Eric Bowers

Language of Report: 
English
Year of Report: 
2009
Share My Report With: 
General Public
A. Approximately how many training days did you have this year?: 
15
B. Briefly list the groups and organizations you worked with this year as a trainer.: 

Phoenix Transition House, Haida Gwaii Society for Community Peace, KTUNAXA Child Protection,Public Workshop through Selkirk College, Public workshop through College of the Rockies, Public Workshop Through Community Services Agencies

C. Approximately how many people did you offer NVC training to this year?: 
200
D. What are you celebrating about your training experiences this year? What was significant for you? What touched your heart?: 

I'm celebrating that I reached people in small and remote communities throughout British Columbia who might otherwise have a challenge getting NVC training due to travel expenses. I traveled for two and a half months sharing NVC around British Columbia, with a short jaunt into Jasper AB. This trip allowed me to combine two dreams: seeing more of BC and sharing more of NVC. I was touched by the support I received from all those who made the trip possible, including the workshop organizers and the participants who took time out of their precious summer to be indoors exploring NVC with me.

E. Would you share some difficult experiences you had while training this year and how you handled them?: 

I found it difficult to do some of my professional development trainings because some people attending were there more because it was part of their work than because of inspiration to learn and explore NVC. I tried to make the workshops as fun and engaging as possible. What I plan to do more of in the future is to talk about how important full choice is, to empathize with participants around the limitations of their choice to be at my training, i.e. the impact on their jobs and working relationships if they chose not to attend a training they were expected to be at.

F. How do you teach the spiritual basis of Nonviolent Communication in your workshops and training programs? : 

I often emphasize that, for me, NVC is more about compassionate, joyful, meaningful connection than it is about a particular way of speaking. It is about creating connections where life or love energy can flow between people because there is such deep understanding and care, which often happens from the oneness/connection we experience when we put our attention on and give space for everyone's needs without attachment to outcomes.

G. Please describe your social change goals...: 

I am currently learning and beginning to share with others Restorative Circles. My goal is to support groups of all kinds--families, schools, workplaces, institutions of all kinds--to implement restorative systems for responding to conflict, systems that restore connection and support shared power.

H. Please describe your efforts to create, or join, an NVC circle or organization.: 

I am making efforts to be more involved with the British Columbia Network for Compassionate Communication (BCNCC) through joint ventures in sharing NVC. I am also a part of a circle in WA working towards supporting restorative systems to be created in all walks of life.

I. Summarize participants’ evaluations, and how their feedback resulted in new learning or growth for you this past year.: 

The feedback I received included lots of gratitude for my authenticity and for my honesty about my own challenges with living in line with my own values. There was appreciation for practice, stories, songs, and engaging activities. There were often requests for more time to practice--longer trainings--, more clarity on how to do particular exercises, and more movement. My main growth involved being more and more open and authentic, singing more of my songs, asking for reflection of instructions more often to ensure clarity, bringing in more movement and games and balancing or coordinating that with non-movement parts. I celebrate that I receive more and more feedback appreciating the balance and flow of my workshops.

J. What are your current growing edges or challenges as a trainer that you will be working on in the future?: 

Creating new trainings that are more and more meaningful and inspiring for me is a challenge for me. I am working with an edge of believing in myself and doubting myself as I envision and begin to create trainings that are deeper expressions of who I am and what I'm inspired about. I celebrate that I just offered my first "Needs Revival" workshop, which is an example of a deeper expression of me and some of my inspiration.

K. If you found opportunities to work with other trainers this year, please share the most meaningful experiences for you.: 

I discovered that I'm longing to work more with other trainers.

L. Is there anything else you would enjoy sharing with the CNVC network?: 

Thank you CNVC for your continuing efforts to support me and all NVC trainers.

Posted Thu, 2010-12-16 14:09 by Eric Bowers

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