CoFSA

COFSA

Non-Violent Communication

In September 2023 CoFSA hosted a session to delve into Non Violent Communication and its potential in supporting the shift towards more sustainable and regenerative food systems. Specifically, the event emphasized NVC’s role in navigating polarized and conflicting environments, aiming to cultivate connections and foster profound collaborations within these systems.

Facilitated by esteemed NVC Trainers participants were guided through a practice session highlighting the pragmatic application of NVC in a specific context-based food project.

  • Gina Seilern, NVC Trainer (UK)
  • Adam ÄŒajka, NVC Trainer (Czech Republic)
  • Shammi Nanda, NVC Trainer (India)

What emerged is that: in the individual dimension, NVC fosters a deep sense of self-connection and a greater awareness of our personal needs. This process not only brings clarity to our emotions and desires, but also nurtures a deep sense of empathy towards ourselves and others, abandoning judgment. This newfound empathy becomes the cornerstone for building more meaningful and compassionate connections with our surroundings, ultimately enriching our relationships and interactions with the world.

Moving on to the collective dimension, NVC assumes a critical role in navigating the intricate and polarized landscape of food systems. By promoting effective communication and facilitating the exploration of shared interests, even amidst seemingly opposing perspectives, NVC emerges as a powerful catalyst for fruitful dialogue and the development of inclusive and creative solutions.Through this approach, individuals can bridge divides and foster understanding, paving the way for cooperative and harmonious outcomes that benefit diverse communities and society as a whole.

Let’s practice Non-violent communication

Exercise in pair

  1. Select a Person or Situation: Begin by selecting a person about whom you hold a judgment or think of a situation that triggered negative emotions such as irritation, hurt, or disappointment.
  2. Prepare for Sharing: Partner up and ensure both you and your partner have a shared screen and access to a whiteboard or a virtual shared document where you can both write.
  3. Celebrate Your “Jackals”: Start by allowing yourself to express all your uncensored thoughts of judgment, comparison, and any “have-to” or “should” beliefs you have regarding the other person or even towards yourself. Your partner can write down these judgments in one color on the whiteboard.
  4. Explore Your Needs: Next, refer to your Needs List, and together with your partner, work to identify the underlying needs beneath these judgments. Your partner can write down these needs in a different color on the whiteboard.

By following these steps, you’ll gain insight into the judgments you hold and the unmet needs behind them, fostering greater self-awareness and facilitating healthier communication and understanding.

(1) Non Violent Communication, A consciousness Practice to transform Food Systems – YouTube

Academic Literature:

  • EAT BY CHOICE, NOT BY HABIT, Practical Skills for Creating a Healthy Relationship With Your Body and Food, By Sylvia Haskvitz
  • NON- VIOLENT COMMUNICATION A LANGUAGE OF LIFE, Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships, By Marshall Rosenberg
  • REWEAVING OUR HUMAN FABRIC, Working Together to Create a Nonviolent Future, By Miki Kashtan
  • THE HIGHEST COMMON DENOMINATOR, Using Convergent Facilitation to Reach Breakthrough Collaborative Decisions, By Miki Kashtan

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