"Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving
more."
~Jackson Brown, Jr.
New Year's Blessing
May You Fall Madly in Love This Year...
May you fall madly in love this year .. in love with someone who unhinges your tired trajectory, in love with a spouse of several years who might be aching for lightning, in love with demanding children and crazy relatives .. in love with the particular pedigree of genius insanity that has perhaps claimed you in spite of your reluctance .. and certainly in love with an animal, a cloud, a redwood, the wild .. these at least
once a day. May you fall in love with this fragile jewel of a world, with hard work, real learning, just causes, petitioning and prayers. May you fall in love with wonder itself, with the grand mystery, with all that feeds you in order that you may live .. and with the responsibility that that confers. May you fall in love with heartbreak and seeing how it's stitched into everything. May you fall in love with the natural order of things and with tears, tenderness and humility. May this be a
magnificent year for you. May you fall deeply, madly, hopelessly, inextinguishably in love.
"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the
year."
~Ralph Waldo
Emerson
Article
Making Your New Year's Resolutions a Reality!
By Beth Banning and Neill Gibson
In January it's traditional to make New Year's resolutions. You plan to go to the gym, get into great physical shape, earn more money, improve a troubled relationship, or get along better with your family members. But you suspect that in a few days or weeks you'll get tired of making the effort and your good intentions will disappear. Would you like to improve your chances of making your resolutions stick?
"One thing with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to
find the future has run out on us."
~Michael Cibeuko
In The News
Microsoft CEO Picks NVC 3rd Ed as His #1 Book!
Published on Observer
When Nadella was appointed Microsoft CEO in 2014, he made Nonviolent Communication a priority, requiring his top executives to read this book written by American psychologist Marshall Rosenberg. The book emphasizes the importance of nonviolent emotional qualities, such as compassion and effective communication, in managing a large organization. Assigning the book to Microsoft’s top executives was seen as a key component of Nadella’s plan
to overhaul Microsoft’s intense, conflict-heavy culture at the time.
"Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can
instill in us."
~Hal Borland
Song
A Homeless Child Asking Santa for Help
I accidentally just discovered a holiday song when I came across a Toby Keith(country singer) song called ‘Santa I'm Right Here‘ I turned it on, just thinking it would be a typical holiday song, to discover it’s actually about a child’s letter asking for Santa’s help for his homeless family.
I felt so touched and wanted to help, then it occurred to me that I could share this song with the Nonviolent Communication Monthly Newsletter members asking for all of us to consider helping in whatever way we feel so inspired. PuddleDancer Press donated $1,000 to a local San Diego, CA Foodbank (San Diego Food Bank This is a big organization and is used to
funnel all kinds of food to various organizations.)
Marshall Rosenberg said for him, giving to others was his and he also believed this to be true for all of us, that the greatest joy for anybody was in giving to others.
"I believe that the most joyful and intrinsic motivation human beings have for taking any action is the desire to meet our needs and the needs of others." - Marshall Rosenberg
Whatever you choose to do, we thank you for a moment of your time. Thank you all so much for being on our NVC newsletter list and please make time to connect with loved one’s and please enjoy the holidays.
Warmly,
Puddle Dancer Press
Audio/Video
The Twelve (a new film release)
A Tale of Wisdom and Unity Shared by 12 Elders
The Twelve is a feature length documentary that gives a voice to wisdom traditions through the words of these twelve Elders. They share important messages that we can all benefit from in these troubled times. By reflecting on our behaviors and state of mind, we actively participate in implementing the new paradigm the Elders have created for us on the spiritual planes.
Setting New Year's Resolutions You're Likely to Meet
By Tiffany Meyer
Have you become a pessimist about setting resolutions for the new year — believing they’re a waste of time? Maybe you’re discouraged because inevitably a few weeks into January, the resolutions are forgotten, or you’re frustrated because you’re already off track? Make 2010 different. Follow these steps to create resolutions as a family that WILL be fulfilled.
How to Start Living Your True Potential in the New Year - Steps to Move Beyond Judgments and Live Your Best Life in the New Year
By Mary Mackenzie
Do you ever find yourself in the same emotional landscape over and over again? Okay, sure, the scenery and faces around you might be different, but sometimes does the way you feel - that tangible sense of dissatisfaction - seem all too familiar. Could it be heredity? Karma? A result of your childhood?
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new
dream."
~C.S. Lewis
January 2020 Book Specials
NVC Books!
The Healing Power of Empathy
True Stories About Transforming Relationships
Empathy is an essential leadership skill and a cornerstone of good relationships—but it can be hard to access when it's most needed. Luckily, empathy is also a learnable skill, with the power to move conversations out of gridlock and pain. With mindfulness, empathy has deescalated conflicts, combated loneliness, and built human connections in the most unlikely places. With this book, readers will learn how anger and blame
get translated and productive dialogues made possible, how to repair arguments before they cause damage, and how self-empathy transforms relationships.
Maybe you worry about how much effort and work is involved, or you think it isn't possible to have these things. Just like last year, you'll slip back into your old patterns. Well, there is a fun and easy way to begin to create your ideal life with little effort on your part. It starts by creating a values-based intention.
Conceived by Meiji Stewart - Illustrator David Blasidell
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is
called opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day."
The Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) is a global nonprofit organization founded by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D. We are dedicated to sharing Nonviolent Communication (NVC) around the world, and, to that end, we offer International Intensive Trainings and we certify individuals as trainers.
NVC is about connecting with ourselves and others from the heart. It’s about seeing the humanity in all of us. It’s about recognizing our commonalities and differences and finding ways to make life wonderful for all of us.
We added a NVC 3rd print edition recently with an additional chapter on 'Conflict Resolution and Mediation'. This is not included in the Sounds True recording.
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the
pilot."
~Michael Altshuler
NVC Free
Resources
Stay Connected to the Values of Compassion With the Free 366 Daily Peaceful Living Meditations. Read one sample
below
From the book Peaceful Living-Daily Meditations for Living, Love and Compassion
by Mary Mackenzie
If we ourselves remain angry and then sing world peace, it has little meaning. First, our individual self must learn peace. This we can practice. Then we can teach the rest of the world.
—The Dalai Lama
Setting Goals for the New Year
What do you want to focus on this year? What are your goals, hopes, and dreams? It’s important to make your goals concrete and specific. Don’t just say that you want to be happier; consider how you would like your life to be different. What if your goal is to support world peace by living your own life more peacefully? Consider the specific ways you will do this, such as learning Nonviolent Communication, taking a course on anger
management, working a twelve-step program, or seeing a therapist. If your goal is to contribute to world peace, your actions can be very specific and concrete. Avoid focusing on what you don’t want, such as conflict at work. Rather, focus on what you want, such as harmony at work. When your goals are concrete and positively worded, you can begin to manifest them. This simple process can have a profound impact on your success.
Take a few minutes today to write down your goals for the year, knowing that the goal-setting process is the first step toward manifesting your dreams.
Also Free Daily
Peaceful Living-Daily Meditations for Living, Love and Compassion by Mary Mackenzie
We hope you find value in our monthly newsletters. We would love to receive ANY feedback or suggestions you may want to share. Please let others know about our newsletter to help spread NVC, if you are willing :)
