We only feel dehumanized when we get trapped in the derogatory images of other people or thoughts of wrongness about ourselves. As author and mythologist Joseph Campbell suggested, "'What will they think of me?' must be put aside for bliss." We begin to feel this bliss when messages previously experienced as critical or blaming begin to be seen for the gifts they are: opportunities to give to people who are in pain.

There are the two main reasons we don't get our needs met. First, we don't know how to express our needs to begin with and second if we do, we forget to put a clear request after it, or we use vague words like appreciate, listen, recognize, know, be real, and stuff like that.

Translate all self-judgments into self-empathy.

The intention behind the protective use of force is to prevent injury, never to punish or to cause individuals to suffer, repent or change.

Fix-it jackals can't wait to fix it, because they don't know how to enjoy pain. And until you learn how to enjoy pain, you can't enjoy intimacy.

NVC helps us connect with each other and ourselves in a way that allows our natural compassion to flourish.

If we want to be compassionate we must be conscious of the words we use. We must both speak and listen from the heart.