The Chinese philosopher Chuang-Tzu stated that true empathy requires listening with the whole being: The hearing that is only in the ears is one thing. The hearing of the understanding is another. But the hearing of the spirit is not limited to any one faculty, to the ear, or to the mind. Hence it demands the emptiness of all the faculties. And when the faculties are empty, then the whole being listens. There is then a direct grasp of what is right there before you that can never be heard with the ear or understood with the mind.
Marshall B. RosenbergWe know the speaker has received adequate empathy when a. we sense a release of tension, or b. the flow of words comes to a halt.
Marshall B. RosenbergBehind intimidating messages are simply people appealing to us to meet their needs.
Marshall B. RosenbergNVC self-forgiveness: connecting with the need we were trying to meet when we took the action that we now regret.
Marshall B. RosenbergNVC helps us connect with each other and ourselves in a way that allows our natural compassion to flourish.
Marshall B. RosenbergAs radical as it may seem, it is possible to do things only out of play. I believe that to the degree that we engage moment by moment in the playfulness of enriching life- motivated solely by the desire for its enrichment- to that degree are we being compassionate with ourselves.
Marshall B. Rosenberg