The Four Ears of Non-Violent Communication

Does this sound familiar? Someone says a sentence, and straight away four inner voices spring to life inside you. That’s exactly what this postcard illustrates: how differently we can listen, depending on which ‘ear’ is ‘on’ at the time.

Four ears, four perspectives: the wolf’s ear facing outwards (there’s something wrong with you), the wolf’s ear facing inwards (there’s something wrong with me), the giraffe’s ear facing inwards (how am I feeling, what do I need?) and the giraffe’s ear facing outwards (how are you feeling, what do you need?). Broadly speaking, these are ‘school ears’ and ‘understanding ears’. For each of the four ears, we’ve compiled examples, reactions and effects on the card.

Whether as a little reminder for your everyday life, as a prompt in a workshop, or as a gift for someone who’s exploring NVC: this card encourages a smile, reflection and heartfelt listening – for everyone who wants not just to hear, but to truly understand.