When we care about our cause and want to mitigate disaster, we may become reactive. However, transformation comes through connection, rather than convincing, judging, criticising, controlling, and making demands of others. To inspire change, get curious about how they relate to the topic – and get support for yourself elsewhere to process grief, become more present and compassionate, speak self-responsibly, and make requests.

What do you do when both people engaging in dialogue are in pain at the same time? Since we cannot listen when we are in pain, we need tools to navigate these moments. Listen to Yoram share two strategies for accessing self-connection and empathy when both people are hurting. 

Trainer Tip: A request completes the communication by stating specifically what we would like from someone else to meet our need. Without this clarity, our communication can be confusing and can easily be seen as a demand. When people know what you want, you have a better chance of meeting your needs. Make clear, specific, doable requests of people, and see if this increases the chance of meeting your needs. Read on for an example.

Trainer Tip: Every human being has the same universal needs -- even as each person may choose different strategies to meet those needs. Notice the universal needs you share with other people today.

Mary Mackenzie leads a brief Experiencing the Energy of Needs meditation with a focus on the need for PEACE, especially directed toward the Ukrainian and Russian people involved in the current war.

Mary Mackenzie offers a brief Metta Meditation in support of the Ukrainian and Russian people and ourselves as we witness the current war.

Responding to your own reactivity is an inside job. Robert reveals how your reactions are often a secondary reaction to a triggering stimulus, and that accepting responsibility for your reactions can lead to less blame and more inner peace.

How to maintain conscious connection and compassion as you grapple with the tragic violence in Ukraine? Here we'll look at dissolving enemy images we have, inviting mourning, maintaining self connection that benefits our global community, creating ideas for action, acknowledging the power of what we envision, and engaging in an exercise for applying consciousness and skills to an imaginary scenario.

Enmeshment refers to confusion about who is responsible for what. This lack of clear boundaries results in attempts to manage the other person's experience as a substitute for managing your own. When you think you're contributing to another person, but you're actually acting from enmeshment, there's inner tension and contraction. Read on for 16 common signs of enmeshment so that you can know when to pause and connect to your needs.

What is resonance? How can the vibrations between cellos guide our understanding of resonance? Listen to Sarah affirm that "resonance is the most important thing that happens between humans to make our brains work well and make our brains be good places to live." NVC can create resonance between people which calms us and restructures the right hemisphere of the brain.