Over the last 30 years, NVC has enriched the lives of thousands of people throughout the world, and from all walks of life, helping them to make major personal and interpersonal shifts. The testimonies of people who have learned this empowering process come in the thousands. Many express their enthusiasm, thanks to the very concrete way in which NVC can be applied to so many different contexts. Here are a few areas for which we and international trainers offer trainings:
Marshall Rosenberg’s theory of social change compliments the vision of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, by focusing on creating an internal culture of peace using the powerful process of NVC. From the manner in which we communicate, to the intention we bring to every interaction, to the organizational structures we support, social change “begins with me.” Activists, community leaders and anyone who wants to make a difference in the world can learn how to move beyond enemy images to instead ground their activism in a desire to serve life. (adapted from: The Heart of Social Change, Marshall Rosenberg)
J. Krishnamurthi on Social Change:
It seems to me very important, then, to understand the total process of individuality, because it is only when the individual changes radically that there can be a fundamental revolution in society. “Social reform may be brought about through legislation or through tyranny, but unless the individual radically changes, he will always overcome the new pattern to suit his psychological demands – which is what is happening in the world. It is always the individual, never the group or the collective, that brings about a radical change in the world, and this is historically so. Now, can the individual, that is, you and I, change radically? This transformation of the individual – but not according to a pattern – is what we are concerned with, and to me it is the highest form of education. It is this transformation of the individual that constitutes religion.”
INVCI on Social Change:
INVCI’s vision, that of “a life-enriching world with love, inner peace and awareness; a world where there is abundance, equality, respect and safety for all sentient beings; a world where humanity lives in Oneness,” is a vision that is in resonance with Krishnamurthi’s philosophy. In order to contribute to a world where all needs are met (the fundamental vision of NVC), we offer workshops that enable us to develop our inner power, transform our inner thoughts and language, and create paradigm shifts that ultimately lead to powerful social transformation. Since 2004, Marshall Rosenberg, Aniruddha and Kumarjeev have trained thousands of people from all walks of life. Many of these people have brought NVC into their organizations and have reported dramatic changes, observing various forms of discrimination becoming obsolete. Hundreds have reported personal empowerment that has changed their lives and the lives of those around them.
Back to top
NVC provides a progressive, radical approach to teaching that centers on compassionate connection. It re-evaluates the role that power and punishment play in our schools, and challenges educators to motivate students instead by a reverence for life. NVC offers educators the tools to create exceptional learning environments, where teachers, counselors and administrators can maximize the individual potential of all students, improve trust and connection in the classroom, find cooperation without using demands, improve teamwork and efficiency, and strengthen the students’ interest and connection to their learning. (adapted from: Teaching Children Compassionately, Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D)
Back to top
NVC and Mediation and Conflict Resolution
In over 40 years of mediating conflicts – between parents and children, husbands and wives, management and workers, police and communities, and warring groups around the world – Marshall Rosenberg has learned it is possible to resolve conflicts peacefully, and to everyone’s satisfaction. Using the powerful process of NVC is not about compromise – it’s about creating a caring and respectful quality of connection between the parties in conflict.
Most of us lack the vocabulary to express what we’re feeling or needing, leading us to point fingers at someone as the “cause” of our pain. When people sense that their feelings and needs are valued – and heard – it immediately helps reduce tension and hostility, opening the door for peaceful resolution. Whether you’re a professional mediator or wishing to resolve conflict with your spouse, child or colleague, NVC offers a practical, usable technique to get to the heart of the issue. (adapted from: We Can Work it Out, Marshall B. Rosenberg)
Back to top
NVC can heal relationships ruptured by violence and forge community founded on genuine safety through connection. NVC allows for reconciliation with ourselves, our loved ones, and our community. For example, with the help of NVC and practicing mindfulness, prisoners are transformed into peacemakers, thereby strengthening our community. (adapted from: CNVC’s Freedom Project)
Back to top
Many of us think of love as a strong emotion, a feeling we have for another person. NVC helps us take a wholly different and life-enriching approach to love. Love is something you “do,” something you give freely from the heart. Learn how to express yourself nakedly and honestly to your partner, friends, or family, for no other purpose than to reveal what’s present or alive in you. Discover what thousands of people around the world already know: a heart to heart connection strengthened by joyfully giving and receiving from the heart is the love you long to experience. (adapted from: Being Me, Loving You, Marshall Rosenberg)
Back to top
Parents everywhere want to connect compassionately with their children, to show them love and offer guidance even in difficult moments. NVC can transform parenting to promote peace for generations to come. NVC offers insightful perspectives and practical skills that greatly nurture connection. Understand your own needs so you can choose how to respond; motivate your children without the threat of punishment or the promise of reward; move beyond power struggles by transforming your habitual responses; and hear the “yes” in your child‘s “no.” (adapted from: Parenting from Your Heart, Inbal Kashtan)
Back to top
Many of us crave a richer and more meaningful connection to the Divine, and at the same time find it hard to apply the dictates of our faith, like turning the other cheek, avoiding judgements, or loving our enemy.
According to Marshall Rosenberg, our most basic spiritual need is to contribute to the well-being of others and ourselves. NVC not only inspires us to connect with the Divine in ourselves and others, but to begin to create a world of empathy and compassion, where the language we use is the key to enriching life. (adapted from: Practical Spirituality, Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D)
Back to top
Many businesses around the world now use NVC as a very concrete and dynamic method to increase the chances of creating a win-win environment in the work place. NVC impacts management styles that correspond to new and emerging paradigm shifts in the fast-changing world of business. It focuses on creating a corporate culture that is coherent with the mission statement of many international companies. Empathy, a skill that is central in NVC, is often referred to as “the greatest quality for the manager of the 21st century.” In the business world, NVC is applicable in management, leadership, team building and business negotiations.
Back to top
...Stay Tuned...