Finding love in a violent world

Never before has there been a greater need for more love, more connection and more humanity in the world. Our news feeds are filled with hurt, harm and trauma and increasingly, communities are responding out of their own fear in all sorts of ways. Social media is saturated with opinions (and the urgent need to express them).
It can be very overwhelming.
The fear that we feel is real and precious and worthy of being held and listened to. I know, for me, I feel a deep fear for my own children and the world that they will grow to experience. I deeply want them to be sheltered from the potential of other humans to do terrible, hurtful things. That fear comes out of deep love.
Firstly, I see that a commitment to nvc is a world view. It is an orientation to love and peace, over and above all things. And after that comes the practice and the hard work of what it means to become love in the world. And part of that practice is simply feeling the pain of pain. Being present to the fear and hearing what it is offering, as well as knowing the place that it comes from. When we can connect deeply with our fear, we are in tune with it and less reactive from it. This is part of connecting to love in the world.






This quote from Ghandi is one that I find to be very beautiful in terms of the power of love. However, in NVC, there is a recognition - as painfully hard as it can be - that once one is connected to one's own self (and all those emotions and needs that go with it), we can see humanity in the other (aka those "tyrants and murderers") and seek some understanding in what needs they are trying to meet. Because all people are always trying to meet a need, no matter what actions they are taking to meet it.
But regardless, love is what is invincible. Love cannot ever die out and there is always more love in the world than not. It will not save the lives of those who fall to terrible actions right now, but we all can have a part of increasing the love and human connection in the world…right in this moment.
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