Happy Holidays! This song / message from John Lennon and Yoko Ono was inspiring and lovely for me to receive. I hope you enjoy it as well. It reminds me that peace starts with me and it’s possible if I am committed to it in my life. It takes true commitment, even a kind of fierceness, to live nonviolently and in such a way that values all needs.
On this day, I say I am committed for one more day to live my value of nonviolence. I hope you’ll join me.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cJOm72QDDA&feature=related
Warmest Holiday wishes to you,
Mary
I have been feeling very sad about the killing of Osama Bin Laden – how it was handled and the joy with which people are responding to it. I have been doing some personal work of late on forgiveness and atonement and so my way of dealing with the situation is to be honest with myself about what my part is, to take responsibility for my part, to forgive myself, to atone (I don’t have an idea for how to do this yet with regard to this specific situation but I’m praying about it), and especially to not add hatred or judgment to the situation.
It is challenging to understand in an intellectual way that I have a part in something happening thousands of miles away. And yet, I know that we are all one and interconnected; every action I take has an affect on others.
For me it is imperative that I remember this because it helps me live in greater honesty AND it reminds me that I can take active part in creating a world of peace and mutual respect. Just by consciously choosing to add love and understanding to the situation (rather than hate or judgment), I am taking clear, positive action toward creating the peaceful world I want to live in.
Does this condone what Osama Bin Laden has done? No. Absolutely not.
Does it minimize the pain of people who lost loved ones on 9/11? No. I have great compassion and love for each person who experienced loss.
I am merely saying that I don’t think adding further anger and judgment to the situation is helpful. I truly believe the world needs more love, tenderness and care to heal. And, so this is what I am focused on providing.
Please join me!
Mary
| Friday, March 4, 2011, 12:00pm-2:00PM |
| First Congregational Church of Oakland
Register |
| Would you like to increase effectiveness and connection in your organization?
Are you tired of difficult conversations and strenuous meetings and would like some manageability in your work life?
In this workshop we plan on exploring some basic principles related to empathic communication in the workplace. We are particularly hopeful that groups and organizations will send some key individuals to this event.
The focus of this workshop is to provide an introduction to the following principles and practices and explore how to bring them into the workplace:
- presence, even in the face of difficulty
- clarity of purpose when making decisions or running meetings
- attention to both parties’ needs in a conflict
- providing feedback without criticism
Miki Kashtan, certified NVC trainer, is a founder of Bay Area Nonviolent Communication and the North America Leadership Program. Miki conducts organizational trainings, consults with private and public sector organizations and teaches NVC at workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the country. Miki has been supporting global social change movements, including coaching of Peace Alliance members in their Department of Peace campaign, facilitation of the African Alliance for Peace summit in Ghana, and a global peace building and conflict transformation summit in Japan.
You may enjoy watching:
10-minute video interview of Miki Kashtan discussing empathy.
10-minute video of Miki Kashtan coaching role plays on the BayNVC Conflict Hotline TV show. |
BayNVC, Miki Kashtan, NVC Training Events
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communication, effectiveness, Empathy, feedback, nvc, organization, presence, purpose, workplace, workshop
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