37: We Are Generous by Nature: A Birthday Tribute to Marshall Rosenberg
Release Date: 10/06/2025
Love Each Other Better
Are you tired of arguing with your partner over the same issues — or feeling frustrated, unheard, or disconnected? In this episode, we dive into why stuffing your feelings fuels conflict and what you can do instead. You’ll learn why ignoring your emotions or pushing them aside may feel easier in the moment but actually costs you time, energy, and connection. We explore a practical approach using Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to notice your feelings, identify your needs, and respond in ways that keep connection alive — even in the middle of tension. Plus, you’ll get a simple practice...
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If you’re tired of avoiding conflict, walking on eggshells, or losing yourself to keep the peace, this episode is for you. Join me as I explore the real cost of people-pleasing, and a different way forward that doesn’t require becoming confrontational. People-pleasing often develops as a way to stay safe and connected, especially when conflict felt overwhelming or dangerous earlier in life. But in adult relationships, that same strategy can lead to disconnection, resentment, and a loss of intimacy. In this episode, we look at why naming your feelings and needs can feel so scary, how...
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Self-awareness can be powerful, but without self-compassion, it can easily turn into self-criticism or shame. In this episode of Love Each Other Better, I talk with Cheri Krause, Licensed Professional Counselor, Coach, and teacher of Nonviolent Communication, and my friend and colleague of nearly twenty years. Cheri is passionate about the transformative power of self-compassion, and shares her knowledge, experience, and wisdom with us generously in this conversation. In this episode, you'll learn: What self-compassion actually is and why it’s essential alongside self-awareness A...
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Are you and your partner stuck in the same arguments over and over? In this episode, which is the third in my new series called "Common Communication Patterns That Keep Couples Stuck — And How to Get Unstuck," I’ll break down how rushing to get through a conflict might feel like progress, but is ultimately unproductive and keeps you stuck and frustrated. I’ll introduce my Heart-Centered Conflict Navigation Roadmap, an NVC-based approach that guides couples through conflict in a connecting, productive, and efficient way. You’ll learn why slowing down, empathic understanding, and...
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You asked your partner to do something, they said they’d do it… and they didn’t. And now you’re frustrated, wondering if your partner really cares or if you’re asking for too much. If this dynamic feels familiar, you’re not alone — and it’s not because your partner is a jerk. In most relationships, missed follow-through has far more to do with unmet needs, unclear communication, or shifting capacity than a lack of love. This episode is Part 2 of my series, Common Communication Patterns That Keep Couples Stuck — and How to Get Unstuck. Today, we explore 5 compassionate...
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In this episode of Love Each Other Better, I’m kicking off a new series on the communication patterns that keep couples stuck — and how to get unstuck. We’re starting with one of the most common: when one partner talks more and more to feel heard, while the other gets overwhelmed and pulls away to find relief. It’s a loop that leaves both people feeling disconnected, even though both are trying. I’ll introduce a powerful concept from Nonviolent Communication: interrupting for the sake of connection. It’s a way to pause, reflect, and stay present without shutting each other...
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What if generosity isn’t something we have to teach or force — but something we’re born with? In this special episode honoring the birthday of Marshall Rosenberg, the founder of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), I share a personal story about my 5-year-old daughter — and how her spontaneous, joyful act of giving reminded me of one of Marshall’s most powerful teachings: “What I want in my life is compassion — a flow between myself and others based on a mutual giving from the heart.” We’ll explore: Why generous giving flows naturally when we feel connected and free How this...
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Ever feel like you're “in trouble” with your partner—even though you're a grown adult? That tight feeling in your chest, the urge to defend yourself, shut down, or appease… it’s more common than you think. And it’s not your fault. In this episode, we explore how growing up in a punitive culture wires us to associate conflict with danger—and how that fear shows up in our adult relationships. Using the lenses of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Terry Real’s Adaptive Child vs. Wise Adult, and self-compassion, we look at how to shift from self-protection to connection, even when...
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Ever find yourself wondering, “Do I even matter to him/her/them?” despite all you do? That painful question points to a fundamental human need: to contribute, to be seen, and to know that your presence truly makes a difference. When this need goes unmet, relationships can grow distant and disheartening. In this episode, we explore why appreciation isn’t just a nice gesture — it’s essential emotional medicine that helps relationships heal and thrive. But more than that, it’s a practice you can build — a new habit of truly noticing, acknowledging, and expressing gratitude in ways...
info_outlineWhat if generosity isn’t something we have to teach or force — but something we’re born with?
In this special episode honoring the birthday of Marshall Rosenberg, the founder of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), I share a personal story about my 5-year-old daughter — and how her spontaneous, joyful act of giving reminded me of one of Marshall’s most powerful teachings:
“What I want in my life is compassion — a flow between myself and others based on a mutual giving from the heart.”
We’ll explore:
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Why generous giving flows naturally when we feel connected and free
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How this principle applies not just to parenting, but to romantic relationships
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What gets in the way of that generosity in couples — and how NVC can help restore it
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A simple question to reflect on in your own relationship today
Plus, I’ll share how you and your partner can go deeper with NVC through my 9-Week Private Coaching Program for Couples:
Stop Fighting (without stuffing your feelings or sacrificing your needs)
If you're longing for more joy and spontaneous generosity in your relationship — this one’s for you.
Want to learn NVC with Ali?
Explore my 9-week private coaching program for couples: Stop Fighting! (without stuffing your feelings or sacrificing your needs). Includes my signature training: Hearing Each Other’s Hearts: NVC Essentials for Couples
Learn more: www.alimillercoaching.com/stopfighting
Free Resources
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Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets:
www.alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds -
Free Mini-Course:
The 4 Steps to Stop Any Fight Without Giving In
www.alimillercoaching.com/freeminicourse
Connect with Ali
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Instagram: @alimillercoaching
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Free Private Facebook Group: NVC for Couples
www.facebook.com/groups/nvcforcouples -
Email: ali@alimillercoaching.com
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Website: www.alimillercoaching.com
Important note: The tools I share in this episode and all of the episodes on this podcast are suited for people who are in a safe relationship. If you do not feel safe in your relationship, please prioritize your safety. For support with priortizing your safety, in the U.S. you can chat with someone live at The National Domestic Violence Hotline at www.thehotline.org, or call them at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.