Why do a retreat?
Part 1: Personal Development – spiritual, emotional, mental, social
What is next?
There were times in my life when I needed to change direction. Either my current engagements were coming to an end or my values changed or I lacked clarity on the next move. There may have been a sense of being “off”, my actions did not resonate with my feelings. Think about all the women who have dedicated 20 years of their life to being a housewife and a mother; whose role is naturally coming to an end. Forced to abandon their function by the grown-up children, they are left with an empty heart. Also think about the women who did not have children and pursued a career, at the moment of retirement. What is next? Lots of options in my mind, but no connection to a new reality… So afraid of letting go of the known and jumping into the unknown. I may think about many options but what am I really meant to do? A retreat gives the necessary distance to look at one’s life and get feedback from others; the opportunity of being listened to and benefiting from other experiences. A retreat gives courage to go ahead and explore the unknown.
I cannot break this bad habit!
It is very easy to fall into the trap of our western culture, enticing us to consume more and more addictive substances; this, because we have a need to live in harmony with our environment. Large corporations, only motivated by profit, know that very well. Coffee, sugar, and fats are everywhere in unexpected food products. We are constantly bombarded by images of processed foods at home or in the streets, seduced by the desire to experience more pleasure with the illusion that we can replace profound dissatisfaction of a meaningless life with a futile addiction. Soon we find ourselves trapped, not able to find our way out. Habits are hard to break. It is an intrinsic part of our brain function to create and maintain habits, whether good or bad. In the same brain hardware package, we were also gifted detachment, freedom to choose or decide, contemplation and consciousness. To support awareness, it helps to break away from our habitual environment and to be in a cocoon, a retreat.
Retreat as a cocoon
As individuals we tend to adjust to our environment. We were created to live in harmony with the universe. Thanks to adaptability, as the environment changes our perception and behavior also change. A retreat creates a positive environment that allows us to lower our defenses, become vulnerable and leads the way to self-awareness and self-love. The food is healthy and tasty, not over stimulating, the participants are supportive and open, the physical environment has consciously been created to be nourishing and to include nature. There are no threats in the form of emotional challenge, teasers or triggers. In other words, going for a retreat means choosing my retreat
You
There are so many demands, so many things to do, so many obligations, so many temptations to distract you that you can very easily get disconnected from your deep self and function on autopilot. Soon your life becomes meaningless. A retreat creates a nourishing and neutral space to regroup your forces, a new canvas that can generate a new actor. Before I made Hawaii my home, I was coming to Hawaii to take a break and create distance from my life, recover from an ailment or nourish myself. Hawaii in itself is healing. The warmth, the light, the clouds, the rain, the breeze, the intense blue and the gentle hues of the ocean, the lush greenery have the power on their own to reset your will to live and fill you with happiness, a gift that stays with you for the rest of your life. You are the creator of this life! Give yourself the gift of a retreat!
Holding the space
It is our responsibility as organizers to hold the space. Whatever intention you bring to us the group will reflect and reinforce that intention to you. The group is a mirror. Intentionally positive and supportive. There is no judgment made about who you are, have been or want to become. Whether it is, lose a bit of weight, get fit, clear your skin or tackle this depression that has taken hold of you for some time, it is all part of the baggage you bring with you. Tell us about it.. so that you can hear it, feel it in a space of sharing, caring, you will be able to open up and be honest with yourself
Stay tuned for Part 3: Education
