WHAT IS NVC? A LIFE’S QUANDARY

One week before the race riots of 1943 broke out, Dr. Marshall Rosenberg moved to Detroit and had an unforgettable exposure to violence.  (In his own words http://www.cnvc.org/Training/nvc-chapter-1 ) In school he was on the receiving end of verbal violence, being called a “kike,” a derogatory name for people of Jewish descent. At home, he was, fortunately, able to witness unconditional love and compassion as he observed his uncle give care to his Grandmother. He saw him smiling through what could be described as an unglamorous labor of love, giving gentle care for an aging body. Integrating these diverse experiences within a mind of curiosity and wonder about the human experience he came up with these two questions.  What happens to disconnect us from our compassionate nature, leading us to behave violently and exploitatively? What allows some people to stay connected even under the most trying circumstances?

Marshall’s life’s purposeful passion

Reawaken our innate compassion.

His investigation included a Psychology degree and his own introspection into the crucial role of communication in contributing to how much conflict or compassion we experience. He called it nonviolent communication using the term nonviolence as Gandhi described it, “our natural state of compassion when violence has subsided from the heart.”

Marshall wanted to find a way to live within a consciousness of compassion; approaching life mindful of his choice to show up in the world in a compassionate way.  To help our programmed mind of reaction adopt this consciousness of compassion, he developed formulas and practices to ingrain all the concepts he explored. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is often called the ‘language of the heart’ and is symbolized by a giraffe that has the largest heart of any land animal.

Finding this compassionate approach to communication has been like a prayer answered to me, as someone so concerned with the misunderstanding in the world. I will be forever grateful to Marshall for following his heart, his curiosity, and believing in the possibility that we can create peace.

“Marshall Rosenberg provides us with the most effective tools to foster health and relationships. Nonviolent Communication connects soul to soul, creating a lot of healing. It is the missing element in what we do.”— Deepak Chopra

More about Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D. can be found on The Center for Nonviolent Communication’s website.

“Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D. is the founder and director of educational services for the Center for Nonviolent Communication, an international peacemaking organization. He is the author of Speak Peace in a World of Conflict, the bestselling Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, as well as Life-Enriching Education, and several NVC booklets. Dr. Rosenberg is the 2006 recipient of the Global Village Foundation’s Bridge of Peace Award, and the Association of Unity Churches International 2006 Light of God Expressing Award.”

“Dr. Rosenberg first used the NVC process in federally funded school integration projects to provide mediation and communication skills training during the 1960s. The Center for Nonviolent Communication, which he founded in 1984, now has hundreds of certified NVC trainers and supporters teaching NVC in more than 35 countries around the globe.”