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Exploring the Role of Nonviolent Intrapersonal Communication in Enhancing our Self-Concept for Evolution of Responsible Citizenship. Mediaciones, 32(20), pp.27-36.

In this paper, Munazah Shah and I explore Nonviolent Intrapersonal Communication : In contemporary times, a large number of individuals- due to multitude of concerns and challenges- often find themselves engaging in toxic or violent intrapersonal communication. They have to face difficult situations, varieties of inner conflicts and suffer from stress. Besides, violent intrapersonal communication leads to a negative self-concept and lowering of self-esteem. It is within this background that introducing nonviolent intrapersonal communication- to be nurtured and practiced in our daily lives- becomes crucial. By practicing nonviolent intrapersonal communication, a toxic inner communication ecosystem is transformed into a healthy one. When elements of nonviolent intrapersonal communication- like self-compassion, loving kindness towards self, avoidance of being judgmental towards self- are assimilated, the negative self-concept changes into a positive one.

Practical Application Questions:

1. How do you adapt NVC when cultural contexts are dramatically different?

2. What metrics do you use to measure NVC's effectiveness in conflict resolution?

3. How long does typical behavioral transformation take after NVC training?

Methodology Questions:

4. What specific techniques help participants overcome initial resistance to NVC?

5. How do you handle power imbalances during NVC dialogues?

6. What are the most common communication barriers you've encountered?

Contextual Questions:

7. How does NVC differ when applied in post-conflict versus ongoing conflict zones?

8. What role do community leaders play in sustaining NVC principles?

9. How do you prevent NVC from being perceived as a "weak" approach?

Skill Development Questions:

10. What foundational communication skills must participants develop first?

11. How do you train facilitators to maintain neutrality during sensitive dialogues?

12. What self-care strategies do NVC practitioners need?

Systemic Impact Questions:

13. Can NVC principles be integrated into formal institutional policies?

14. How can NVC contribute to long-term societal transformation?

15. What prevents NVC from being a temporary intervention versus sustainable change?

These questions probe the depth, adaptability, and transformative potential of non-violent communication across different contexts.

Practical Application Questions

1)As I have been pointing out right from the beginning, we need to look nonviolent communication as a holistic communication system. The fundamental elements of nonviolent communication has its echo in most of the cultural traditions.

For instance the core is the idea of human interdependence. When I know about my inherent link with you, it would dissuade me from being aggressive or using toxic language. The idea of human interdependence has reflection in almost all traditions. Here I am reminded of Chief of Seattle who said:

How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man. The white man’s dead forget the country of their birth when they go to walk among the stars. Our dead never forget their beautiful earth, for it is the mother of the red man. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the body heat of the pony and man – all belong to the same family.

Further, when we see the five pillars of nonviolence: respect, understanding, acceptance, appreciation and compassion. These are again universal values, which is reflected in all cultural contexts.

The challenge is to look at our own indigenous and cultural traditions and see how these traditions promote nonviolent communication. As I said the other day , we must try to look at how Ubuntu is a powerful strategy of nonviolent communication.

2)The core of any process of conflict resolution is communication. In conflict situation, the communication becomes dysfunctional and disrupted. There is negative communication. The challenge is to transform the negative to positive communication. It is where Mansi and my work on integrating the different elements of nonviolent communication in the process of conflict resolution comes into play. She will be sharing more of it during her session.

3) Unless and until one has utmost sincerity to practice nonviolent communication in one’s daily lives, no matter how many trainings we take part, we will not be able to bring behavioural change.

4) Most importantly, there are large number of individuals, especially young people who want training and counselling on how nonviolent communication can be a source of inner resilience and well-being, especially in the context of mental health issues.

If you remember, one of the sessions we have had was on intrapersonal communication. We have to start from our inner communication ecosystem first. If we are not in peace with ourselves, we cannot have peace in the world. Therefore, this is a critical part of nonviolent communication.

Contextual questions:

1) For post and ongoing conflicts, please read this paper on NVC in Ethiopian Crisis by Obuyi.

2) For adopting NVC , it has to start from within first, then institutions. Community leaders have major role to play to promote nonviolent communication in institutions.

3) Nonviolence is never for the weak, it is for the strong. We learn this from leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. Using nonviolent communication gives you the strength to engage even with your bitterest opponent in a logical way with reasoning.

Skill Development

1)Foundational skills needed:

Human dependence literacy

Nonviolent intrapersonal communication

Empathy

Compassion

Gratitude

Looking at things from multiple perspectives

Openness and flexibility

The 5-pillars of nonviolence

2)I personally have a totally different views of facilitators neutrality during sensitive dialogues. To me neutrality is a subjective term and we are leaving out the principles of humanity at the doorstep if we hinge on the idea of neutrality. Mansi and I have been working in this area and we strongly feel the mediator should be use the principles of humanism and compassion in our conflict transformation effort.

3)As NVC practitioners essentially turn inwards, they are more self-aware, they practice self-compassion, and loving kindness. Through these they can take care of themselves.

Systemic Impact Questions:

1)The tools and strategies needs to be integrated right from our families to all institutions. I have been conducting workshops for judicial officers, police officers, teachers, and many others. If integrated properly, it can contribute towards a harmonious communication ecosystem.

2)Using the capability approach, I think when we are using nonviolent communication as part of our daily lives, we are developing our capacities to make the right choice for ourselves be it in our relationships, or in other spheres. Also we are using it to reduce stress and developing the power of acceptance. Definitely it is going to help in long term behavioural transformation.

3)I think nonviolent communication needs to be a mass movement and a mission for all of us , then only we can realize its benefits. Only then we can see sustainable changes and not temporary interventions. I think it is a challenge which we all must get together to address.

Northeast Nigeria

of Ethiopia’s Tigray Crisis

Link to recorded lecture: https://leeds365-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/jlhv0880_leeds_ac_uk/EdR2MiBAJTxAqsb9pZ7xwDsBhY6yFH6fP1_BKM014bGV7A?e=cVFUyo

As part of the Training Programme, we have initiated a research project. While we do not assess you through a graded system, we still believe that through your participation in the course, there is a personal as well as community impact. The research project is hence crucial.

Please watch this video and let me know if you have any questions.

Click on the play button. Alternatively use the link https://shorturl.at/UkLpE or https://leeds365-my.sharepoint.com/personal/jlhv0880_leeds_ac_uk/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fjlhv0880%5Fleeds%5Fac%5Fuk%2FDocuments%2FRecordings%2FSLIA%20Research%20Project%2D20250605%5F175702%2DMeeting%20Recording%2Emp4&nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJTdHJlYW1XZWJBcHAiLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJTaGFyZURpYWxvZy1MaW5rIiwicmVmZXJyYWxBcHBQbGF0Zm9ybSI6IldlYiIsInJlZmVycmFsTW9kZSI6InZpZXcifX0&ga=1&referrer=StreamWebApp%2EWeb&referrerScenario=AddressBarCopied%2Eview%2E175640dc%2D6256%2D4be1%2Db41b%2D65c454bec14d

Best,

Janith Perera.

• 1-page written reflection

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As part of the Training Programme, we have initiated a research project. While we do not assess you through a graded system, we still believe that through your participation in the course, there is a personal as well as community impact. The research project is hence crucial.

Please watch this video and let me know if you have any questions.

Click on the play button. Alternatively use the link https://shorturl.at/UkLpE or https://leeds365-my.sharepoint.com/personal/jlhv0880_leeds_ac_uk/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fjlhv0880%5Fleeds%5Fac%5Fuk%2FDocuments%2FRecordings%2FSLIA%20Research%20Project%2D20250605%5F175702%2DMeeting%20Recording%2Emp4&nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJTdHJlYW1XZWJBcHAiLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJTaGFyZURpYWxvZy1MaW5rIiwicmVmZXJyYWxBcHBQbGF0Zm9ybSI6IldlYiIsInJlZmVycmFsTW9kZSI6InZpZXcifX0&ga=1&referrer=StreamWebApp%2EWeb&referrerScenario=AddressBarCopied%2Eview%2E175640dc%2D6256%2D4be1%2Db41b%2D65c454bec14d

Best,

Janith Perera.

Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lzfYO5Aa9AldYLuuI8AGvsLltwZP73AvZWo42Egsd4o/edit?usp=sharing