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

It's harder to empathize with those who appear to possess more power, status, or resources.

When people hear needs, it provokes compassion. When people hear diagnoses, it provokes defensiveness and attack.

Upset? Ask yourself what this person does that is a trigger for judging them?

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

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.

NVC is founded on language and communication skills that strengthen our ability to remain human, even under trying conditions.