Abusive Relationships and Nonviolence
with Miki Kashtan
Article • Read time: 8 - 12 minutes
Intermediate Skill Levels
Article
Read time: 8 - 12 minutes
Article
Read time: 8 - 12 minutes
In order to bring in more nonviolence into the world, we need to take our own needs seriously and recognize that no amount of seeing someone’s innocence would mean putting up with more of their harmful behavior. We need to disentangle compassion towards another from the willingness to tolerate more harmful actions. At times this means finding enough self-love, support, or clarity, to take decisive action. Read on for more.
Observation, the First Component of Nonviolent Communication
Observation, the First Component of Nonviolent Communication
Observation, the First Component of Nonviolent Communication
with Mary Mackenzie
Trainer Tip • 1 - 2 minutes
Introductory Skill Level
Trainer Tip
1 - 2 minutes
Trainer Tip
1 - 2 minutes
Trainer tip: People often presume why something happened before checking with the other person. Instead, if we were to name the facts of what happened without adding in our own judgments or reasons why we think it happened, we can more easily open the possibility for deeper connection with the other person. Read on for more.
The Mobilizing Power of Anger
with LaShelle Lowe-Chardé
Article • Read time: 3-5 minutes
All Skill Levels
Article
Read time: 3-5 minutes
Article
Read time: 3-5 minutes
Anger can result in violence or in a movement towards positive change. We can see this happen in the push for racial justice. When you perceive anger as a form of violence your nervous system becomes activated. Your perspective narrows and old conditioning can take over leading to overwhelm, defensiveness, hatred, or violence. Read on for four ways to to respond to our own or others' anger in a way that mobilizes desired change.
Lonely Together
with Roxy Manning
Article • Read time: 5 - 7 minutes
Beginner Skill Level
Article
Read time: 5 - 7 minutes
Article
Read time: 5 - 7 minutes
When conflict or criticism occurs, we can notice two layers of meaning to create connection: the content and the needs the speaker is holding. When we are able to recognize this --and ideally engage open-heartedly, with curiosity, make clear requests, imagining what they want, no matter how their expression was framed -- we have more opportunity to support the longevity of our relationships, and to decrease our loneliness when together.
Heartbreak For Self And The World Holding Our Broken Hearts With Compassion
Heartbreak For Self And The World Holding Our Broken Hearts With Compassion
Heartbreak For Self And The World Holding Our Broken Hearts With Compassion
with Sarah Peyton
Article • Read Time: 3 - 5 minutes
Intermediate Skill Level
Article
Read Time: 3 - 5 minutes
Article
Read Time: 3 - 5 minutes
When we're received with resonant understanding painful moments can lessen their charge and became part of the whole tapestry of life -- important but no longer able to hijack us into the eternal re-run of pain. When held this way, we can touch the memories with our attention the way one touches a newly repaired tooth with the tongue, searching for the old roughness, the old wound, but not finding it.
Setting Boundaries with Attraction
with LaShelle Lowe-Chardé
Article • Read time: 3-5 minutes
All Skill Levels
Article
Read time: 3-5 minutes
Article
Read time: 3-5 minutes
Attraction to others is neither good nor bad. Although it's pleasurable it doesn’t necessarily help with wise discernment. When it arises, it's up to you to engage in wise discernment about how you manage it. This guide provides practices and points of focus to engage your own attraction in a way that holds more choice about what will meet needs for yourself and others, and what role attraction plays.
Empathy Doesn’t Mean Agreement
with Mary Mackenzie
Trainer Tip • 1 - 2 minutes
Introductory Skill Level
Trainer Tip
1 - 2 minutes
Trainer Tip
1 - 2 minutes
Trainer tip: Empathy is about being present to a person’s feelings and needs. It is acknowledging another’s experience, not necessarily agreeing with it. If you have a different opinion than another, empathize with her first. Then, state your feelings and needs with regard to the situation.
Change Is Afoot: A New Paradigm For First Responses After Difficult Events
Change Is Afoot: A New Paradigm For First Responses After Difficult Events
Change Is Afoot: A New Paradigm For First Responses After Difficult Events
with Sarah Peyton
Article • Read Time: 9 - 14 minutes
Intermediate Skill Level
Article
Read Time: 9 - 14 minutes
Article
Read Time: 9 - 14 minutes
One way to understand trauma is it means we got a blow greater than our nervous system can tolerate – then we move into hyperarousal, and then hypoarousal or dissociation. This cycle can continue long after. Here, we're not able to fully process emotional cues, information, our body, and others. It's important we consider re-writing the cultural paradigm of separation so that our trauma doesn't get marginalized.
Valuing Everyone’s Needs
with Mary Mackenzie
Trainer Tip • 1 - 2 minutes
Beginner Skill Level
Trainer Tip
1 - 2 minutes
Trainer Tip
1 - 2 minutes
Trainer tip: If you are in a relationship (whether personal or work related) that you are not happy with, consider talking to the other person in an effort to connect about both your needs. Talking about it doesn’t guarantee that you will like the resolution, but not talking about it guarantees continued unhappiness. Read on for more.
Mourning Our Way to Acceptance
with Miki Kashtan
Article • Read time: 7 - 11 minutes
Beginner Skill Level
Article
Read time: 7 - 11 minutes
Article
Read time: 7 - 11 minutes
When something happens that we don't like no amount of resentment nor magical thinking will make it disappear. Instead, we can mourn to dissolve our own resistance, resentment, and numbness of resignation. Mourning can allow us to feel pain with acceptance, and without needing to be okay with what happened. Acceptance can bring us to a place where even all the anguish in the world is fully, part of life.
