|
Join Our List
|  |
|
|
|
Fall 2011
| visit my website | |
Announcements
Workshops and Immersion ProgramsSouth Korea (Seoul), workshops: Sept 22-26, 2011; Feb 9-12, 2012; June 21-25, 2012
USA East Program (Northeast), Jan 12-16, May 3-7, and
Sept 27-Oct 1, 2012 USA West Program (N. California), Jan 26-30, June 7-11, and
Nov 8-12, 2012 I am leading another CNVC 9-day International Intensive Training (IIT) in December 7-16 in Austin, Texas.
|
NEW Launch of Our NVC Mediation Program
| |
"We envision a world in which enough people have the power to
connect through understanding and articulating needs that we are
able to tap our collective intelligence, respond to the challenges
we face and thrive."
The above is Ike and my new vision statement. It is part of the new re-launch of our NVC Mediation program, which includes a completely revised website and the beginning of a whole new phase of how we will promote, deliver and grow our training. About one year ago Ike and I started talking with each other about whether or not we were going to continue the way we were going with our trainings, or did we want to take a leap into the scary unknown of something much bigger with our work, but we didn't even have an idea of what that might be. Well we found it, or actually, it found us, and the decision keeps "making us" to continue forward with it (more details will follow in the coming months). I'm more excited than I can put into words! I invite you to visit our site ( www.nvcmediation.com) and let me/us know what you think of this first step.
Communicating and mediating conflict from a language of needs is still not part of mainstream culture. I believe it is imperative that we -- all of us apprenticing ourselves to work based in NVC -- find ways to cross this gap. I can see it so clearly: Enough people around the world who know the power of this language and are learning and practicing the skills and "maps" in community, putting real situations from their lives "into the chairs" and sharing deep connection, support and enriching experiences. And they are doing this with each other around the world via the internet and telecommunications!
|
Reflections on NVC, Culture and Worldview
| |
I want the language of needs to be universally known throughout the world, and for it to support us human beings working together to deal with the challenges we face. To support this happening I want to be as clear as possible about NVC being a language of needs and skills, rather than a particular worldview and value system. NVC is seen by many who know about it as a subculture, or even a cult by some. To whatever degree NVC is associated with certain beliefs it will be rejected by those who don't share them. My dream is for NVC to contribute to people who hold different worldviews and value systems to better understand each other and collaborate. This seems ever more important and urgent to me as I see growing global crises in economics, effects of climate change, and the environment, and increasing political stalemate and polarization rather than cooperation.
Based on my understanding of Integral Theory (see the works of Ken Wilber and colleagues), I see people with different value systems and worldviews prioritize different needs and have different moralities for meeting needs. In the realm of politics for example, I see three main groups - "conservative", "mainstream", and "liberal." To generalize and oversimplify, I see the conservative worldview prioritize needs for order and stability, with a morality emphasizing external authority and rules/laws. I see the mainstream worldview prioritize self-expression and achievement, with a morality emphasizing material attainment. And lastly, I see the liberal worldview prioritize inclusion and empathy, with a morality emphasizing dialogue and non-hierarchy/equality of perspectives, power, access to resources, etc.
We all see the world through particular beliefs and values, and many of us can probably identify with more than one worldview depending on the situation. I see all three of the worldviews above as valuable and essential, as well as each having different limitations. I envision NVC mediation as a bridge allowing communication and collaboration between all groups and people with cultural and ideological differences. The way I think we will be able to contribute to this happening is if we can share NVC-based work separate from our personal worldview and values. I see how difficult this has been for me, but thinking about it this way gives me a great sense of meaning, purpose, and excitement!
|
|
|
|
|
