The Practice of Life-Serving Communication

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Join us on September 13 at 6pm for an interactive workshop on The Practice of Life-Serving Communication.

“The hearing that is only in the ears is one thing. The hearing of the understanding is another. But the hearing of the spirit is not limited to any one faculty, to the ear, or to the mind. Hence it demands the emptiness of all the faculties. And when the faculties are empty, then the whole being listens. There is then a direct grasp of what is right there before you that can never be heard with the ear or understood with the mind” ~Chuang-Tzu

There are patterns in our individual communication styles that we have accepted as the norm. A child grows to lose his/her authentic voice and is taught to see the world and the people in it in binaries – right and wrong; good and bad; black or white. We are taught to judge, compete, demand and diagnose each other. Do any of the following statements sound familiar to you?

• “She talks too loud and too much”
• “If you loved me, you would not have done that”
• “He is selfish and never listens to me”
• “I feel like I am being manipulated”
• “You frustrate me when you come late”
• “You should finish the task, or else….”

The above are all examples of what is referred to as “life-alienating communication”. Which means the use of blame, threats, guilt, shame and coercion underlying such statements removes us from effectively meeting our needs in each moment. In expressing our feelings and needs in terms of what another person has “done to us” puts us in the victimhood seat, further alienating us from reaching a mutually desired outcome.

Join us on September 13, as AWiB board member, Billene Seyoum, shares the methods of this practice, in a workshop designed to challenge assumptions and help connect us with what is alive in ourselves and in others moment-to-moment, with what we or others could do to make life more wonderful, and with an awareness of what gets in the way of natural giving and receiving. This workshop is based on the ground breaking work of psychologist, Marshal B. Rosenberg (PhD).

The basic assumptions inherent in this method are:

• A natural state of compassion that we all possess
• At the root of misunderstandings and conflict are unmet needs
• Unexpressed feelings alienate us from our source of empathy
• We later pay for short term results gained through the use of guilt, shame, blame and obligation

Come pick up and use these life changing skills that will not only transform and enrich your personal relationships by helping you tap deeper and understand your own needs, but also guide you in reframing how you express yourself and how you hear others express their needs, in various contexts.

To be a leader in your personal lives, in your workplace and in your daily interactions is to communicate compassionately.

“The highest form of intelligence is the ability to observe without evaluating” ~Jiddu Krishnamurti

Date: September 13, 2012

Venue: Hilton Hotel

Time: 6 PM

Entrance: 60 Birr members; 100 Birr non members; refreshments will be provided.

Please email info@awib.org.et to confirm attendance as we need an accurate headcount. And don’t forget your checkbook. We are confident you want to join us as members! Those who sign-up and pay for membership on the spot at our monthly events are eligible for a 20% discount on the annual fee.