Non-Violent Communication - Marshall B. Rosenberg & Deepak Chopra

What is Violent Communication?

If "violent" means acting in ways that result in hurt or harm, then much of how we communicate--judging others, bullying, having racial bias, blaming, finger pointing, discriminating, speaking without listening, criticizing others or ourselves, name-calling, reacting when angry, using political rhetoric, being defensive or judging who's "good/bad" or what's "right/wrong" with people - could indeed be called "violent communication"

What is Nonviolent Communication?

Nonviolent Communication is the integration of 4 things:

• Consciousness: a set of principles that support living a life of empathy, care, courage, and authenticity
• Language: understanding how words contribute to connection or distance
• Communication: knowing how to ask for what we want, how to hear others even in disagreement, and how to move toward solutions that work for all
• Means of influence: sharing "power with others" rather than using power over others

Nonviolent Communication serves our desire to do three things:

• Increase our ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection
• Connect empathically with self and others to have more satisfying relationships
• Sharing of resources so everyone is able to benefit