by Yvette Erasmus | Jan 2, 2018 | Empowerment, Compassion, NVC
We lived in Germany when I was in elementary school and each year for the holidays we would visit extended family “back home” in South Africa.I’d always be just a little more grown up.Hugging and welcoming us, family would turn to me saying with glowing, love...
by Yvette Erasmus | Sep 12, 2017 | Communication, Empowerment, NVC, Courage
When I get triggered by something, I often find myself reacting defensively by blaming, judging and avoiding the person or conversation.I get all reactive and evasive.When my instincts are to fight, or flee or freeze up, it can be hard to stay relational,...
by Yvette Erasmus | May 16, 2017 | Communication, NVC
While grading papers for a graduate class I’m teaching at St. Mary’s University recently, I realized my approaching to “grading” has fundamentally transformed since I began teaching in the mid-1990’s. It’s become much more gentle. I used to read with an...
by Yvette Erasmus | Apr 11, 2017 | Communication, NVC
While facilitating some empathy skills training recently, I was reminded of a powerful lesson.(I learn so much from each of you!)Participants were paired off, practicing their empathy skills, when a pair called me over for some coaching and input.Although they were...
by Yvette Erasmus | Mar 28, 2017 | Communication, presence, Slowing Down, NVC
I am in Mexico as I write this, enjoying the sun, the breeze, the sand … looking forward to a week of downtime and unplugging (after I get this out to all of you!).I seriously resist slowing down and downshifting, but when I finally do, it’s sooooo...
by Yvette Erasmus | Mar 21, 2017 | Communication, NVC
Last week, I wrote about a power struggle I had with student over a late paper, and the shift that changed our relationship.Quite a few of you wrote to ask me whether or not the “problem of late papers” was fixed as a result of the process I described.In essence, did...
