http://www.compassionate-living.com Authentic expression. Empathic connection. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:55:40 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en To arrive at understanding from being one’s true self is called nature. To arrive at being one’s true self from understanding is called culture. Confucius Natural Our consciousness is based on human needs that are in harmony with our heart. Habitual How we have been conditioned to think/perceive through our justice and school systems, family, ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=48 “There have been times when I found myself wanting to show someone what a marvelously insightful teacher and healer I turned out to be. I want whoever is with me to be impressed with my wit and wisdom as a counselor, and I subtly hold them hostage until they are ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=47 Thank you to Miki Kashtan for contributing so much to my understanding of this topic. If you would like to read an article by Miki on the topic of transforming power relations click here. Power defined from an NVC perspective: the capacity to mobilize resources to meet needs. In this ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=44 Once you know That nobody Can take from you What is really yours You stop trying To protect it. Ruth Bebermeyer Vulnerability My attention is on my needs. There is a readiness to feel. I need strength to be vulnerable. I am sticking my neck out because I am sharing myself vulnerably and people may not respond in a connected ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=42 “We should judge our success in loving not by those who admire us for our accomplishments, but by the number of those who attribute their wholeness to our loving them, by the number of those who have seen their beauty in our eyes, heard their goodness acknowledged in the warmth ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=41 Shift Attention is on needs. When I am aware of both my needs and the needs of the other person I have a wider perspective than I would if I were just aware of my own needs or the needs of the other. From this wider perspective, I may find myself ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=40 If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness. By giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=39 Choice My action is controlled from the inside. My attention is on my feelings and needs. Only when I am conscious of my needs am I truly free to choose. The key to this differentiation is that whatever I choose, I am very clear that I am acting to meet my own needs. ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=38 “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never allow us to bring about genuine change.” Audre Lorde Self-Empathy Attention is on my feelings. I own the responsibility for my feelings. I have a willingness to explore and connect with ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=37 “Observation without evaluation is the highest form of human intelligence.” Krishnamurti Observation - An observation is what we experience directly with our senses. What we hear, smell, touch, see and taste. An observation contains “just the facts”; what a video recorder with sound could record without any words that imply wrongness ... http://www.compassionate-living.com/?p=34