Weblogs

I feel so excited I can barely sit....and that is actually all I've been doing at my computer the last fours...letting people know it is time to vote.  I simply feel electric for this possibity...when read and reread teh proposal we wrote tears come and I have to give myself a breath or two to center to the task at hand...I am so deeply connected to hope, inspiration....and community...I just want to say that working with this team has lit a new hopeful fire for social change and the work NVC cann offer....Deep bow of gratitude to Sylvia, Miki, Jori, Kathleen, Inbal, and the others behind teh scene...what joy to work together!

In the spirit of the season, I have been hearing a few people talk about making New Year's resolutions.

I reflected on common resolutions that people make -- to lose weight, stop smoking, be nicer to their spouse/partner, or whip themselves into shape in some fashion.

It seems like about 95% or more of the time, people are not successful at keeping their resolution. This reminds me of when I worked as a Nutritional Counselor for 5 years, and found that people's success rate at implementing my nutritional advice was very low, maybe 25% at best.

Henry, a friend of mine in St. Louis, recently posed a question to me about NVC in an email exchange we were having.

I am inspired to share it in my blog, in the hopes that it will stimulate you in some positive way. As always, I welcome feedback about my musings.

> HENRY: Question: in your judgment, is a stereotypical, sociopolitically conservative worldview compatible with NVC?

JEFF: I like this question -- it challenges me and stimulates me to grow and explore this question myself.

Over the past several years, one way I can describe my development as a human being is that I am releasing "either/or" thinking and embracing a "both/and" orientation.

This is so liberating!

For me, either/or thinking serves to constrict and limit me, boxing me into the corner of seemingly choosing between two things. In essence, different parts of me become "winners" and "losers," just like what happens between people with either/or thinking.

We are requesting support for a proposal to begin a movement to increase the empathic ability of those who serve in our government. Literally 4 minutes of your time with only 5 steps to bring an idea before the Obama team that could effect the kind of change we are all hoping to see!

Hi All,
We're excited to be off to India tomorrow morning. Christa is with me for the first month, then I stay on for another two, taking in Sri Lanka. Here's our schedule:

• Dec 12 - 28, trainings at Bhaja retreat centre, near Pune, India
• Jan 7 - 21, trainings at NVC Camp, Auroville, Pondicherry, India
• Jan 22 - Feb 9, trainings in Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Feb 9 - Feb 21, Solitary retreat, Sri Lanka
• Feb 22 - March 1, Western Buddhist Order / TBM Order Convention, Bodhgaya, India

For more information about any of the trainings, click here

And we've confirmed some dates in the US and the UK for when I get back. Here they are:

• March 21-22: Indianapolis, USA: ‘Deepening + Anger’ more info
• March 27 -28: Newmarket, NH, USA: Basic Training more info
• April 4-5: Portsmouth, NH, USA: Deepening + Anger more info

• April 25-26: Birmingham, UK: Foundation Training more info
• May 1: Stourbridge, UK: Evening Introduction more info
• May 2-3: Stourbridge, UK: Foundation Training more info
• May 16-17: Bristol, UK: Foundation Training for Parents more info
• June 20-21: Birmingham, UK: Deepening + Conflict more info
• June 27-28: Bristol, UK: Deepening + Empathy for Parents more info
• July 11-12: Stourbridge, UK: Deepening + Empathy more info

Hi there,

Recently I read something inspiring on empathy on the CNVC trainers' email list. It was a passage from Barack Obama's 'The Audacity of Hope' on the importance and nature of empathy. Gratitude to Alex Censor for posting it there.

There was also a link to a compilation of text and video clips of Obama speaking on the critical role of empathy in personal and international relations:

http://progressivespirit.com/empathy

I find it heartening that someone could get this clear on empathy and its importance, and apparently, is trying to 'walk the talk'.

The extract on empathy from 'The Audacity to Hope' follows.

Love and life, Shantigarbha

I just finished a memo to the Training Team asking for some copy to put on a new page that will go on our Learn NVC section introducing CNVC Certified Trainers in which I wrote up some of my thoughts about the purpose and function of our web site that I want to share with you.

It is about creating Concentric Circles of Connection. Robert Gonzalez who is the President of our Board of Directors used that phrase to describe his vision of CNVC at the in person Board of Directors meeting in New Mexico last week.

It is an image I like very much. The way i see Concentric Circles of Connection overcomes mankind's historical inability to express belonging without expressing who does not belong.

This requires one circle of belonging that includes everyone.