From Enmity to Empathy: How NVC can help us lose weight – Reethah Desai

“Why can’t they just… “

“It’s their fault… they shouldn’t have…”

What they did was wrong… the way they are treating me is…”

“If it weren’t for them, then everything would be fine… “

“The problem with them is…  the problem is with them… ”

“Something is wrong with them… they are… ”

“If they are not for me, then they must be against me… ”

Thoughts like this can come easily when we experience a problem in our life. However, blaming judgments that create “enemy” or “othering” images in our minds are like emotional kilos that we carry around with us.

Perhaps you have been at the giving or receiving end of wronging or blaming because many of us were raised and live in a culture and system that uses this as an accepted strategy.

This kind of thinking is actually trying to protect something important. Empathy can help us to discover what that is and to appreciate both the benefits and the costs to ourselves and our relationships. And then if we wish, we can choose alternative strategies to wronging and blaming that can support us to reduce, even resolve, the conflict that such thinking can create in our lives – and shift some emotional kilos.

Suitable for everyone (beginner, refresher or progression): you choose which skill or micro-skill, which skill level and which intensity level to work on to meet your learning needs.

For this session, you will need 5 sheets of blank paper (A4 works well) and something to write with.

Some colours are helpful (colouring pencils, crayons, felt pens etc.). Also a Needs list.

[Workshop organised in the frame of Time for Empathy 2024]

When: 5 March 2024, 11:30-13:30 CET (Berlin time)

How: ONLINE on ZOOM

Recording:

Most of the workshops during “Time for Empathy” are not recorded, so the only possibility to participate is to join the session. The sessions that will be recorded, we will make available to others if the quality is satisfying. We may also use parts of the recording for marketing and publicity across various media. If you do not wish to be recorded, switch off your camera and microphone for the whole duration of the session.

Language: English

Cost: FREE

Registration: 

To take part in this workshop, register for the “Time for Empathy” event here: https://www.empathiceurope.com/time-for-empathy/

NOTE: Register only ONCE for the whole event and receive access to all “Time for Empathy” workshops organised between 3 and 10 March 2024.

About the trainer:

Reethah Desai

My contribution towards a kinder, healthier society is in my journey to embody the change I long for in the world as a “living answer”. I am an accredited Advanced Restorative Justice Practitioner with the UK Restorative Justice Council and I also work in Conflict Resolution-Mediation and in relational communication. I am also a qualified coach-mentor, educator-trainer and facilitator.

I love integrating the strengths of multiple modalities into my sessions. My approach is humanistic-oriented, trauma-informed, and guided by science research, ancient wisdoms & spirituality, somatics & embodiment, creative-expressive arts. And most importantly enjoying fun along the way.

To my understanding of life and work, I bring: my MSc in Strategy, Change and Leadership; 30 years working at the grassroots and leading teams and organisational change; a systemic power-diversity-equity-inclusion frame informed by my lived experience of intersectionality and having lived in three continents; 10 years developing an intentional co-housing community, 5 years sharing NVC.