Imagination
guided meditations on the life energy of universal human needs
"Don't confuse the map with the territory." - Marshall Rosenberg
As we're learning about our needs, we may focus on the words themselves instead of the living energy that they point to. These guided meditations are intended to help reconnect the words to the life energy of needs by engaging the imagination.
Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash
Imagining Our Needs
Excerpts from The Joy of Compassionate Connecting - The Way of Christ Through Nonviolent Communication, Chapter 11. We Are Part of the Garden.
Used with permission from the author
The Joy of Compassionate Connecting
The Way of Christ Through Nonviolent Communication
Re-imagining the Gospels through the lens of Nonviolent Communication
Beauty
Think about staring into a meadow with a hundred different shades of green. Think of the majesty of ancient pine trees, or the simple rippling sound of a stream of fresh running water. Recall the soothing sound of the waves crashing on the sand at the beach and the green glow of sunlight through a wave just before it breaks. Think about gazing into the center of a rose and smelling its sweet, pungent fragrance.
Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash
Integrity
Integrity calls us to act in ways that are consistent with our hearts, ways to live outwardly in harmony with what we know to be true inside. This space within us is stimulated when we see others acting in ways consistent with their values. We are self-similar25 when we look at our lives in different settings within our various spheres of influence, both internal and external—and they’re similar. We authentically behave in ways congruent with our values. Integrity is the opposite of hypocrisy.
Meditations
Musings inspired by the Life Energy of Needs
Needs Flower
"Needs are life energy in us seeking fulfillment" - Julie Greene of BayNVC
Core needs are highlighted in the needs flower for the guided meditations. Needs are often confused with strategies -- what we do to meet our needs. Strategies are related to People, Locations, Actions, Times or Objects (PLATO) - thanks Miki Kashtan. Needs are in harmony with each other (no conflict in needs). The Needs Flower was inspired by Jim & Jori Manske's Needs Wheel (radicalcompassion dot com) - modified to match the natural metaphor of a flower - giving full representation to personal, inter-personal, physical and transcendent needs.
10. Transcendence
"Existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level" (Oxford dictionary)
8. Peace
freedom from disturbance; tranquility. a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended (Oxford dictionary)
1. Survival
the act or fact of surviving, especially under adverse or unusual circumstances. To remain or continue in existence (dictionary.com)
Other Practices
practices that encourage imagination help to more deeply experience needs
Dream work
Photo by Jaime Handley on UnsplashWriting dreams in a journal, listening and striving to understand what the unconscious is telling us can be a source of imagination.
Deep imagination artwork
Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on UnsplashUnleashing your creativity through art nurtures our imagination and ability to more deeply relate to words that we use to describe our needs.
Poetry
Photo by Roland Mey on PixabayReading poetry can help you enter liminal space, a zone between the conscious and unconscious, where it's easier to connect to the living energy of needs. Writing from the heart can be a gift to oneself and others; reading ones work to others can more deeply connect us to our life experience.
Satisfaction guaranteed for 30 days from date of purchase. Sales of the Heart-Canvas Banners are final.
Your personal information is not shared with third parties.