The four life themes are: Being Welcome, Having Space, Being Held, and Being Alive. When one of these themes is addressed, it often elicits a deep, quiet agreement from a fundamental, perhaps even unconscious level. These themes are significant from the beginning of life and develop into central aspects of our existence.

Being Welcome

A sense of being welcome often develops at birth. Rituals around the world welcome children. People who feel welcome show themselves openly and friendly in groups. However, not everyone experiences this sense of welcome from the start. Circumstances can impair this feeling. Later in life, these individuals may often feel rejected and excluded, leading them to make enormous efforts to gain acceptance. A simple, heartfelt welcome can already do much to nurture the feeling of being welcome.

Having Space

Having a place in the world means stability. Children and adults who know their place are present and set boundaries, but they can also give space to others. Yet, some people constantly struggle for their place or withdraw for fear of not being seen. The need for space is both physical and emotional. In parenting seminars, it is often emphasized how important it is for children to have their own space, but parents should also take time and space for themselves.

Being Held

The feeling of being held reflects basic trust. People who feel held have trust in life and others. Lack of trust often leads to a need for control. Instead of being held, these people try to hold everything themselves. For these individuals, stable family and social structures, clear communication, and reliability in relationships are particularly important.

Being Alive

Being alive means living one’s own life and not just meeting the expectations of others. It is about recognizing and living one’s own desires and needs. This aliveness requires self-reflection and the ability to feel oneself, rather than just fulfilling role demands. Self-exploration questions such as “What does this have to do with me?” or “What does this fulfill for me?” can help clarify this life theme.

These four life themes are of fundamental importance and profoundly shape every person’s life. 

We will explore these topics by confronting our beliefs and patterns that are not beneficial to life. We will learn to set boundaries that serve the relationship, experience being held in trust and show up to be seen.

Explore with me how to enrich our lives and use life’s energy creatively by navigating the streams of passion and compassion. We’ll work on finding a balance between self-connection, honest self-expression, and building bridges through empathetic connection with others, all while seeking interdependence.

We will identify and overcome obstacles that block connection and examine our behavioral patterns. By engaging with intense emotions such as shame, guilt, and anger, we will create new intuitive pathways to more joyful, life-enriching experiences. We’ll also tap into our body’s intelligence to delve into the essence of NVC and master the art of speaking peace.

Through a series of practical exercises involving speaking, movement, and conscious touch, we’ll embody these principles. Please wear loose clothing to allow for free movement during these activities.

What Exactly is NVC and How Do We Do It?

What will we cover in this intensive (over 5 mornings during the convention):

We will use experiential exercises (you will work with your own examples you bring), as well as a ‘learning by doing’ approach to identify the principles of NVC and how to apply NVC to any situation in your life (from professional settings and leadership roles, to social change, to personal relationships, to your relationship with yourself). This session will cover the foundations of NVC: NVC’s purpose, principles, what is an NVC consciousness, and key tools we use to practice NVC and build our NVC consciousness. 

We will cover these specific topics:

• Purpose of NVC
• The concept of universal needs
• NVC Feelings (vs thoughts)
• Disconnecting language
• NVC Empathy
• NVC observations (vs evaluations)
• NVC requests (vs demands)
• Choice in how we react to any situation
• Putting together all of the elements in conflict scenarios

Who is this track for?

This track is designed for anyone new to NVC or beginners (those who have not had a lot of practice with NVC or would like a foundational introduction to NVC or would like a refresher). This track at the convention is also designated for people interested in applying NVC in leadership roles, professional contexts, or social change settings; as well in personal relationships. NVC can support those in leadership or professional settings by gaining skills in listening, identifying needs, holding all views with care, mediating conflict, and selecting optimal strategies for different circumstances.