The focus of the NVC LIFE program is to deepen and integrate the consciousness that is the foundation of NVC. This entails a focus on needs consciousness as well as developing a greater awareness of core jackal thinking and beliefs that prevent living in a more present, authentic way. The program's intention is to support participants in developing an embodied spirituality and a way to engage in a conscious practice of full aliveness, everyday, moment-to-moment.
The NVC LIFE program is intended for people who have intermediate to advanced skills in NVC. Participants are expected to already have the ability to apply the basic skills of expressing honestly, self-empathy and empathizing with others.
There is a process of application to the program. Each year, 20 - 24 people are accepted into the program. Each class is limited in size to ensure a quality of learning that goes with smaller groups. Applications can be requested and received between January and August of the year prior to start of each class. The application process for the 2009/2010 program is now closed. The 2010/2011 program will be announced in January 2009. To receive an announcement and invitation to apply, send your request via email to phyllis@prescottnvc.org.
The NVC LIFE Program is a two year commitment. Each year, there are two, seven day retreats in Arizona -- one in the spring and one in the fall. In between the retreats, there are two, two-hour teleconferences and two, one-hour individual telephone sessions with Robert Gonzales. There are also on-going, peer facilitated telephone practice sessions to support the work in the months between retreats.
The approximate cost of the program is $3200 - $3500 UDS per year which includes full tuition and all room and board for two, seven day retreats.
Building and developing a strong and clear foundation is a basis for applying the NVC process in our lives. Without this inner foundation, it is easier to practice NVC as a mechanical or rote process, or to get stuck in jackal reactivity, without the living quality of needs.
The primary focus of the NVC LIFE Program is to develop awareness of the consciousness of “the living energy of needs” or “the beauty of needs.” I have found this aspect to be the core of living and integrating NVC into life. The deepening work that I focus on is to establish a clear pathway to first, identifying, then experiencing and cultivating this consciousness. I have developed processes/tools that serve this integration and development.
The following are the names of some of the processes/exercises with the living energy or the beauty of needs:
The other major aspect to developing the foundational consciousness is the ability to transform our life-alienating thinking and reactivity to the life serving, authenticity of “giraffe” consciousness.
The LIFE program will also include other processes that are not necessarily “NVC” processes on the surface. They will serve the development of a more present, authentic consciousness and are very consistent with NVC. These processes are related to the notion of authentic self and essential nature. One of these processes is a self-inquiry process that supports self-awareness. Self-inquiry as a contemplation when shared in a communication context can be a powerful and effective way to deepen and clarify consciousness.
I have found that in order to fully integrate and live NVC, it requires a moment-to-moment awareness practice. I regard this as a spiritual practice in the midst of everyday life. It includes a mindfulness practice and inner transformational practices that, in broad sense, can be described as movement from our primary center of gravity and identification with life-alienating consciousness to authentic, life-serving consciousness.
The intention of this program is to follow a development and sequence in both the retreats and in the telephone sessions. The sequence is from inner development to application in relationship. The first retreat will focus primarily on the inner work (including empathy and dialogue practice near the end) and subsequent retreats will focus on living NVC in relationship.
Robert Gonzales