Inner Work/Spirituality of NVC

Die Trauer feiern

Jede freiwillige oder erzwungene Veränderung in unserem Leben hat ein Loslassen von etwas Gewohntem oder Liebgewordenem oder zur Folge. „Kleinere“ Veränderungen wie ein Jobwechsel oder ein Umzug genauso wie existenzielle Ereignisse wie die Trennung von der/m Partner/i oder Tod eines nahen Menschen.

Häufig haben Menschen Angst, von der Trauer überwältigt oder von anderen dafür bewertet zu werden, sie begegnen Unverständnis, verstecken ihre Trauer oder schneiden sich von den Gefühlen ab. Dabei ist Trauern ein lebensnotwendiger Prozess. Die Gewaltfreie Kommunikation kann uns helfen, durch den Schmerz der Trauer wieder den Kontakt mit der Schönheit und Energie des Lebens und den eigenen Bedürfnisse dahinter zu finden – dann werden Trauern und Feiern eins.
Loslassen geschieht durch empathisches Trauern

In diesen Tagen werden wir das „Herz“ der Gewaltfreien Kommunikation – die Verbindung von Gefühlen mit Bedürfnissen – praktisch erlebbar anhand des Themas „Trauern und Loslassen“ vertiefen. Wir werden gemeinsam anhand unserer eigenen Lebensgeschichte mit persönlichen Ereignissen arbeiten, in denen wir mir der Trauer „festsitzen“ oder die vielleicht noch gar nicht betrauert wurden.
Die Schönheit hinter dem Betrauerten finden

In einem sicheren und liebevollen Rahmen werden wir uns gegenseitig wieder in Kontakt mit dem Leben hinter dem Verlust und der Trauer bringen. So wirst du lernen, wieder „natürlich“ zu trauern, ohne Angst oder Scham, und andere Menschen bei diesem Prozess empathisch zu unterstützen.

Von Innen nach Außen

Die Gewaltfreie Kommunikation steht für die Vision, eine Welt zu schaffen, in der die Bedürfnisse aller Menschen zählen. Selbstbewusst die eigenen Bedürfnisse leben und mit anderen mitfühlend verbunden bleiben – klingt einfach und ist doch manchmal nicht leicht.

Die „Welt zu verändern“ kann nur bei uns selbst beginnen. Die Gewaltfreie Kommunikation regt an, bewusst hinzusehen, wo wir mit uns selbst gewalttätig, abwertend oder verletzend umgehen – und bietet eine einfache und doch kraftvolle Methode diese Denk- und Verhaltensmuster liebevoll akzeptierend zu verändern – was nur ein scheinbarer Widerspruch ist.
Sei Du selbst

Der Schwerpunkt der Vertiefungstage liegt auf der Bewusstmachung und Lösung deiner behindernden Muster und Glaubenssätze, um in deinem Leben freier und authentischer zu werden. Du wirst ein einer sicheren, liebevollen und doch herausfordernden Umgebung „alte Themen“, Verletzungen, wiederkehrende Konflikte und unvollendete Trauer klären können – um so wieder in Kontakt mit der kraftvollen Energie deiner Bedürfnisse kommen, die hinter all dem verborgen liegt – um so die/der zu werden, die/der du bist...
Von den Gefühlen zu den Bedürfnissen

Du wirst wesentliche Prozesse der Gewaltfreien Kommunikation kennen lernen und vertiefen, die es dir ermöglichen auch im Alltag schneller und klarer die lebensdienlichen Bedürfnisse hinter deinen Gefühlen zu entdecken – und diese immer mutiger und selbstverständlicher zu leben!

INTRODUCTORY TRAINING: "Introduction to Compassionate Nonviolent Communication (NVC): The Language of the Heart"

DATE: Friday, February 13, 2009 (6:30 pm – 9:30 pm)

PARTICIPANTS: Open to all learning levels. Designed for people with noprior experience, and as preparation for the main workshop on February 14-15.

DESCRIPTION: Discover a life-transforming communication practice that builds trust, transforms conflict, and creates harmony in your relationships. In this session, you will learn how to create a quality of connection between yourself and others where everyone's needs, even in conflict situations, are held with care and compassion... without resorting to punishment, force, manipulation, blame or other approaches that we end up paying for later. Learn how to honor your deepest desires in every moment, and never give in or give up on your needs again.

You will learn how to:

• hear difficult messages without taking them personally;
  express yourself honestly and openly;

• connect with others by communicating empathy; and

• find the gift that underlies all blame, judgment and criticism.

   

INTERMEDIATE TRAINING:  "Compassion is an Inside Job: Using the Gifts of NVC to Transform Self-Judgment to Self-Appreciation"

DATES:  Saturday, February 14 (9:30 am – 5:30 pm) and Sunday, February 15 (9:30 am - 5:30 pm), 2009

PARTICIPANTS: Designed for people with some previous NVC experience (such as Friday's introductory session)

DESCRIPTION: Join us for a special opportunity to deepen your practice of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), focusing on cultivating inner peace. This is an intermediate-level training, so we request that participants have previous training experience with NVC (such as Friday evening's introductory session).

You have Nonviolent Communication in your toolbox. You understand how it works. You even have a few peak experiences that have instilled hope in you that it's possible to step out of long-term patterns of self-blame and judgment, and into self-acceptance and empowerment.

Yet, more often that you would like, you are frustrated because you have been unable to access it when you need it the most. For example, even though you have been exposed to another way, you continue to beat yourself up, which creates inner resentment and internal confusion.

This training is designed with these challenges in mind, and to help everyone deepen their practice of NVC at the level of both practicality and consciousness. Join us to make NVC more a part of your everyday life-- a way of being -- that assists you in transforming whatever patterns of thinking, speaking, and listening that prevent you from experiencing a deep and abiding level of self-appreciation.

Topics will include:

• The power of self-empathy to come alive in any situation;

• Turning compassion loose inside ourselves to become more self-reliant;

• Forgiving ourselves fully when we regret something we did or said;

• Learning from our mistakes through compassion and without losing self-respect;

• Resolving inner conflicts, for example when it appears that we have competing needs;

• Identifying and transforming core beliefs that exist below our awareness; and

• Nurturing ourselves through self-appreciation and self-nurturing.

COST: Introduction (Friday only): $35/personMain Workshop (Sat. and Sun.): $200/person

WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR FEE:

• Register for all 3 days and save $10 ($225 total);
• Earlybird discount (by January 16) for Sat./Sun: $175 (save $25), or all 3 days: $195 (save $30);
• For those who are not able to afford our fee requests due to their financial situation -- even after applying the discounts -- we have a few work exchange opportunities. Contact Bob about this.

DETAILS ABOUT TRAINING: Contact Jeff Brown at jeff@heartfeltcommunication.com or 812-320-3842

REGISTER: Contact Bob Wentworth at bob@wentworth.bz or 703-472-3647. Checks can be made payable to ‘Bob Wentworth’ and sent to 7102 Swansong Way, Bethesda, MD 20817. We are limiting the size to preserve a quality learning environment --register early to reserve your seat! Credit card payments also accepted online (email Jeff for a secure payment link).

Guided by Myra and Jeff and drawing onthe powerful process of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), we will focuson creating peace,harmony and wholeness within ourselves. Hosted bythe NVC Academy, this training will be small enough to providepersonal attention. You will have an opportunity to:

• Transform guilt, shame, fear and depression into life-serving energy;

• Discover the gift of anger and practice safe and effective ways of releasing it;

• Heal past experiences contributing to current pain through empathy;

• Increase self-acceptance and self-love;

• Liberate yourself from suffering by understanding those whose behavior stimulated rage or shame in you;

• Identify and fulfill unmet needs, leading you to be more fully authentic and alive; and

• Connect with the spiritual dimension of NVC.

VIDEOTAPING:

We want to share this valuable work aswidely as possible, and plan to videotape this event. We believe avideotape can enhance the learning experience of those who attend theworkshop, as well as give others a sense of what the workshop waslike. In addition, we are excited to share this work with others, andbelieve a video can help us do this. The filming will be done bypeople from the NVC Academy, and therefore they will be sensitive tothe personal and sensitive nature of this work. While our hope is tocapture as much of the workshop on film as possible, we also intendto support the autonomy of participants, so you will have choiceabout whether you are filmed doing personal work.

FEE REQUEST:* $165 earlybird rate (byDec. 28); $195 after Dec. 28** We have room for only 12 people --register early to assure your space!

REGISTER: Contact local host RachelGarmon at 928-639-4362 or garmon.rachel@gmail.com

TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS RETREATS LEDBY MYRA and JEFF:

My heart sings with joy as I reflectand re-reflect on the workshop. As I share that experience with myfamily and try to integrate NVC on daily basis, I just can’tbelieve how amazing it all is . . . it was and continues to be somiraculous! It makes it all so complete to be able to share it withmy husband and son...

- J.B., Woodstock, NY

Both Jeff and Myra were able tocompassionately articulate the NVC model and lifestyle by giving usreal life examples, role plays, and coaching as they presented eachtopic. The interactions I observed between Jeff and Myra werebeautiful to witness. The interactions enabled me to seethe NVC modelin action and feel the passion,peace, and intimacy that NVC enablesin day to day living. I was able to 'see' the authenticity andintegrity of NVC. By witnessing this beauty, I am motivated tocontinue my exposure, practice and education in NVC...

- A.M., Columbus, Ohio

The retreat met my needs for learningand growth, for connection and acceptance and self-acceptance. Youwork so well with each other in all of your communication. Iappreciate the simplicity and clarity of the handouts... I especiallyappreciated the examples each of you gave from your own life journeysand the healing role play sessions.

- J.D., Warrenville, Illinois

I felt such playfulness and life andkinship and connection with you as you taught.

- T.L., Holland, Michigan

There are no words that can adequatelydescribe the impact the retreat had on my life. I feel like I went tothe mountain. When I left [the retreat center], everything was inslow motion.

- J.D., Berwyn, Illinois

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS:

Myra Walden, MA, LCPC, is a certifiedtrainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Originally fromMexico, she teaches transformational thinking, listening and speakingskills in schools, human service organizations, corporations andchurches in the United States and Mexico. Myra has practicedpsychotherapy for 17 years. She lives in West Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Jeff Brown, MA, is a certified trainerwith the Center for Nonviolent Communication, and offerscommunication and conflict resolution services to businesses,organizations, couples and individuals throughout U.S. And beyond.In the Fall of 2007, he spent five weeks in South Korea and Japansharing NVC. Jeff has a master's degree in Spiritual Psychology, andis also trained in community mediation and victim-offenderreconciliation. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

OUR 'TAKE' ON NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION:

NVC is both a spiritual practice thathelps us see our common humanity, and a concrete set of skills thathelp us to live more peacefully. These skills apply to thought,language, and a commitment to a certain use of power. NVC is alearnable process for creating emotional freedom,self-acceptance,inner peace, and fulfilling relationships. It involves expressingourselves honestly,listening with empathy, and developing a morecompassionate inner relationship. People around the world are usingNVC skills to transform conflict, create harmony in theirrelationships, and build a world where everyone's needs are metthrough compassionate giving, and without the use of coercion orviolence.

this intermediate workshop focuses with loving presence and caring self awareness on the programs we have been conditionned with so that we can consciously choose to live in the paradigm we are wanting to embody moment by moment, letting go of old beliefs and cultural conditionning we are operating from.

For participants attending the annual Men's Wellness Conference at Ghost Ranch in Abiqui,NM.

Would you like to make peace with your own desires? Would you like to better understand your heart's longings and bring them more fully into manifestation? Nonviolent Communication (NVC) offers some simple and easy-to-learn ways of befriending ourselves. From this place, what we say to others will come across different, making connection and collaboration more likely. We'll explore both the inner and the outer connections that this work makes possible.

All our longings come from a divine source of life within us, that inspires everything we do. Learning to identify and embrace these longings is a step to feeling more at peace with our deeper selves, and with our purpose in the world. Understanding ourselves in this new way, we can develop new compassion and understanding for others. We can find the words to reach them, and to create friendships and partnerships based on mutuality, respect and care.

This workshop will be based at the Findhorn Foundation, a world renowned intentional spiritual community founded in 1962 and now at the forefront of developements in personal growth, spiritual practice, ecology and sustainability. See www.findhorn.org for more info.  

To book contact the Findhorn Foundation Booking Office on (44) 1309 691653, or email bookings@findhorn.org.

Embracing Longing - The Spirituality of Nonviolent Communication

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) offers some simple and profound tools for deeper self awareness and self compassion. Behind every action we take, and everything we say, are universal longings we are seeking to fulfill. Knowing these longings, embracing their presence at the root of all we do, can radically change how we experience ourselves and others. Out of this clarity, decisive action can emerge, as well as new ways of expressing ourselves to others that are more likely to create outcomes that everyone will enjoy.

We will explore simple practices for better self connection, as well as developing skills in listening to one another fully. We will stretch our ability to stay congruent with our values while with others, and find skillful ways of expressing our honesty.

There will be a mix of learning styles on this workshop: solo written work, work in pairs and threes, as well as unstructured group process. With all of these contexts we will give ourselves the opportunity to experience a world beyond "right" and "wrong" where we are more connected to one another, and to our essense.

Leo Sofer has been learning and teaching NVC since 1999.

To book contact Anam Cara on (44) 1463 711702 or email welcome@anamcara.org 

The wisdom which Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is based on is as old as humanity itself. This weekend retreat draws insights from NVC’s elder siblings of Taoism, Buddhism, and North American Indigenous culture to awaken clarity and power in our practice of Nonviolent Communication, including topics such as:

Why Intention is the Fundamental Principle of NVC, and How to Cultivate its Power
The Other NVC: Non-Verbal Communication
How to End the Illusion of ‘My Needs’ and ‘Your Needs’
How to Walk in the Dark, when NVC forms aren’t Creating Connection

Utilizing art, movement, discussion, meditation, and games, we will explore together this rich texture of what it is to be human.