An Inside Story: A Children's Book for Grown-Ups Too!

What’s going on here? And why is a little book like this important and helpful?There is a widespread problem of people not connecting with one another; and that in turn leads to a host of problems, ranging from discord in our connection with our own children to discord among nations at the brink of war with each other.Enter into the picture a one: Marshall Rosenberg — one who very possibly has the “keys to the kingdom” here.One of Marshall Rosenberg’s premises is that a key to establishing connection with another person lies in giving that person a measure of empathy, where empathy consists of acknowledging how he is feeling about whatever value is at stake in the moment. (Rosenberg usually refers to that value as a “need,” which I think imparts some measure of confusion into thinking about what’s going on here. Happily, the author here includes the designation of “value” to defuse that confusion.)“An Inside Story” could be a great tool for making a connection with any child who hasn’t evolved to the point yet of sorting things out alone, and whose connection with others is problematic.When I was a child, I certainly did not yet understand that the feelings I experienced were the consequence of how I valued (explicitly and implicitly) things. I didn’t even realize that I had the strongest feelings in response to those things I most valued or dis-valued.“An Inside Story” is here to help with that common state of affairs.… it’s not so much a “bed-time story book” as it is a vehicle to unleash conversation, to tease out an acknowledgment of what value is causing what feeling in the moment…..thereby setting up the opportunity to offer empathy, which in turn is an important prerequisite for making connection.Make connection, and presto, we’re on the way to moving forward ---- where previously everything may have ground to a halt.So, if there’s a younger-generation person in your life where you’ve run in to a wall and don’t seem to be able to make a connection, try exposing that person to “An Inside Story” and maybe you’ll be able to break down the barrier.Go ahead, give it a try.

Some people say that the longest distance we travel is the six inches between our heads and our hearts. And learning how to travel that path can make all the difference in the world. How we relate to ourselves and whether or not we have a helpful (vs. unhelpful) relationship to self and others is at the heart of how we live our lives. An Inside Story breaks this idea down in a simple and easy to understand way. It shows the connection between how we think and what we feel - and the transformative power of skillfully navigating between the two! A must read for all children and adults. It's the book that I wish I had read and understood as a child!

Using very simple language and images, this book helps children ... and adults too ... understand how thoughts, emotions and physical sensations are driven by needs that we all share. More importantly, the book provides guidance on what to do to move forward despite the scariness and ickiness we might sometimes experience. I can't wait to share this book with my young grandsons, and will be sure to use the practice page and discussion questions to help them really connect with the book's lessons.

I learned about Marshall Rosenberg’s work with non violent communication several years ago and was intrigued by his working with leaders of war torn African tribes. One of the leaders must have grasped the message because he said “you mean we don’t have to fight?”I especially appreciate how it brings our issues back inside us rather than looking for solutions outside ourselves.

A lovely book which invites an exploration of the relationship between thoughts, feelings and needs. It provides a simple exercise that both children and adults can use to open the door to their own motivations and that of the people around them. I recommend this book to anyone who is ready to begin the journey towards self-empowerment.