Review

Rachel Preece

I found the two days amazing, fascinating, emotional, educational and exhausting though, unusually, I started feeling shattered and ended up feeling full of energy – I know this won’t be a surprise to you?  It was when I woke up on Saturday morning, that I felt completely different!  It was extraordinary I felt what I can only describe as ‘full’!  I waited for the normal feelings of ‘emptiness’ (which I then have to work to counter) to come flooding in but they didn’t.  I felt full and peaceful and it felt wonderful!  It is what I would describe as ‘normal me’ and I am afraid I have not felt that way much for the last few years.  Where I managed to keep the tears back during the course I wept because it was lovely to recognise myself!  I spent the day smiling and determined to keep the energy there for as long as I could.

 

The work with energy was mind-blowing for me and gave me a bit of an epiphany.  I came to the seminar because I thought I was losing my confidence.  Having been on a bit of a journey of survival for the last three years, when my 23 year marriage ended and finding myself,  at 44, a single parent to my two teenage sons was not part of my life plan and I struggled to maintain my normal positive sunny outlook whilst feeling totally abandoned and devastated.  The feelings that engulfed me, stirred up emotions long buried from childhood and I have had to process deep associations of abandonment, which have in turn challenged my feelings of self esteem and confidence.  My outward appearance of confidence always defied the shyness I felt inside, but with a passion for acting and dancing, I took a degree in performing arts after leaving school and learnt to wear confidence like stage costume.

 

I feel so much stronger now but I am ‘battled scarred’ and I have found that my confidence in many situations lets me down to the extent that I find myself avoiding things I know will be difficult because I don’t feel  I have the energy for it.  My working environment which has always been difficult I am now finding quite toxic and I am really quite desperate to leave.   I am not really valued for the work that I do and I work hard and am really  good at my job – so I just feel that I should take myself somewhere where my efforts are appreciated.  I have for a long time realised that in order for me to grow as a person I need to do it in an environment which will encourage that growth.

 

So the chance to take part in your seminar could not have been more timely.  I decided that in order to get the most out of it, I would approach it with total honesty i.e. no putting on appearances of confidence – I would take off my mask. During the exercises that we undertook, even though I found some of them uncomfortable I very soon got in my stride. I realised that I didn’t really have a problem with confidence in putting across my point of view and working with a group, both things I enjoy.  The more comfortable I feel the more confident I am.  The work with energy which was amazing made me realise that I am around such negative energy a lot of the time at moment that it is taking my energy away and therefore leaving nothing for me to put in the extra confidence that I need in certain situations.  If I have good energy I feel more confident! – Eureka!

 

The opportunity to meet and work with such lovely people and of course the amazing Les (who is magical) was a most fantastic experience and the choice of venue was absolutely stunning - what a perfect setting for your work. Most of all it was wonderful to meet, and have the opportunity to work with you, and for you to impart your knowledge which has been so carefully studied and made accessible to us-  by you.  So thank you from my heart for the energy that you shared with us all, you created a loving and sharing environment, allowing us all to open up and for some of us, me especially,  to rediscover ME!  What an amazing thing to be able to do Nikki – you are an extraordinary woman!

 

I do hope we meet again soon – I feel like I have only just got started ..... watch this space!