Compassionate Communication Study Circle

 

Date: TBA

Facilitators: Steve Bash, Rev.

Fee: TBA

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What is Compassionate Communication?

 

Compassionate Communication teaches a language of life where we can learn to communicate with each other in a way that allows us to contribute to each other's well-being.

Needs are life in action, and all actions are an attempt to meet our needs. Sometimes our attempts enrich each other's lives and sometimes our attempts create conflict. Through Compassionate Communication, we learn to understand our emotions: ie. feelings and attitudes. We identify the needs that may be beneath these emotions,and how to request help without making demands to meet those needs.

We learn to observe situations or interactions without attributing to them any right or wrong meaning, and how to get beyond building enemy images against each other. We use Compassionate Communication to observe ourselves when judgement, criticism, comparison, analysis, or evaluation creates separation between people rather than connection. Compassionate Communication also helps us to express ourselves without blaming or accusing those we want to reach out to. These skills help us to translate thoughts that alienate into empathy for self and others; this creates healthier, deeper, stronger relationships.

In the workshops, playful exercises, role-playing and games are used to give students hands-on practice.

References for Participants' Further Learning Exploration
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz
Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
The Works and Teachings of Deepak Chopra 
The Works and Teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh

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