I have to be honest with you. I am one of those notorious self-experimenters – something deeply ingrained in me – if I encounter a problem, I start with a good old Google search and some lurking on sites I suspect might have a puzzle piece answer to my problem.

It has served me pretty well in life so far. But recently, I have faced some obstacles and challenges that made me realize I am being stretched in some rather painful ways. It felt like it was time for something more. I want to share what I’m learning but won’t go into the details of some of the issues that catapulted me on this next journey, because it involves other people whose privacy I would like to honor. I remember way too well how upset I got with people in my growing up years, whom I confided in with something, and they announced it to others without my permission, completely unaware that it was mortifying for me. It has resulted in me not entrusting myself to said people, even twenty-some years later. I’m thinking this issue will be resurfacing later on in this blog series as I begin to unpack and dig up stuff that has inadvertently kept me stuck in some way and I didn’t even know it. But wherever this may lead, the point is, I would prefer not to dishonor someone else’s privacy, if I can help it, and so I will be talking in generalities when other people are involved.

Let me introduce you to Justin and Abi Stumvoll. I have heard Abi speak and have heard part of her story, which is an inspiring one. Hearing her story made me hopeful that she would hold some tools I could use. I experienced her to be real, direct and honest, with much compassion and humor. She announced a life consultant training class online. I have been interested in life coaching for a long time. I looked into courses before but nothing had worked out, and the interest has been on the back burner ever since. I immediately knew I wanted to take this course. It was a way for me to pursue what has always intrigued me and help me make some progress on the issues in my family.

I am posting the class description here, because it will give you an idea of whether or not this blog series will benefit you or not.

“Living Fully Alive is a course designed to help you unlock your potential. This training will highlight the reasons people get stuck in life, teach you the process of transformation, give you the keys that create personal breakthrough, and empower you to take others on a journey that brings healing and wholeness.”

It’s a 12-session class with some bonuses. I recommend you read the posts in the order they are posted. Some sessions needed to be split into several posts in order to be more digestible. There will be invitations for applying tools introduced to your own situation. I hope you will find them helpful. I invite you to post in the comments to share how you are doing, and what you are thinking about what you’re learning.

Why am I blogging about it? Several reasons.

First of all, I have been sensing for some time that I should start a blog. I want it to be a blog that actually benefit others. As I was preparing for this class, I felt the quiet whisper of God to write blogposts on the sessions I take as a way to process the information. That actually makes a lot of sense to me. Every time I have really learned something, it has been because I processed it by either writing about it or teaching someone else some element of what I was learning. So, I guess you could say one of my motivations is actually of selfish nature…. I want to get everything I can out of this class and this will help me do that.

Secondly though, connecting with people in real life has been somewhat challenging. I have found beautiful ways to connect with other women through online platforms. Up until now it has been predominantly Bible study related, sharing insights from studying the same things and sharing with each other online in order to stay connected. I am hoping that what I share of my journey, my seeking to be as well as I can be, will be helpful to some other people looking for pieces of their puzzle as I am. I have found so many answers online I would not have found looking elsewhere, that maybe this is a way for others to find nuggets from what I share also.

Thirdly, counseling and consulting are not cheap. Most people I know have budgets that limit their ability to find help or direction from professionals. Neither do they have the funds to take online courses, which there are many to choose from these days. I am blessed to be able to take this consulting class. I would like to share with anyone who is journeying too. If you are interested, I hope this blog will help you find direction, answers, helpful exercise ideas and more, on your journey of personal growth.

As long as you remember that I am just a regular person with no special degrees, seeking to grow and change for the better, desiring to share what I learn with other like-minded fellow-travelers, this could be something great. So, please realize, when you are on this growth journey the way I am, you need to be responsible for yourself and know full well when you are experimenting on yourself. I have been a self-experimenter for a long time. Some stuff works, other stuff doesn’t. I learn from it and move on. Please don’t take my sharing as a prescription. Take the meat and spit out the bones. That’s what I do.