Marshall Rosenberg on Nonviolent Communication and Money

In a video on YouTube, called NVC and Money, Dr Marshall Rosenberg talks specifically about Nonviolent Communication and money. As he passed away, this is the closest I can get to sharing his teaching; I have transcribed his words to share how he thought about money — radically different to our usual way of thinking and very inspiring.

There are three main points:

• First, never pay money for anything.
• Never charge money for anything.
• And third, transform the concept of worth.

Using money in a ‘giraffe’ way

“Let me give you a quick exercise on how to use money in a giraffe way. Three points. First, never pay money for anything. Never charge money for anything. And third, transform the concept of worth. Get that out of your head that anything is worth a certain amount of money.”

“So, let’s get rid of the word pay. Don’t ever pay money for anything. Give money. Give it to serve life in the way you want it to serve. Don’t ever charge money, request money from people to help you do the work you want to do. Don’t ever say I will only give you what I find valuable if you give me money. I will be glad to give you what I offer, and I’d like you to give me some money so I can keep giving it to others.”

The world we want to live in

He continues, “Do you want to live in a world where people who might have something to help somebody’s family only gives it if you give them money? Do you want to live in that world? Where people die being transferred from one hospital to another because they didn’t have money enough for the first one? Do you want to live in a world where money is used that way? So, never charge money. Don’t do anything for money. Make this clear to yourself. Never do anything for money. Get money to do what you want to do. You see the difference? Do the work to meet your need for meaning. And then get the money you need to do it. Don’t ever do anything for money. Life’s too short.”

Money as a request

“So, I request money. I don’t charge. I give money to help people do what they want to do. If what they do, enriches my life…