“We can value and learn from all the conversations in our lives, whether they are pleasant, irritating, or seemingly unimportant.”
- Author Susan Gillis Chapman

We want to be seen, heard, and known for who we are, to have our accomplishments celebrated and our suffering comforted. And, when we look more closely, we find that we have an equal need to see, hear, and know others for who they are, to celebrate their joy and empathize with their pain. This mutual need is a fundamental “win-win” that underlies our communication and our relationships, analogous to discovering the root system that connects all the trees that appear to be standing alone in a forest. When we create the time and space to feel our inner longing for authenticity, we realize it is inseparable from ourcapacity to listen and be touched by others. This we-first view about our relationships is one of the central ideas related to the practice of mindful communication in this book.

“In a clear and at times humorous style this encouraging book gives our heart the green light to open. Susan Chapman presents accessible practices from Buddhism and the best in psychology to help this happen.”—David Richo, author of Coming Home to Who You Are

“This is an invaluable resource for anyone who longs for connection with others. Susan Chapman’s simple explanations and engaging stories provide us with practical tools that let us recognize our shared humanity, moving us from a ‘me-first’ approach to a ‘we-first’ one.”—Karen Kissel Wegela, author of The Courage to Be Present and What Really Helps

Susan Gillis Champman has a masters degree in Buddhist and Western psychology from Naropa University, studied with Pema Chodron and was appointed Shastri (senior teacher) for the Vancouver Shambhala Center.