Violence in any form is a tragic expression of our unmet needs.

When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.

Anger can be a wonderful wake up call to help you understand what you need and what you value.

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.

In our culture, most of us have been trained to ignore our own wants and to discount our needs.

You'll find people less threatening if you hear what they're needing rather than what they're thinking about you.

My need is for safety, fun and to have distribution of resources, a sustainable life on the planet. NVC is a strategy that serves me to meet these needs.