William Poehner's blog

Social change, Critical Consciousness and Nonviolent Communication

About two or three years ago I was the information technology coordinator for Center for Nonviolent Communication. I had the great privilege to sit in on board meetings with one of my hero's, Dr. Marshall Rosenberg. I was able to hear his insights and get a close look at the man. Looking back know, the biggest admiration I have of him was hearing his desire to see Nonviolent Communication taken beyond the realm of personal and interpersonal development. It took me many years to understand this message and see how it fits in the big picture. I often wonder if what Dr. Rosenberg was really desiring was for individuals practicing and teaching Nonviolent Communication to have a deep knowledge of critical consciousness.

Expressing and the Human Experience

This is probably the most common image I use when sharing Nonviolent Communication. It helps me demonstrate a few core principles and key distinctions. I also share a personal theory on relativism and the human experience. In short, we suffer less if we know that what we experience is merely our experience rather than a perception of absolute truth. In other words i have access to my observations, feelings, needs and thinking. I don't necessarily have access to the whole picture but to the part of the picture that I experience. It seems to me that when people express with this kind of mindfulness there tends to be less suffering.

The Medicine Wheel

I'm the guy in the blue sweatshirt on the right. Picture was taken at a Play in the Wild Trek

The Comienzos program is an ever growing and evolving program that serves men and woman incarcerated at the Bernalillo Metropolitan Detention Center. One of the core principle of the Comienzos Programing is grounded in ancient indigenous tradition of the Hopi Medicine Wheel.

The Medicine Wheel dates back 4,500 years. Many of the North American indigenous populations use this wheel for various rituals, healing, and teaching purposes. I respectfully uses this symbol as a teaching tool that honors the four bodies of a human. We are Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and Physical beings and exercising practices in each of these areas are crucial part of our well being.

Finally here... no time to rest.

I've been working nonstop for the last week attempting to tie up any loose ends, and there appears to be loose ends underneath loose ends. So I'm back working the list, striving to say afloat and yet swimming peacefully. 
Tired and yet joyful,
William

ps. my machine seems to be running slow... errr.

The Center for Nonviolent Communication
5600 San Francisco Rd. NE Suite A
Albuquerque, NM 87109 USA
Tel: +1.505.244.4041 | Fax: +1.505.247.0414 | US Only: 800 255 7696

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