Practicing Compassion for Yourself and Others - Three Month Guided Practice Group

This group will follow the 12-week curriculum in The Ongo Book: Everyday Nonviolence by Catherine Cadden and Jesse Wiens. Both of the authors are certified trainers with the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC). The curriculum consists of readings, discussions, and practices designed to help people connect compassionately with themselves and others. It combines Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication (NVC) framework, mindfulness and meditation practices, and teachings from different wisdom/spiritual traditions. The authors emphasize paying attention to one's breath and body sensations in order to ground awareness in the present moment, identify one's emotional states, and consider universal human needs. They also emphasize listening to others with presence, curiosity, and an intention to connect as well as speaking with honesty and kindness.

In addition to weekly group gatherings, participants will meet one-on-one with others in the group to do paired exercises (in person or over the phone). They will also do individual practices on their own. To get the full benefit of this group and to support the learning of other group members, each person is asked to commit to:

• attending a majority of the weekly group gatherings, including the final gathering,
• meeting with another member of the group most weeks for paired exercises,
• do a majority of the individual practices,
• setting aside 4-5 hours each week for participation in the various meetings and practices.

Although Josh Mann is listed as the trainer, Christina Pecue will guide this three-month practice group. Christina recently completed a similar three-month practice group led by Josh.