Beginning Anew was developed by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh as a way to foster happy meaningful relationships. He regarded it as a ceremony rather than a technique, signifying that our relationships are of utmost importance and treat them with as much regard as the most important occasions of our lives.

An overview of deep listening/empathy, one of the key factors in Beginning Anew, and Compassionate Communication will be presented as a prelude.