Nonviolent Communication - A Language of Life

 

Nonviolent Communication - or Empathic or Compassionate Communication, as it is also called - has been developed by the US-american psychologist Marshall B. Rosenberg.

It is a most effective way to connect with oneself and others even in conflict and to access a wider potential of solutions.

The connection with one's own feelings and needs and the openess to the feelings and needs of others enables everyone involved to be more authentic and gain more freedom. Connecting in their common humanity gives rise to understanding, empathy and the willingness to negotiate new creative ways that meet everybodys needs.

The purpose of Nonviolent Communication is to support an empathic presence that enables us:

 

  • To get into contact with ourself and others and to stay connected;
  • To transform conflict into peaceful exchange;
  • To move from judgements to understanding of myself and others;
  • To be more compassionate with one's own inner contradictions;
  • To communicate more authentically and empathically and gain more freedom of perspective and action;
  • To raise an awareness of the whole, e.g. for understanding that the aliveness of personal connection might be more valuable on the long run than getting the maximum out of the present situation. 

 

Nonviolent Communication can be applied in all areas of life, from private to organisations, social service and business. It is most helpful in those areas, where we would so much like to be empathic but often have the hardest time with it: in dealing with ourselves, in our relationships, in our families as well as in the workplace.