In Nonviolent Communication (NVC), when something triggers us, we learn to shift our focus inward.
Connecting with our own feelings and needs can be overwhelming at first. Feelings can be hard to identify when the emotions are heightened. Needs often are more accessible to connect with first.
At the start, we could identify 5 to 8 needs that are not met in the situation, which is quite common. Over time, we have learned that the core need to connect with self and release the inner tension might be only 1 or 2.
There are layer needs and there are core needs.
Understanding ourselves from the layer needs all the way down to only 1 core need is a practice. It’s a process we learn about ourselves: our triggers, our reaction pattern, the core need we want to be met, and the life we want to experience more.
It’s a similar process on learning our purpose in life and everything else we do.