Uplifting Library Story!

Now this is an uplifting story!

The robots have it....

Read all about it here!

Non Violent Communication/NVC

My American Libraries Association discussion group on Linked In is having a very interesting conversation about dealing with difficult people.  One person shares:

• Group: American Library Association
• Discussion: Tips for dealing with angry/difficult patrons/co-workers?

Doing emotional paraphrasing (I can hear that you are frustrated, angry, etc.), helps people to feel heard and starts to lower the emotional energy. Expressing that you care and expressing what you are willing to do is also helpful (the phrase, "I am willing to..." is very effective).

Personally, I've found the principles and model of nonviolent communication (NVC) to be invaluable for diffusing emotionally charged situations, as well as being of value generally in my life and relationships. In short, the NVC model is to listen empathically and express honestly using these four principles:
- observations
- feelings
- needs
- requests

When you begin to listen to someone's angry attack as being their emotional reaction to their perception of an unmet need, then you can start to redirect your energy from defense or counterattack to listening and responding to the request (which is often not stated explicitly.) Likewise, if YOU are the one who is upset, you are much more likely to get your needs met by expressing your upset in terms of what you perceived/observed, the feelings that you have in response to that perception, your need, and a specific request (not a demand) for a resolution.

If anyone is interested in more info check out: http://www.cnvc.org/Training/the-nvc-model . I highly recommend the book: http://www.cnvc.org/catalog/nvc_language_for_life

And remember, whoever is saner in the moment takes responsibility for the level of the relationship! :-)


Posted by Peter Bromberg   

 

Changing our image a bit

Who said that we're meek and mild?

RUSQ--Readers Advisory over the next 25 years

Here's an interesting post on the direction of RA

Swiss Army Librarian

This is funny!

I Can Make You Happy?

We have many Self Help books available at my library.

Recently when I checked in a book being returned I thought the title read...

 “Can I Make You Happy?”

 

On second glance I realized it said, “I Can Make You Happy”

My finger had blocked the “I”, which was right on the edge of the cover so I misread it...what a difference

the placement of the "I" makes!  It also changed a question into a statement.

The author is Paul McKenna some of the other books he's written are:

"I Can Make You Thin"

"I Can Make You Sleep"

"I Can Make You Confident"

"I Can Make You Rich"

 

My favorite husband suggested that HE, my hubby, could write a book for me titled,

“I can make you irritated”!   This doesn’t happen very often, but every once in a

while…boom zoom to the moon!

 

I wondered, "What is this guy a miracle worker?"

Turns out he has a PHD and is an international best selling author...

considered as “one of the world's most important modern self-help gurus."

The book is dedicated to his father who he says..."had the gift of making others happy."

(What a super thing to be remembered for.)

Now, what makes this author think HE can make ME happy…. I am basically a happy person,

sure things get me down; but I try not to take things too seriously. I laugh at myself as much

as I can. Try to look at the bright side of life… Let a smile be my umbrella…Keep my sunny

side up…and all that jazz!!!

I checked out the book to see if there were any magical solutions, some of the chapter titles are:

 

The Habits of Happiness

New Routes to Happiness

The Power of Perspective

The Values of Happiness

The Value of Emotions

and the final chapter is

Bringing it All Together

One of the Five Instant Pick-Me-Ups listed is “Happy Posture”, I suppose if you stand up

straight and look alert, you will be happy and everyone around you will be positively influenced.

One of the Magic Habits to get into is “Smile and Laugh” I do this all the time!

There is a Hypnosis CD included; it must be very powerful because it comes with a disclaimer:

Do not use the CD while driving or operating machinery.

Yikes!  That's a bit scary, so be careful if you choose to try it, I didn't.

Whether you choose to just listen to the CD or  just read the book, or do both, the claim is you

will still..."notice an amazing increase of happiness in your life."

 

OR maybe you can just continue on down the road of life, greeting each bump along

the way with a SMILE!!!

So come on in and check out your library's  "Self Help" section if you need it, if not we have plenty

other interesting books, magazines, DVD's, CD's etc for you to check out and enjoy!

posted by The Vest Librarian!