How do you put an experience like this into words?

The truest way I have found to describe the aliveness and essence of these past months with Michael is to write to the version of me who was wondering whether to say yes before the program began. Here is that letter… 

Dear me still trying to make up their mind about whether or not to do this program,

Oh, what a gentle ride these upcoming months will be. Life is still going to life, of course it is, but your experience of it will have so much more freedom and far less pressure.

The invitation you are about to accept, the one you feel drawn to without a long list of logical reasons, is simply the first of many invitations to explore and play with life. These will be simple nudges to look, to participate, to try things. No pressure to add anything to your already busy plate, though that plate will not feel nearly as heavy by this time next year.

You will feel supported to do things that, from where you are sitting now, look like stepping out of your comfort zone or stretching yourself. And yet you will discover that this kind of stretching is far more comfortable, natural and filled with ease than anything you are currently imagining.

You will fall in love with aspects of your life you are not currently a fan of, and even with parts you have not realised you have been quietly ignoring.

You will get out of your own way, and I know you already have some sense of what might be possible if you could only do that, but just wait until you experience it.

And you will come to know the you you are getting out of the way of so much more intimately, so much more kindly.

Spoiler alert: you are going to really, really like what you find.

And you are going to be so grateful you said yes to this, to getting to play in all of this with Michael, Lynne and the whole Genius Catalyst team. You will meet the most gorgeous group of fellow adventurers, each of them joining you by accepting their own version of this invitation. They will become part of the texture of your year: the laughter, the insights, the shared explorations, the moments when someone else’s seeing helps you see something new in yourself. You have no idea yet how held, how connected and how inspired you are about to feel.

Love,
Future You

Over this past year, Michael led me on an extraordinary adventure of awakening. I felt myself come alive in ways I never imagined. I stepped into infinite possibilities. I created more freely than ever before – writing a poem, crafting a children’s book, giving a Ted-style talk, and even starting a nature journaling club. These were things I once believed were impossible or completely beyond my awareness.

Some of the activities were done in teams, and those experiences were joyful, energizing and memorable. I listened, laughed, danced, cried when something true touched me, and continue seeing life with my inner eyes – from the natural space of innate well-being and innocence. I had a real taste of wu-wei – effortless action. I was guided to understand what it means to live beyond ego, beyond fear, beyond psychology, and beyond success. I learned, perhaps for the first time, simply to be myself.

This program has been one heaven of a journey!