary
4. Approach to communicating-
speaking and listening
Leadsus to give from the heart,
connecting us with ourselves and with
each other in a way that allows our
natural compassion to flourish. This
approach is called Nonviolent
Communication.
5. Refer to our natural state of compassion
when violence has subsided from the
heart.
Known as Compassionate
Communication.
NVC (Nonviolent or Compassionate
Communication).
6. NVC
Founded on language and communication skills that stre
The intent is to remind us what we already know.
Guides us in reframing how we express ourselves and he
Trains us to observe carefully, and to be able to specify b
7. Replaces our old patterns of defending,
withdrawing, or attacking in the face of
judgement and criticism, we come to
perceive ourselves and others, as well as our
intentions and relationships, in a new light.
Fostersrespect, attentiveness, and empathy,
and engenders a mutual desire to give from
the heart.
Itis an ongoing
reminder to keep our attention focused on a place w
8. Thequality of compassion, which was
referred to as “giving from the heart,” is
expressed in the following lyrics by Ruth
Bebermeyer’s Given to.
9. Benefits of Giving from the
Heart.
Thereceiver enjoys the gift without
worrying about the consequences that
accompany the gifts.
Thegiver enhanced self-esteem that
results when we see our efforts
contributing to someone’s well-being.
10. Theuse of NVC does not require that the
persons with whom we are
communicating be literate in NVC or
even motivated to relate to us
compassionately.
11. The NVC Process
The four components of NVC:
Observation
Feeling
Needs
Request
12. Two parts of NVC
Express
ourselves through the four
components.
Empathically
receive these four
components from others.
*The essence of NVC is to be found in our
consciousness of these four components,
not in the actual words that are exchanged.
13. Applying NVC In Our Lives and World
When we use NVC in our interactions, we
become grounded in our natural state of
compassion. It is therefore an approach
that can be effectively applied at all
levels of communication and in diverse
situation:
Intimate relationship
Families
Schools
Organization and institution
Therapy and Counselling