I played GROK with a small group during a recent retreat. The Speaker was weighing a big career move — something deeply meaningful, yet a little scary.
He spoke about working for a Japanese insurance company, where the standards were intense. Now in New York, the work is easier, and he has more time for community service — yet still, he feels torn. Is this the life he wants long-term? Could he start his own company?
In a “normal” conversation, I might have jumped in with encouragement or advice. Maybe even shared my own story. In Nonviolent Communication (NVC), we call these habitual responses — the things we say to fix, educate, or evaluate. Sometimes helpful. But often, they steer the conversation away from what’s quietly asking to be seen.
With NVC — and with GROK — we don’t lead. We aim to follow.
There’s a story that elephants walk so closely in each other’s footsteps, it can be hard to tell how many have passed. Folklore or not, the image beautifully captures what GROK offers: the chance to walk with someone — step by step — through their feelings and needs.
When we resist the urge to steer, and instead let the other person lead, the conversation often deepens. The unspoken comes forward. The “elephant in the conversation” reveals itself — not as something awkward to avoid, but as something tender, true, and important.
Another woman at the retreat told me she felt stuck because she didn’t know what to make for dinner. A surface-level frustration — or so it first seemed. As we played, deeper layers emerged: overwhelm, her husband’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis, a retirement she never expected.
If I’d offered a cookbook or a recipe, we might’ve stopped at dinner.
But by following her — gently, with curiosity — we reached what truly mattered: her needs for mourning, relaxation, health & well-being, balance. Once she connected with those, new strategy ideas came easily.
Like peeling an artichoke, each layer brought us closer to the heart.
That’s what GROK is. A practice of presence. A way of walking in another’s footsteps — and of being walked with, too.
Warmly,
Christine + Mary, Claire & Jen
GROK for better sleep...
Rodrigo Suarez, a CNVC Certified Trainer from Mexico, shared recently with Mary that he plays Solo GROK almost daily to help him wind down before sleep. It’s a short ritual, which helps him sort out his thoughts about his day, bringing clarity and calm… and peaceful sleep.
👉 Watch the Video Snippet here and let us know if GROK has helped you get more zzz’s.