Being Moved: Skills for listening to the heart (Deepening Empathy Skills)

8th Feb 2020 - 9th Feb 2020
09:45 -17:00
£100 / £150 Gift price £200
LED BY Sarah Ludford

Bookings and more information

Certified Facilitator

'To listen is to continually give up all expectation and to give our attention, completely and freshly, to what is before us, not really knowing what we will hear or what that will mean. In the practice of our days, to listen is to lean in, softly, with a willingness to be changed by what we hear' Mark Nepo Our listening presence is a gift we can bring to ourselves and others. A deep quality of being here, being with what is, without judgement, and without trying to change anything. Even if what we hear is difficult and we disagree, non-judgemental listening is a first step to understanding ourselves and others. When we find the willingness to fully hear, the depth of understanding and meaning we receive brings a new quality of being with each other, a new quality of knowing and seeing ourselves and others. Listening with empathy is a core element of Nonviolent Communication (NVC). Human Beings are hardwired for empathy but our capacity for empathy can become reduced. At a time when society is becoming more polarised, to listen from the heart, to understand, and to be willing to be moved by what we hear is becoming an essential skill for the Human Race. We need to be willing to open our hearts and listen if we are to find ways to work together and to create the kind of families, work places, governments and communities that will enable is to thrive. In this course, we will explore and practice offering and receiving this quality of presence, so we can meet ourselves and each other with compassion and understanding, whether the others be friends, family, co-workers, community members, people with whom we agree or disagree. Over the course of the two days we will focus on:
  •       Self- empathy and self-compassion
  •       Building empathy skills
  •       Staying in empathy with hard to hear messages
  •       Shifting from empathy to self-empathy and back again
  •       Staying with difficult feelings
  •       Welcoming the jackal and staying in empathy
  •       What gets in the way of listening
  •       How to ask for empathy
  •       When not to listen
  •       The dance of communication
Deepening the foundation courses build on the learning from the foundation course and provide opportunities to practice skills and increase your ability to use Nonviolent Communication in your daily life (Pre-requisite: 2-day foundation training or equivalent).   ????????? ????????????
  • £100 (concession) / £150 (full price) / £200 (gift price - pay this amount if you would like to support someone with less financial resources to attend the course).
  • For more information about contributions and how much to pay, please go to https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xmgO-RP7KfuPHNft6UlWZoW5DuMGoCHaJTlObwO7wKQ/edit?usp=sharing
  • It is Sarah’s intention to enable all who want to, to be able to participate, regardless of financial situation, whilst also making it sustainable for her to offer these workshops.
  • If you want to attend and are struggling with this financially, please get in touch to discuss alternatives by emailing Sarah at sarah@sarahludford.co.uk