As you probably know or probably feel, there is a spiritual depth to Nonviolent Communication. One of my teachers, Kit Miller said that,
"NVC is a spiritual practice disguised as a communication technique."
It's obviously a very interfaith spiritual practice as we emphasize all needs, and multiple ways of getting your needs met.
One of my spiritual guides is John O'Donohue, the Irish poet who describes spirituality as
'another world lives within you. No one else can bring you news of this inner world.' Anam Cara
I often use these words when practising self empathy, as this is infact what empathy and self empathy is ... a way of accessing this inner world.
When we practice empathy swaps or in the Listening Hour, we are supporting each other to access our inner worlds.
John O'Donohue, in this celebrated book Anam Cara, which literally means Soul friend, describes how an 'anam cara' is someone who you can reveal the hidden intimacies of your life.
Isn't this, with practice, exactly what we do in empathy swaps? With a trusted person we share our innermost truths, in the trust that they they won't judge us or tell us what to do, but instead, will help us, through feelings and needs guesses, and being alongside us in whatever way they do, discover our hidden depths.
So, I like to think of this simple act of listening for and guessing feelings and needs, as a supreme form of friendship, a deep soul practice, and one which the world really needs right now.
If you want to experience Empathic Listening, the Sunday Listening Hour is always available to you.
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