What We Say Matters: Practicing Nonviolent Communication

By Judith Hanson Lasater, Ike Lasater, Ike K. Lasater

Book Overview

Drawing from Buddhist and yogic precepts, this practical guide offers tools for becoming a better, more compassionate communicator at home, at work, and in the world

Have you ever tried to tell someone what you want only to feel misunderstood and frustrated? Or hesitated to ask for what you needed because you didn't want to burden the other person? Or been stuck in blame or anger that wouldn't go away?

Judith and Ike Lasater, long-term students of yoga and Buddhism, experienced dilemmas like these, too. Even though they had studied the yoga principle of satya (truth) and the Buddhist precept of right speech, it was not until they began practicing Marshall Rosenberg's techniques of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) that they understood how to live satya and right speech.

In What We Say Matters, Judith and Ike describe their journey through NVC and how speech becomes a spiritual practice based on giving and receiving with compassion--everywhere, all the time--whether at home, at work, or in the world. Their writing is deeply personal, punctuated by their recounts of trial and error, success and failure, laughter and challenge--even in writing this book! They guide you through an introduction to NVC with clear explanations, poignant examples, suggested exercises, and helpful resources. With practice, you'll learn new ways to:

- Extend empathy to yourself and others
- Distinguish between feelings and needs
- Make requests rather than demands
- Choose connection over conflict
- Create mutually satisfying outcomes

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1930485247
• ISBN13: 9781930485242
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Rodmell Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Bought for a Yoga class and loved it!

I took a yoga elective class for my last semester of undergrad, and this book was a requirement. However, it was GREAT. I would highly recommend this book to everyone and anyone, especially people wanting to learn how to communicate better in their relationships. I finished the book, made notes, and passed it on to a friend who also loved it. Such a great, informative, and eye-opening read.