Marshall B. Rosenberg Quotes about Giving

Your presence is the most precious gift you can give to another human being.

When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.

When it comes to giving advice, never do so unless you've first received a request in writing, signed by a lawyer.

The best way I can get understanding from another person is to give this person the understanding, too. If I want them to hear my needs and feelings, I first need to empathize.

When you ride the wave, the thrill is so exhilarating that you forget everything else. You live in the moment where nothing else matters, so intent on riding the wave perfectly that you and the wave become one. Pain and worry disappear, replaced by euphoria, akin to flow. Similarly, when giving empathy, you want to strive for this kind of total presence for the person you are listening to.

What I want in my life is compassion a flow between myself and others based on mutual giving from the heart.

We need empathy to give empathy. When we sense ourselves being defensive or unable to empathize, we need to (a) stop, breathe, give ourselves empathy, (b) scream nonviolently, or (c) take time out.

We are designed for Giving

Often, instead of offering empathy, we have a strong urge to give advice or reassurance and to explain our own position or feeling.

We need empathy to give empathy.

If we become skilled in giving ourselves empathy, we often experience in just a few seconds a natural release of energy which then enables us to be present with the other person. If this fails to happen, however, we have a couple of other choices.

Empathy gives you the ability to enjoy another person's pain.

We give empathy to others for our own benefit.

Never give advice to your children unless you have it in writing and notarized.

NVC gives us tools and understanding to create a more peaceful state of mind.

We need to receive empathy to give empathy.