Recently I picked up the book “Loyalty to your Soul” by Hulnick and Hulnick. I’d read it years ago, but was drawn to looking at it again. There was a thought-provoking paragraph about unresolved issues on page 143:
“Imagine that it’s a lovely spring day (or an Autumn day as it now is in the Northern Hemisphere) and you’re enjoying a walk in the mountains. Since you’re out for the day, you have a backpack with food, rain gear, and a few other essentials. You also have about 80 pounds of rocks of assorted sizes in your pack, of which you’re completely unaware. Further as you walk along, you unconsciously pick up additional rocks and add them to your burden.
You’re probably wondering why in the world would anyone do such a thing, unless of course he or she was in training for the Olympics. Consider the possibility that this is exactly what you’re doing, unbeknownst to yourself, several times every single day.”
Unresolved Issues
The rocks that Hulnick and Hulnick describe are our unresolved issues. These are the challenges or “triggers” that disturb our inner peace. Sometimes we know they are there and we choose not to look at them, we are resistant to change. Many are fearful of raking up the past: yet here is where our power and energy lie. Often our backpack gets so darn heavy that we are forced us to put it down and rather unwillingly, open it up.
This happened to a client called ‘Jane’. She was recently recommended to see me by one of her close friends. Jane was at her wits’ end, in an extremely difficult place where her past was painfully coming up. She could no longer keep running or hide from it. Jane was depressed, overwhelmed and knew she could no longer carry on living the way she had been previously. Jane knew that something had to change. She didn’t wish to re-live the pain. Jane had come to a place where she was ready to release her past and let it go.
She took responsibility and removed the rocks and unresolved issues from her backpack. Together we sorted and processed them. We covered a lot of ground in the 2 hours we were together. It was a powerful transformation. Jane finally freed herself. It was a privilege for me to work with her. Later, Jane’s friend came back to me after the session saying:
“‘Jane’ is transformed! She is so happy to finally understand what’s going on.
She just got it. Totally saw everything.”
I love it when that happens. Makes what I do so worthwhile! Carrying a heavy backpack of unresolved stuff and issues is exhausting. Every step on our journey drains us. There is little or no joy in life.
How heavy does that backpack have to be, before we take a peek inside? Do we just keep on unconsciously picking up more rocks and adding them to our backpack – or is it time for a change?
Ready to let go of unresolved issues in your Backpack?
If you or someone you know, has had enough of carrying those ‘rocks’ around and would like some help taking resolving and them out then contact me, Michelle A. Hardwick. I’m only a phone call away.
Phone me in Ireland on Ph: (+353) 0871 492338 or the UK Ph: +44 7857369619.
This Japanese Folktale was one I found while on my travels in Hong Kong many years ago. It made so much sense to me, particularly as I felt that my overseas clients and workshop participants really understood what I offered, yet many people at home did not.
Recently I was reminded of this beautiful Japanese Folktale. I was facilitating one of our ‘Seven Weekend of the Soul’ Experiences in the gorgeous Liss Ard Estate. We were talking about how important it is to go out and find our ‘tribe’ – to discover people who resonate with us, who share our common interests/beliefs/likenesses. As when we do, we are truly nurtured at the deepest level of our heart and soul.
Here is the tale:
“There once was a man who had a huge hideous growth on his face. Fearful of ridicule and rejection, he avoided everyone in the village and spent a miserable, impoverished life as a maker of charcoal. Each day he’d go into the woods and gather sticks, bringing them home, and burn them into charcoal, from which he and his wife eked a meagre living.
One day, while gathering his sticks, a terrible thunderstorm appeared out of nowhere. The man dashed for shelter inside the hollow of a large old tree. When the storm finally passed, it was night.
Just as he was about to venture into the night, he heard some very strange sounds. Right in front of his eyes was a bizarre gathering of hobgoblins, dwarves, and other mutated creatures. Some had three legs; others had eyes dangling from their heads on stems. These creatures were various colours, some were furry, all were unquestionably hideous from the ordinary human point of view.
It was a party and soon drumming and dancing ensued. The charcoal burner watched in delight as the music got stronger, louder and the hobgoblins danced. His feet started to itch to join them. But he was afraid they might devour him. He stood in the tree hollow, listening to the music, until he couldn’t bear it any more.
He burst out of the tree hollow and began to dance. He was brilliant. The hobgoblins all stared in admiration as the charcoal burner flipped and twirled, basically stealing the show. When the dance was over, the creatures begged him to return the following evening; they had never seen such a talented human. They demanded a pledge for his return.
To them, his unsightly tumour was an incredible asset. They insisted he leave it behind to ensure his return! Suddenly the growth was gone. He ran home, the happiest man in the world. But even better the bottom of his charcoal basket was filled with gold.
The charcoal burner became the wealthiest man in the village. By letting go of his fear of rejection, he had discovered his true currency: his talent for dancing.”
And he learned that even his tumour had value – for the right audience.
I hope you enjoyed this Japanese Folktale too! Until next time…
Quote: “Dancing… is like dreaming with your feet” Constanze
Addiction seems to be a recurring theme in my office lately. August and so far the start of September, have been all about addictions. Those who came to see me were looking for help to overcome an addiction of some sort.
When a spate of people arrive in my office like this, it gives me chance to reflect again on what else I still carry about that particular topic (despite already having done enormous amounts of excavation work around it).
On reflection I was surprised to discover how much time I am on Facebook, my ‘non-stop-over-scheduling-work-ethic’, the need to be right/perfect/not make mistakes. Certainly food for thought – and a bit more work left to do for me.
Addiction Article
So as I considered this spate of people – a wonderful colleague and friend based in Malaysia Monika Wyss – shared an article about Addiction, prompting me to write this post.
Escape from Pain
What is clear from the article is that one of the aspects contributing to addiction is the need to escape from our pain – whether that be inside our minds, our past, from life, living, other people or ourselves. That pain we are attempting to escape from is usually unprocessed and in our past. (NB: There are numerous reasons for addiction, however in my post today, I’ll just be focusing in general, on this topic of pain).
Self-Discovery
Many years ago, I read a book written by Robin Norwood titled “Women who Love too Much”. Reading this was a turning point for me. Norwood highlighted that I really did have a problem. (Ok… I’m being modest here – not just one problem – there were loads of them). Her book woke me up from my ‘Denial Slumber’. I realized a lot about my struggles and the painful past I carried. My usual patterns of running, traveling to another country, beginning another relationship doomed for failure, would no longer work. I could no longer ignore, deny or numb my pain. I knew I had to do something, to take responsibility, confront, process and more importantly CHANGE.
As I continued my journey, I began studying Neurolinguistic Programming and then the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Two very potent therapies for me. They began to change my life for the better, helping me address and release a lot of ‘my painful stuff’. Since that time, I have spent what feels like an entire life time growing, addressing, processing and releasing my past. I have learnt a lot. Now I help others do the same – albeit in a shorter space of time!
Reclaiming our Power
Together, we look at what caused the pain. Often, there’s fear and a belief that the past will be painful to revisit, yet it doesn’t have to be that way. For me, going back to the past is a way to reconnect to our power. It gives us a chance to reclaim and heal a wounded part of ourselves, a part left in the past. It’s the part of us that when triggered, (and we all have been at some stage or other) – reacts, shouts, screams, roars and even becomes abusive. It’s the younger part of ourselves that’s been alone, fighting an inner battle since the pain first occurred.
Part of my work also entails letting go of judgments we make about ourselves (as well as other people) so we can free ourselves from shame, blame, pain and/or guilt. We get to revisit and process what happened through the eyes of the adult we now are, rather than the child we once were. We get to forgive ourselves, to set ourselves free from the prison we’ve been keeping ourselves in, and reconnect to our truth – not who we thought we were, nor who we have been told to be – but to the truth of who we really are.
A powerful journey indeed.
Changing an Addiction
I am humbled, when I consider the amount of courage it takes for someone to come to my office. Only when people really have had enough of their addiction, are they ready for change. It takes courage to acknowledge there is a problem, and take responsibility for it. It’s scary to contact someone to work with. Then take that next big step to book an appointment. Finally and probably the biggest achievement of all, is to turn up and make a start.
Addiction Insight
Once in my office we discuss the addiction, explore addiction triggers, release and clear away numerous issues/fears/pains/traumas that contribute to the addiction. Often we need to uncover (or rather dis-cover) more about the past using our subconscious, the deeper mind, through regression. We travel back in time to the origin of the problem and explore the Emotional Drivers that drive the addiction.
This is a wonderfully insightful process that brings forward powerful, lost, and incredibly vital wisdom to help support change.
Freedom
Armed with new understanding about our past, the pain can be fully released and our perception changes. The final step is to re-programme the mind and strengthen the Self with positive suggestions around connection, self-esteem, confidence, safety, security. The time it takes for this process depends a lot on what occurred and what we discover. The joy and honour for me is being allowed to be a part of such a profound journey of self-discovery and be a witness as the client frees themselves from their past and reclaims their own freedom.
Although not apparent to us at the time, we do have a spiritual connection and are very enlightened at an early age. As we grow into our teens and twenties, life experiences challenge us, and we consciously (or unconsciously) shut down or lose this connection. As we grow even older, we begin to feel that something is missing in our lives. We might ask ourselves:
“Is this what my life is all about?” “Is this all there is to my life?”
Inner Paddler
We know and feel that there must be something more.
It’s as if an ‘inner paddler’ awakens within us – paddling us forward: searching – looking – reading – needing to discover more, to seek answers to those important questions about our life, and what we truly want to do with it.
Inner Journey
That’s when our journey of self-discovery commences: we start processing, releasing and making peace with our past. As we break free, we move beyond the confines of our mind, intellect and physical body. Our ego, once fueled by insecurities, becomes quieter and we develop true confidence, authenticity and self-knowledge. We start to let go of past judgments, become more accepting and go further, deeper into our innermost self. We continue on and our perspective changes. We see life differently, we feel more compassion, kindness, forgiveness towards others. We experience a sense of oneness and reconnect to the spiritual world.
Powerful Quote
I searched for a quote that would encompass my thoughts for this post and I found this one from New Zealand. I feel it describes many aspects of life beautifully – not just the state of oneness:
“Kaua e rangiruatia te hā o te hoe; e kore tō tātou waka e ū ki uta” ‘Do not lift the paddle out of unison or our canoe will never reach the shore’
Most of us, whether we are conscious of it or not, are paddling – I’d like to think we’re paddling towards a shore of oneness. I know some are already there. Others are only just starting out. We’re all at different stages of our inner journey. But it’s when we ignore our ‘inner paddler’, that we remain disconnected and never reach the shore.
While travelling the world for many years, I have had the privilege to meet amazing people – all of whom are paddling. I have also facilitated countless workshops and one-on-one consultations, designed to help wonderful awakening individuals become one: to reconnect, grow and evolve and reach the shore.
Completion of a Journey
On 22nd & 23rd October 2016,the group that began their inner journey in 2014, will complete their 7th and final weekend Wonder of the Soul and reach their shore. It’s been an absolute joy and honour for me to journey with these incredibly dedicated group of souls. Their final life-changing weekend will include many experiences and opportunities to:
Begin to feel a direct connection
Feel enlightened
Feel aligned and supported by the earth
Become aware of divine order in all things
Radiate love and peace to all
Experience more bliss
See everyone as equal, without judgment
Live their humanity and divinity simultaneously
To share their gifts; enjoy life to the full and live their life filled with passion.
I made a boo-boo. Yep I sure did! Let me fill you in on what’s happened. Last year, after our week-long retreat some of the group were kind enough to give me valuable feedback about their experience. I collected the information, reflected on it and decided to create a whole new experience this year. I thought about what I would want if I was attending such an event. So here’s my confession:
I wanted to have masterful, experienced practitioners to work one-on-one on me: mind, body, emotions and soul to help me powerfully change. To have potent group experiences; I wanted to eat only organic food, tailored specifically to my nutritional needs; I wanted time out to reflect in nature, to be together eight nights, and the all important thing (for me): to have my own room.
Because I’ve attended a number of retreats and although I’ve met some wonderful people that I shared a room with (and am still friends with them to this day). I confess, I wanted to be able to have my own space, to get up in the middle of the night; to write, think, reflect, process – even cry if I had to.
So having created a powerful programme which encompassed all of these things, I only offered only a single price and single accommodation. A big boo-boo. Costs have increased for every single item since last year: the accommodation, the food, the room rental, as well as the practitioners’ fees etc. Not only that, but in the last retreat a lot of my time was offered free-of-charge. I know I have to change this pattern (I give loads of things away for free) and have to start valuing what I do and offer. Naturally having all of these things made the price expensive.
So although I’d created my “dream programme” I now realize – perhaps a bit too late – that it’s not flexible enough for those who wish to join and who’s needs (including financial ones) are different.
So I thought I’d better ‘fess up and let you know that there is now a shared accommodation fee if you wish to join AND share a room with someone. I’ve paired the price down as much as I possibly can. I have also taken off the 5% surcharge for payment online. Please take a look at the new prices and information at this link. There is also a new pdf version too if you wish to download it and read at your leisure:
Self-esteem, self-worth and confidence are formed during the early years of life from birth to about 5 years old. This is when the foundation of our Self is built. If the parents are supportive, encourage and praise their child, then self-esteem will be high. If this doesn’t happen or something upsetting occurs in those early years, then the childs’ self-esteem will be compromised. The child becomes needy, clingy, will feel insecure, people-please and constantly try to prove that they are better than others.
What is Self-esteem?
According to the Health of Children self-esteem is an “important component of emotional health and encompasses both self-confidence and self-acceptance. It is the way individuals perceive themselves and their self-value. With low self-esteem children have a difficult time dealing with problems, are overly self-critical, and can become passive, withdrawn, and depressed. They may hesitate to try new things, may speak negatively about themselves, are easily frustrated, and often see temporary problems as permanent conditions. They are pessimistic about themselves and their life.”
I agree. This statement about self-esteem doesn’t only speak of our children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews – but of our own child Self.
How is your child Self doing?
Have you ever thought about him/her?
Do you know if he/she is happy?
When situations trigger us or when our child Self is threatened, he/she can have a ‘tantrum’; try to sabotage or stop things from happening.
Our adult Self responds to new situations but our insecure child Self reacts. That means he/she really is afraid and is shouting to be heard.
“Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on.” Maxwell Maltz
Hand-Brake
So it’s our child Self that pulls on our hand-brake. We are forced to an abrupt and often painful halt. Imagine this: Every day your adult Self revs the engine, tries to move forward in life. The harder your adult Self tries, the more you stay in the same place with your wheels spinning! Your child Self has its’ hand firmly on the hand brake. Our adult Self becomes frustrated, angry, jealous, resentful, irritated – and worse still depressed, suicidal and powerless. All because our child Self has low self-esteem and doesn’t feel safe.
Challenges in Later Life
As we grow older cracks start to appear and problems surface. Low self-esteem underpins a number of behaviours – not only those stated above, but also addictions of all kinds, relationship difficulties, insomnia and low levels of energy are linked to low self-esteem. If the self-esteem issue is left unresolved, it’s possible that the adult can get to a point where they just don’t want to be here, they feel negative about the world, have numerous failed relationships, experience sadness, loneliness and don’t feel as though they belong on this planet.
Begin to Treat Yourself
Fortunately, it is possible to change low self-esteem. One of the easier things you can start to do is spend time thinking of how you might like to spoil yourself every now and then. Do things that you don’t do often for yourself. For example, it could be a walk on the beach or in a forest; having a gentle relaxing massage; getting your nails manicured or taking a warm, scented bath (and maybe even risk putting a few rose petals into the bathwater. Take a chance – you never know, you might enjoy it!). Whatever you decide to do, commit yourself to it – mark it in your calendar and book yourself in! Get excited about it. Have fun and enjoy the experience. Remember that you are a Very Important Person. The more you appreciate the gift you give to yourself, the more you start to realize its value. This can help you begin to appreciate your own self-worth and value.
Process your Past
To go a step further in addressing your self-esteem challenge, and consider having a one-on-one consultation. This might seem scary and daunting. But think about it for a moment…what’s the worst that could happen?
You might peel back a few layers of who you are not, release the hand-brake and uncover who you really, truly are – your amazing Self.
Carl Jung said “the most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”
Weekend Experiences in West Cork, Ireland
So if you’d like to take a bigger step and begin the process of accepting yourself, then consider doing different. Spend a weekend away in the beautiful grounds of the Liss Ard Estate Lake Lodge in West Cork, Ireland on 24th & 25th September 2016 from 10am-6pm (both days).Michelle will be facilitating a life-changing weekend with a small group of like-minded people called The Wonder of the Soul. This weekend will help you
There are a limited number of early bird special rates still available for this weekend. If you love a bargain, the cost of the weekend is €209 per person/shared accommodation. But you’ll need to act fast – there are only a few places left! Once they are gone, they are gone!
I have been meaning to write for a while about sleep and insomnia. So when I saw that the Guardian Newspaper recently ran a story about the former ‘Sex and the City’ star Kim Cattrall and her battle with insomnia, it spurned me into taking action. According to the Surrey Sleep Research Centre “Sleep disorders are prevalent, with approximately 10 to 20 per cent of the European and US population reporting frequent sleep disruption.” That’s a lot of people awake at night. So what’s happening?
Insomnia and feeling Safe
We sleep best when we feel safe and content. Worrying e.g. about our difficulties at work, our relationships, things we have to get done tomorrow – won’t help us fall asleep. Worrying actually accelerates our brain sending our mind into overdrive, our body tenses up, we hold our breath and stress hormones are excreted. Instead of sleeping we prepare to ‘fight or flight’ and we therefore suffer from what is known as insomnia.
Frustration fuels Insomnia
Insomnia
The fight continues when we lie in bed for hours getting stressed and more annoyed with ourselves. We add salt to our wounds by watching the clock – calculating (still more brain stimulation) – how many hours we have left until we have to get up. When we wake the next day, we feel exhausted, irritated and annoyed. Instead of bouncing out of bed refreshed, we feel frustrated and tired. Then we use coffee, chocolate or sugary drinks to keep ourselves awake. We begin negatively programming our mind with statements like: “I won’t be able to sleep tonight”, “I’ll be awake all night just like last night” etc. etc. As night falls we start to worry more and again our levels of stress increase. This quickly becomes a pattern.
Insomnia and Stress
Our sleep is directly affected by stress. It is impossible to solve stress with stress. Feeling insecure creates stress, feeling secure naturally counteracts stress. What is also important is to be relaxed during the day, to change our beliefs and habits about sleep.
Switch Off & Relax
Try this simple exercise. It’s a great way to turn off the activity in your nervous system and relax for a brief moment:
Switching Off For a Moment – Turn your phone off for 5 minutes. Sit with your back upright and put both your feet on the floor. Take a deep breath (a deep one right down into your belly). Let your shoulders drop. Breathe deeply again. Focus on your jaw, part your jaw, relax your tongue and mouth. Continue to breathe deeply from your belly/abdomen for about 3 to 5 breaths and close your eyes. Just be still for a few more moments. Then open your eyes, have a sip of water…and notice how you feel. [Remember to turn your phone back on too].
I have to admit I love my job. My passion is helping clients relax and let go of stress. During a consultation for insomnia we spend time discussing a variety of potent strategies to help clients prepare for sleep. Then together we create positive suggestions that are integrated into a tailor-made hypnotherapy MP3 recording to re-programme the mind away from insomnia towards sleeping deeply through the night. Changing a habit takes more than one day, so continued listening of this recording is essential. As with all new skills, be persistent – some people notice immediate relief, others after a week or more.
It is possible to change your mind, your sleep behaviour and patterns. If you struggle with insomnia are unable to get to sleep, or wake up regularly during the night, or are disturbed by someone snoring while you sleep, help is at hand. Contact me to take your first step towards being able to sleep like a baby again!
Kind Feedback
My thanks to Jody (not her real name) for her kind feedback: “I have had a huge shift in that I AM OFF MY SLEEP MEDS AFTER 1 and half yrs. I can’t describe the feeling of utter joy and empowerment I have since the last 2 days. It means so much to be finally in control of my life. That was the last piece of the puzzle I needed to fit in the ‘my empowerment series’. I can’t thank you enough.”
To free yourself from insomnia contact me Michelle A. Hardwick for a consultation either in person in the UK: Phone – 07857369619 or in Ireland: Phone – 0871492338.
Codependency is a term used for people who have a tendency to be involved in dysfunctional relationships. They set up negative patterns where the needs and behaviours of their loved ones are more important than their own. As you might expect, codependent patterns increase levels of stress, frustration, irritation, anger and anxiety.
Codependency – Difficulty in Early Childhood
According to Weinhold & Weinhold “codependency is a failure to complete one or more of the important developmental tasks of early childhood. Individuals who do not complete a variety of stages and processes become developmentally delayed at a personal level. This prevents them from creating not only healthy couple, family relationships but also healthy organisations, cultures and nation-states.
Sympthoms of Codependency
Common symptoms of codependency are:
Feeling trapped in abusive, controlling relationships
Having low self-esteem
Needing approval /support from others in order to feel good about yourself
Feeling powerless to change destructive relationships
Needing some other outside stimulation to distract from your feelings e.g. alcohol, food, work, sex etc.
Feeling like a martyr, helpless, using guilt to manipulate
Being a people pleaser
Having poor or weak boundaries
Inability to experience true intimacy and love
Lack of trust, perfectionism, operating in the extremes
Caretaking, obsession
Depression, compulsive lying, compulsive talking
Controlling others through manipulation, threatening, coerciveness and/or constant advice giving…”
People who are codependent often also fear abandonment and rejection. But what they don’t realise is that they actually abandon and reject themselves.
Healing Codependency
It IS possible to heal codependency. We first need to heal our relationship with ourselves. When I began healing my own codependent tendencies, I found that a lot of my difficulties stemmed from childhood. I began healing there.
Now whenever my clients want to become free from codependent patterns, I use a similar process. We typically release challenges from their past – either through Regression or the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), we also change emotions and behaviours by using Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). If my clients are really committed to change their lives, at the end of our time together I usually suggest they go on to heal their primitive reflexes, as I did. All of this is deep, inner work, however using this combination of tools will help make lasting change and is a very empowering process.
Being in-dependent is all about strengthening and healing you. It is not about changing anyone else.
Freedom of Codependency
When clients are free from codependent behaviours they begin to take responsibility for their actions, feelings, behaviours and life. They meet their own needs. They are able to say no and set appropriate boundaries. They have self-esteem, self-acceptance, self-belief and self-love. They feel IN – dependence instead of CO-dependence.
One client recently wrote to me saying: “I had a feeling this way of change was for me. I need to let you know that since our session yesterday something in me has shifted. I don’t know what – but I feel alive! I have this most beautiful feeling of peace and for that I thank you most sincerely”.
Michelle A. Hardwick
Contact
To free yourself from your codependent tendencies contact Michelle A. Hardwick for a consultation either in person in the UK: Phone – 07857369619 or in Ireland: Phone – 0871492338. Alternatively contact Michelle here to book your consultation via Skype.
Letting go of our loved ones or things we have loved can be incredibly challenging. For example when our teenage children leave home, or loved ones pass, when our cherished pets have to be put down, or when we stop working and retire. All of these situations are unfamiliar and often painful.
Letting Go – A Parable
After facilitating our monthly meditation evening and during one of my weekend retreats the topic of letting go surfaced. I shared the following parable in the hope that a different perspective could be gained about the process of letting go.
“There once was a man who had been very passionate and committed to helping others grow and heal. It was important to him, that he grow and evolve as well. Through a number of circumstances, the man finds himself hanging only by his mouth from a branch of a tree over a precipice. His hands were unable to grasp any branch above and his feet unable to wrap around the tree. He had been hanging there for some time when a person came and stood at the edge of the precipice. This person asked the man:
‘Which is the way to enlightenment?'”
I asked the group “now, what would you do?”
As we know from the parable, the man is committed to helping others and himself. He has a big decision to make. What should he do?
If the man does not answer, he fails in his responsibility to help the person who is asking. If the man does answer, he will fall and lose his life.
The group thought about this. Some said they would grunt, or show or point the way… Others said they wouldn’t answer and keep themselves alive… One person said they would surrender and let go. A powerful decision.
Letting Go – Becoming Free
This parable highlights the dilemmas we face in life.
Often we do find ourselves in situations when things are not moving. We might be stuck in our career, our relationships, set patterns or negative behaviours. But we can’t seem to let go. And perhaps we know deep down that we can’t hold on forever either.
Then someone comes to ask the way to enlightenment.
We might not be ready to answer, or be angry that the person is asking us. Yet here is our greatest teacher. Now we have to take action and that could be – to let go, evolve and grow. That is like dropping down to the abyss below or into nothingness. That’s very scary isn’t it?
For our ego, this letting go feels like death. However, when we let go and surrender then the greater part of ourselves – or even a higher power can step in, guide, help or even catch us.
Letting Go – Support
If you need a little positive support in your process of letting go, please contact me, Michelle A. Hardwick or call me on 0871492338 (in Ireland) or 07857369619 (in the UK).
I have to admit that I feel very blessed to be able to call the Liss Ard Estate Lake Lodge ‘home’ every 2-3 months for our Weekends at Liss Ard Estate for self-development, self-discovery evolution and growth. Through a series of wonderful coincidences I managed to Google my way onto the Liss Ard Estatewebsite.
I couldn’t believe my luck. The grounds seemed perfect, the location was West Cork, Ireland (also perfect), the dates I needed were available, it could be used for self-catering – oh my, the stars were certainly lining up for me that day!
So I took a trip down to Skibbereen. Estimating that it would take me just over an hour to get there from Cork, an hour to check everything out, and then another hour to get back.
What I didn’t reckon on – was the peace I would feel there. The quietness and tranquility, the absolute beauty of the grounds not to mention the incredible Irish Sky Garden. It was like I just melted there and the stress of my day vanished into thin air.
Magical walks and pathways
I couldn’t leave it was just so magical. It took me more than a good few hours to explore the grounds, to check out the wonderful views, to see the Lake Lodge and check out the gorgeous decor in the dining room, the lounge and library as well as the bedrooms.
Now almost 2 years on from my first ever experience, I share these jewels of the Liss Ard Estate Lake Lodge with others who are keen to discover more about themselves, to connect to their truth, to evolve and grow spiritually.
Our weekends at Liss Ard are called The Wonders of the Soul.There are seven of them in total and each weekend has a different focus and experience. You can choose to attend one or all of them, depending on what feels right for you. Very briefly these weekends include:
Weekend One allows us to reassess our roots, to assess where we are and where we desire to go
Weekend Two gives us an opportunity to discover more about our inner balance, flexibility and our ability to flow with life
Weekend Three focuses on our intention, our drive as well as our passion and will
In Weekend Four we uncover more about love, self-love and unconditional love
During Weekend Five we look at our communication (inner and outer), as well as how we communicate our truth to the world
Weekend Six we experience the beauty of our vision, connect to our wisdom and develop a deeper sense of insight
Our final Weekend Seven helps us reflect on our journey of enlightenment from the ordinary to the extraordinary … and beyond!
Are you ready to close the gap between where you are and where you want to and take part in our weekends? Contact me Michelle andreserve your place now!
Be with like-minded soulsNutritious food servedTime to unwind and relax
“Imagine that it’s a lovely spring day (or an Autumn day as it now is in the Northern Hemisphere) and you’re enjoying a walk in the mountains. Since you’re out for the day, you have a backpack with food, rain gear, and a few other essentials. You also have about 80 pounds of rocks of assorted sizes in your pack, of which you’re completely unaware. Further as you walk along, you unconsciously pick up additional rocks and add them to your burden.
