Landmark Education Changed My Life

 I was having difficulty in my relationship with the father of my children at the time. I shared my grievances with my friend Sharla while we were on a camping trip. After hearing my complaints, she suggested I find out more information and consider attending the initial weekend course, the Landmark Forum.

My children were very young and our relationship was fairly new so I had a lot riding on our ability to find harmony and compatibility in our lives together. I wanted my kids to grow up in a healthy household and I wanted us each to be happy rather than just suffering through parenthood. The answer to my problems was not easy. My partner was a good provider and we each had a shared interest in the love and care of our children, therefore most of the basic needs were met. However, our ideals and values were not aligned. I was much younger than him, so I didn’t feel I had a say or any power in the choices we made if he didn’t agree with them. 

Upon realizing this, I decided to go to an introduction seminar and then decided to attend the weekend course with Landmark Education. I was curious and open minded, observing many who were in attendance as they brought their resistance and skepticism. There were also others who had tremendous impactful experiences over the 3 days we were all together, 100 of us in one room. One person led the conversation and activities the entire time, occasionally bringing a participant up to the microphone to engage in a discussion one on one. They call it a “technology” as a series of tools and concepts to “try on” and see if it fits or resonates. Left and right, those in attendance would bring questions and practices home with them to share with the people in their lives and return with stories of how it went, what they learned, and the changes that occurred as a result. It was messy, emotional, and unusual for most of us. It was also inspiring and transformative. Relationships were mended, closures were made, seeds for lifelong dreams were planted. Huge shifts happened for people in a very short time. 

My perspective about myself and my outlook on life changed incredibly. I was excited to share with my partner and rather than being enthusiastic, he shut down. He was not impressed but instead pushed against the idea that he should have anything to do with Landmark Education. There was and is a lot of negativity online about it, so as one who leans on researching things, he dug up a lot of feedback posted and shared by those who had a less than ideal experience in attending Landmark’s courses. 

I remained open and decided to attend the next weekend course. Again, I had an incredible experience. I felt energized and like a door had opened inside of me that gave me access to a part of myself I had not known was there. I was ready to take more responsibility for my life, my actions and choices. To start making decisions in the direction of my dreams and defining what that entailed in more detail. I wanted to be healthy in mind and body, to collaborate with like minded people and build projects in my community to impact others with positive change.

It was in the next course that I initiated a backpacking course that was originally geared towards women and later evolved into a non-profit program for teen girls called Womanhood Inspirations. The yearlong course I took after that led me to realize just how much I had shut down and stifled myself to be who I thought my partner wanted me to be. I was divested to get in touch with how much I had lost myself and felt the deep desire to recover the joy and enthusiasm for life I had given up on. I wanted to be someone who encouraged such things in my children as well so when I chose to leave the relationship, I did so for myself and for them. So they could see who I really was, instead of having to tiptoe around the needs of their father believing it was his way or no way. 

I had tried therapy with him and working with a relationship coach. His participation was limited and he was dealing with deep addictions that he was unwilling to look at. He continued to make mistakes and push against any conversation that had to do with Landmark, transformation, or anything outside of what was familiar to him and his comfort zone. After I’d grown my business a year later we tried living together again. I was making more money and we bought a new home, believing somehow with these changes things might be better. After two years we were very aware that the things that were a wedge of differences before were now amplified and clear. I moved out and continued to lean into my own growth. 

I built my healing arts business and led my non-profit programs as a single mom for years. As time passed, I decided to take a coaches training course based on the same ontological concepts as Landmark Education. After over 10 years of taking courses and seminars and assisting with them, I had integrated the technology and no longer had to reach for the ideas and tools. I lived them in who I was, everywhere I went, and in all my interactions. My kids took the weekend course and we realized together that most of it was not new for them, because I’d raised them in the awareness I’d gained and my interactions with them had made an impression. 

I know that there are no fast and hard answers or absolutes. I do also know that there is plenty of room for us all to evolve and gain perspective where our close mindedness can usually get the better of us. As I have created and invented programs and retreats for women in my business, Women Who Are Up to Something, it has all come from my own experiences of personal growth. Ways that I have found myself struggling for integrity with myself or others, ready to clear out behaviors or things in my life that are not in alignment with my heart. Discovering ways to empower myself and those around me, to build resilience where compromise has been depleting. To bring encouragement in the face of overwhelm, apathy, and despair. To live authentically and with a sense of freedom to Be.

Come see for yourself what might be lying dormant inside of you. I’ve created a space alongside women who I respect and adore, for YOU to take time to seek ideas and concepts outside your previous scope of experiences to enhance your health, care, and love for your life. To connect and share with other women who have the courage and willingness to do the same. Be gentle, go at your own pace and take a step away from the busyness of schedules and to do lists. It’s Time… to join us for Women’s Evolution, a women’s weekend retreat. find out more and register HERE.