1. Do you know how to express your feelings and invite others to do the same – without fear? (Hint: Do you know why we have feelings, and why they are so important?)
2. Do you know how to be fully present in a conversation, without having to defend, prepare, or worry about what to say or do? (Hint: What do we have to do in order to be present without judgment of any kind in our heart? Is this possible -- and how do we do that?)
3. Do you know how to get your needs met – in appropriate ways – even when others are not able to connect respectfully with you? (Hint: Do you know that there are “categories” of needs, and that we have different needs at different times? Why does this matter?)
4. When you are feeling a “negative” emotion, do you know how to see what it tells you about your needs, and the needs of others?
5. Do you know how to use principles to diffuse even hostile situations? (In a hostile situation, what is the first thing that we need to do, and why is it so important to respond nonviolently?)
6. Do you know how to invite others to connect with you freely, even when you both want different things in the situation?
7. What type of judgment is HELPFUL? Why does that type of judgment invite connection?
8. How can you make sure that you really understand someone else’s viewpoint? Do you know specific words you can use that would allow them to express their concerns, and yet do that in a respectful manner?
9. Why is EMPATHY so important? Why is empathy so much more than just listening and trying to understand?
Every one of these questions can be answered through applying principles. For example, in Question 7, if we understand principles, we will know that there are two types of judgment. The first is moralistic (which is detrimental to connection), and the second is value judgment (which invites connection). As we learn the principle of judgment, we learn what “trigger words” will invite people to unite and consider values -- and what “trigger words” will absolutely cause complete dis-connection and harm relationships.
In our Principles of Communication course, we teach principles, and show how to apply them to every-day situations. I invite you to join us for a course - either live, in person, or online.
2. Do you know how to be fully present in a conversation, without having to defend, prepare, or worry about what to say or do? (Hint: What do we have to do in order to be present without judgment of any kind in our heart? Is this possible -- and how do we do that?)
3. Do you know how to get your needs met – in appropriate ways – even when others are not able to connect respectfully with you? (Hint: Do you know that there are “categories” of needs, and that we have different needs at different times? Why does this matter?)
4. When you are feeling a “negative” emotion, do you know how to see what it tells you about your needs, and the needs of others?
5. Do you know how to use principles to diffuse even hostile situations? (In a hostile situation, what is the first thing that we need to do, and why is it so important to respond nonviolently?)
6. Do you know how to invite others to connect with you freely, even when you both want different things in the situation?
7. What type of judgment is HELPFUL? Why does that type of judgment invite connection?
8. How can you make sure that you really understand someone else’s viewpoint? Do you know specific words you can use that would allow them to express their concerns, and yet do that in a respectful manner?
9. Why is EMPATHY so important? Why is empathy so much more than just listening and trying to understand?
Every one of these questions can be answered through applying principles. For example, in Question 7, if we understand principles, we will know that there are two types of judgment. The first is moralistic (which is detrimental to connection), and the second is value judgment (which invites connection). As we learn the principle of judgment, we learn what “trigger words” will invite people to unite and consider values -- and what “trigger words” will absolutely cause complete dis-connection and harm relationships.
In our Principles of Communication course, we teach principles, and show how to apply them to every-day situations. I invite you to join us for a course - either live, in person, or online.