GRADES
Instruction (Diederik & Claudette) = A+ Hospitality (Bob & Sandy) = A+ Accommodations = A+ Community Friendliness (13 group members) = A+ “Like Jacob wrestling with the Angel, I have regularly been exasperated and challenged with integrating ACIM into my personal and professional life. At the Choose-again residential in Gainesville, Florida, in the safety, support, and guidance of Diederick, Claudette and other group participants, I was gifted with an immense treasure — "I am not my stories (beliefs), I am love and only love." Being a witness to other participants being guided to challenge the beliefs that limited their happiness, allowed me to challenge my earliest judgmental stories (beliefs) of myself and return to recognizing my true identity as Love.
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I was talking with a friend on the phone recently, and the topic of computers came up. She had mentioned how she was going through a period where there seemed to be always something wrong with it, and was surprised over how much emotion was arising as a result--with anger being the predominant expression. This frustration inspired many a nick-name for the electronic box, none of which would be considered flattering. After some laughs, she then asked me directly, “Why do we do this?” [referring to the personification and projection of anger towards objects], and “Where does it come from?” And it got me thinking...of all the times I have cursed my malfunctioning electronics, forswearing buyers-allegiance to their line of product in favour of their competitive "The willingness to trust and follow your heart - not the reactive ego that is often interpreted to be the heart, but the heart that longs to know God - this is a tell-tale sign of whether or not one is reaching maturity". (from The Way of Mastery) This quote reminds me of the importance of distinguishing between the guidance of the ego and the guidance of Inner Wisdom. A few years ago it became popular to speak of being "guided" to certain decisions or actions. As I listened to my own mind, and the minds of others, it began to seem as if there was often a hefty dose of self-delusion involved. I saw how easy it was to simply follow the dictates and compulsions of the ego, and to believe that I was following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is an aspect of the spiritualized ego. Conversely, sometimes people have told me they asked for guidance and received it, but Dear Friends, We are seeing so many changes at so many levels and my own healing has continued or, perhaps, accelerated. I had the great pleasure and privilege to teach a one-day workshop and give a talk with Dr. Gabor Mate in Vancouver. He is an internationally recognized pioneer and expert on addictions and being on ‘stage’ with him was, well, a blast. The event was also evidence for the fact that while at one time we, Choose Again, were Dear Friends, This week marks the tenth anniversary of Choose Again in Costa Rica. Ten years! It is quite incredible to me that the idea of a spiritual residential center in a strange tropical country, underfinanced and without marketing of any kind would take form and not only that, that form is growing in scope and breadth. The original funding for this idea came from Veronica Dahl, Christine Walters, Greg Lynch and Eric and Anne Andrew. Why they jumped in and said YES with such conviction and love, I will never really understand but gratitude has been my state of mind on many a day when I look at what we have collectively Last November I realized how tired I was of my grievance-filled relationship with Christmas. For many years, feelings of resentment, anger and despair would begin to surface around November 1, right about when Christmas music started playing as I stood in line at Starbucks for my short dark roast. The approach of Christmas has been a cue for me to find ways of spending as much time as possible alone, away from the frantic activity and busy-ness, a mini-retreat from it all. Which would have been a wonderful experience, except that such a spiritual sounding idea was based on so much ill-will! I realized, with a sense of shock, that I had the option to participate in the season, and to enjoy every moment of it, the same as every other day of the year. This was welcome but it left me with a large gap. “Wisdom begins when a man finds out that he does not know what he thinks he knows.” - Plato
The Six-Step Process is an extraordinarily effective way to remove barriers to love and to thereby increase happiness in those who choose to use it. There are, however, a few pitfalls to be aware of. The ego’s very survival is threatened by this process. It is sly and even vicious in its endeavor to reassert itself. Here are the most common challenges: 1) Step Two: Me. It’s about me. Do not stray from Step two. I cannot emphasize this enough. Do not fall for the temptation to “justify” your feelings. It is so easy and tempting to admit or recognize that you are upset (Step one) and then immediately either tell yourself or others why you are upset. The While I was working at El Cielo, our residential treatment center, I first heard the phrase “This is what Love looks like right now” used by Diederik, in response to what looked like an adverse situation. I didn’t really know what he meant, but as he said it, I felt a sense of relief, and an acceptance in myself that had not been present the moment before. Over the next few weeks, I saw he and other co-workers respond in the same way to apparent difficulties. This was not yet a tool I was using, but I became more curious each time I heard it, at the sense of relief I experienced. I was talking to someone yesterday who said to me “I’m really in the trenches lately, and I was feeling so great. I can’t figure out what’s going on!” He said that after some time of feeling light and peaceful, he seemed to have lost the experience and life was feeling like a struggle again.. He said ”Where is the me that was so happy a few days ago?” If you sometimes find yourself in a similar spot, here are 4 tools that I have found effective in helping to change direction: As I am writing this article in the early part of 2015, I am now six weeks home (in the Netherlands) from an intensive stay at the Choose Again Centre in Costa Rica. I met Diederik four years ago in the Netherlands during a one-day workshop. It was there that I was introduced for the first time to his six steps to freedom. I still remember that Diederik then said that I am able to quicken my way out of negative emotions. That intrigued me and I was curious how. And I must say that I was immediately touched by Diederik’s approach: open hearted and uncompromising. I never thought I would get an opportunity to visit Costa Rica but end October 2014 I got the chance to go. With Maurice, a good friend of mine I went to Costa Rica. For three weeks I participated in the intensive program of Choose Again. What a blessing! |
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