Language of the Heart to Be Spoken at LLLI Conference
by Mary Hurt
LLLI Public Relations Associate
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 38 No. 3, June-July 2002 p. 69.
A La Leche League International
Conference is a lot like a reunion of the world breastfeeding family.
Unlike most families we bring a diversity of languages and cultures
to the family hearth, we bring a diversity of approaches to building
a world where breastfeeding is the norm. Leaders, peer counselors, lactation
consultants, other health care professionals, breastfeeding activists,
and parents from around the globe come to the LLLI gathering to learn,
to laugh, to celebrate, and to share their varying perspectives. No
matter what our language of origin, no matter how we approach achieving
our goals, we speak the common language of breastfeeding.
Like a family that relies
on the unique contributions of each member, we are stronger because
of our individual parts, and like a family, more successful communication
will increase our effectiveness.
At this Conference we will
grow in our ability to speak what has been described as “the language
of the heart.” Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD, will be the opening
night speaker at LLLI’s 18th International Conference: Strength
through Diversity, Creating One Breastfeeding World, July 3-6, 2003
in San Francisco, California, USA. Dr. Rosenberg is the founder and
director of educational services for the Center for Nonviolent Communication,
an international, nonprofit organization with the goal of helping people
compassionately connect to themselves and one another using language
as one of the tools. A clinical psychologist and sought-after speaker
in countries around the world, in 2002 Dr. Rosenberg will be speaking
in countries as diverse as Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Pakistan, Argentina,
Puerto Rico, and Canada. He is the author of several articles, pamphlets,
and books including Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion,
A Model for Nonviolent Communication, and Raising Children Compassionately:
Parenting the Nonviolent Way.
For more than 30 years, Dr.
Rosenberg has worked with educators, health care providers, diplomats,
individual families, and scores of others trying to promote reconciliation
and peaceful resolution of differences. He is also active in war-torn
areas and economically disadvantaged countries. Dr. Rosenberg has trained
countless individuals to provide the language of compassion to individuals
who train others in their own communities and in their own languages.
Dr. Rosenberg states in his
book Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion:
While studying the factors
that affect our ability to stay compassionate, I was struck by the
crucial role of language and our use of words. I have since identified
a specific approach to communicating—speaking and listening—that
leads us to give from the heart, connecting us with ourselves and
with each other in a way that allows our natural compassion to flourish.
I call this approach “Nonviolent Communication,” using the
term nonviolence as Gandhi used it—to refer to our natural state
of compassion when violence has subsided from the heart. While we
may not consider the way we talk to be “violent,” our words
often lead to hurt and pain, whether for ourselves or others.
Dr. Rosenberg is joining
us from his home in Hungary to share his message:“What I want in
my life is compassion, a flow between myself and others based on a mutual
giving from the heart.”
Start planning to attend the breastfeeding family reunion in San Francisco,
California, USA. There is still plenty of time to plan fundraising events
so that at least one Leader or Leader Applicant from every Group can
attend. Some Groups are “Walking to the Conference,” i.e.,
using Group profits from the World Walk for Breastfeeding; others are
planning events from garage sales to baby photo contests. Picture yourself
in the breastfeeding family album and begin planning to attend today.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002 4:41 PM
by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:32:16 UTC 2007.
