The Spiritual Path of Nonviolent Communication

Nonviolent Communication offers powerful skills to awaken self-compassion and deepen our connection to the “divine” within ourselves and others.

This book by a clinical psychologist who was one of the pioneers of NVC offers guidance and exercises—solo and paired—to directly experience NVC as a spiritual practice.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a potent, increasingly influential communication art that benefits interpersonal communication. But clinical psychologist and NVC pioneer Robert Gonzales also taught it as a tool to cultivate self-compassion and spiritual development. This book is an introduction to experiencing NVC as a connection to the “divine” within ourselves and others.  

In this book, based on a series of talks and published posthumously, Gonzales introduces basic, foundational concepts of NVC—observation, feelings, needs, and requests—and then illuminates how they can lead to compassion—and ultimately a transcendent sense of connection with others. This sense of spirit manifests as the needs, longings, and values underlying whatever we hear or say, and it can be experienced in every moment and during every conversation. Gonzales shows that by expressing what is most important to us (our passion) and listening for the essence of what others express, no matter what words they use (compassion), we embody the Divine.  

Gonzales addresses anger, fear, grief, and impermanence, pointing out that choices are always present for us to embrace or resist life. Each chapter includes exercises—to do alone or with a partner—to directly embody the concepts of spirituality that Gonzales introduces, showing simple and practical ways to access the Divine right here, right now."Robert Gonzales was pivotal in deepening the practice of NVC from a linguistic tool to a pathway of self-development. He offered insights into the reality that we have a transformational choice in all we say and do—and that the beauty of all human values is ultimately shared. Consequently, that idea that compassion for another is also self-compassion plays a large part in my own life and the lives of many others. This wonderful book brings all these ideas together."—Richard Broadbent, author of Choosing Life, and The Spirit of Compassionate CommunicationROBERT GONZALES’S​ work of Living Compassion emerged from more than 30 years of teaching Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and a lifetime of inquiry into the intersection between spirituality and human communication. His influences included Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, Stephen R. Schwartz, and other spiritual teachers. Gonzales received a PhD in clinical psychology in 1989 and practiced for many years. He began teaching NVC in 1986.