30 Days of Nonviolence
Why Nonviolence?
We are all born with the capacity for nonviolence; it’s part of our evolutionary inheritance! Yet most of us didn’t grow up learning about this inherent power of ours. Because we’re unschooled in the many dimensions of nonviolence, we can make the mistake of limiting its power.
It’s common, for instance, to think of nonviolence as something that occurs at peaceful protests and marches only. While showing strength in numbers can be important, nonviolence goes far beyond mass demonstrations. Nonviolence is a practice, a skill we intentionally cultivate for the purpose of actively building peace in our homes, workplaces, and local and global communities.
Learning to practice nonviolence skillfully is not unlike learning to speak a language. It takes time, effort, and humility. A good dose of humor helps too. We may never be perfect at nonviolence; that’s OK. But we should never stop trying to apply our greatest power for the benefit of all.
Nonviolence is a dynamic process. It isn’t a set of formulas or methods but a transformational energy we bring to life inside ourselves and that ripples outward, within our relationships.
Learning about nonviolence is a purposeful form of education. Hear our thoughts on that with this short welcome video from our founder and president, Michael Nagler.
How to Enjoy the Next 30 Days
Nonviolence meets you where you are. New to nonviolence? These next 30 days will broaden your horizons on the theory, history, and science of nonviolence. Are you a longtime veteran of nonviolent activism? Then 30 Days of Nonviolence will shine a new light on its transformative powers.
Wherever you may be on this lifelong journey: This course is designed to help you hone a daily practice of nonviolence. By the end of the 30 days, you will feel more rooted in your knowledge and understandings. You will also tap your own creative empowerment—nonviolence isn’t about following set formulas or methods but about meeting situations as they arise. It’s a dynamic process that comes to life in the moment, through our own words, actions, and deeds.
To help you make the most of 30 Days of Nonviolence, we’d like to offer you a few tips:
Approach each of these 30 days as a serious practitioner of nonviolence. Even as each Day’s material may take just 5 – 10 minutes to review, we recommend focusing on it with deep intention. The material for each Day features a nonviolence principle. Take in the principle, then continue in this order to:
1. Go deeper (a short read or video to further your understanding of the principle), and
2. Practice (a simple, powerful way to put that day’s principle into action).
Enjoy 30 Days of Nonviolence for as long as you’d like. We encourage you to come back to the daily material as often as you’re inspired to, even after you’ve completed all 30 days.