NVC Empathy Practice Circle (Upstairs)

EMPATHY PRACTICE CIRCLE

Saturday, June 4th, 2011
Flying Squirrel, (285 Clarissa St, 14608) upstairs
2:00 - 5:00pm

The practice is intended for anyone who has attended an introduction to
Nonviolent Communication (NVC), or anyone with experience of NVC.

We will have two hours for practice, followed by time to chat informally
afterwards.

We will start promptly at 2.00 so please give yourself plenty of time and maybe
consider aiming to arrive ten minutes before two.

There is no charge for this practice. However, I will request a contribution of
any amount you choose to make for both myself and the Flying Squirrels Community
Space, at the end of the practice.

Shira has offered to facilitate this practice. To support me in planning, please
e-mail shiramay@hotmail.com by June 2nd if you plan to attend.

Topic: Shifting from "right/wrong" thinking

When I find myself reacting to a situation with a strong "right/wrong" or
"agree/disagree" response, this often points to an underlying need that is not
being met for me. Focusing on "I'm right, you're wrong", or "I'm wrong, you're
right" causes me to contract, rather than open my heart to what is really alive
inside me. When I pause to notice my feelings and take the time to identify the
underlying need, I have experienced a shift in consciousness: a sense of
liberation from "right/wrong" thinking, and a heightened capacity for
understanding and compassion for myself and for others. For this Empathy
Practice Circle, I invite you to think of a situation that stimulates your own
"right/wrong" thinking, and using the four steps of the NVC model, explore the
possibility of a consciousness shift towards more authentic connection with what
is true in your heart.

Example of a timetable for a two-hour Empathy Practice Circle

This is a peer-led practice in listening from the heart and speaking honestly.

A typical example of a timetable for a two-hour session might look like this:

2:00 Arriving, silence, and check-in round

2:20 Describe topic or focus of the empathy practice

2:30 Empathy Rounds in groups of three

3:30 Harvesting and Closing Round

4:00 End of practice