I love the classic “how are you” question of nonviolent communication (NVC), first formulated by Marshall Rosenberg (may his memory be a blessing): What is alive in you? It is a question intended to elicit reflection on our immediate body/heart/mind experience. Part of what I love about this question is that it implicitly corrects our misperception that intense inner experiences are a problem in need of fixing. In the world of NVC, our feelings and judgements – no matter how uncomfortable in the moment – are understood to be expressions of our life energy, pointing us in the direction of our deepest needs. An inner guidance system. A gift, really. So inquiring into what is alive in us is also a practice of gratitude. What is alive in me this morning? The high-pitched inner whine of a headache, a judgement that somehow it is wrong to have this headache, a need for tranquility and ease... and a sense of joy in connecting with a friend through a series of silly text messages. What is alive in you right now?