Change Requires Courage
If the price for purpose is pain, then the price for change is courage.
A retreat is a multi-day event that brings together people with a common professional or personal interest. In March, I attended two retreats: one in Nashville, Tennessee, and the other in Lyons, NY. In both retreats, the individuals in the room attended purposely, making the event much better—no spectators, just participants.
The Tenessee retreat was professional-driven. It was held in the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The venue was just beautiful. I could attend this event with my wife, so Mairy and I turned this into a mini-vacation as we could leave the kids behind. Hearing the many speakers and taking in the sights with Mairy was exceptional; we had a tune of laughs, took pictures, and came home dead after the multiple flights, but we loved it.
The Lyons event was held in the New Life Assembly of God campsite. This retreat was more spiritually driven, and in addition to attending it, I also had the chance to speak at it. I attended it with a few fellas from church, and for a couple of them, it was their first time attending. My brother and I had participated last year, so being able to attend again with him is always fantastic.
Both of these retreats were so powerful. The conversation, the workshops, and the connection made each event a powerful experience. On a personal note, I took so much out of these retreats. I walked away feeling empowered and with a much clearer vision.
If you're considering attending a retreat for professional, personal, or spiritual benefits, here's what I recommend.
Find out who is hosting the event.
Is the event hosted by a person or an organization? Do your homework by searching on Facebook, seeing what others are saying about them, and if the event is a yearly event, see what past attendees have said about it.
Understand who is speaking at the event.
If the speakers are announced, search for who those speakers are. In the Tenessee retreat, one of the speakers was Trent Shelton, someone I was familiar with. However, I could conduct a Facebook search on other speakers I had not heard of before that moment and see a quick synopsis of who they were.
Set Clear Intentions.
Knowing who is hosting the event allows you to assess the credibility and reputation of the organizers. You can research their background, experience, and track record of hosting similar events. Knowing who the speakers are and learning about their achievements and experiences can be inspiring and motivating. Their stories, insights, and advice can provide valuable guidance, encouragement, and perspective as you pursue your goals and aspirations. However, if you need to set clear intentions as to what you wish to take from this event, then it won't matter how great the host or the speakers are; get clear on why you're attending and what you want out of it.
Remember lodging.
When I attended the Tennessee retreat, it was at a beautiful hotel! We had a lovely room, room service, and all the expected amenities. But I participated at the Lyons retreat in a lodge, and the beds were sizeable wooden bunk beds. There was beautiful scenery, a trail we explored, and a fireplace with a gravitational pull, bringing everyone to sit around it and connect. Knowing where you're staying and sleeping will help you prepare accordingly. And while this may seem minuscule, good sleep (as good as it can be away from your bed) can have a considerable impact.
Vulnerability makes a retreat a mastermind or a small group transformationally powerful. When everyone in the room wants to be in the room and is vulnerable, change happens. Vulnerability made it so I walked away with so much value from these events. The hosts set up a great schedule, and the speakers were so giving with strategies, insight, and even their time after they hit the stage. Still, my vulnerability was a catalyst for the experience I had.
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“Personal growth is your personal responsibility.”
Miguel Lebron
After attending these events and being in many rooms, I have learned that personal growth and vulnerability go hand in hand. Ultimately, the world opens up when you do. You must attempt to grow and drop the walls you've built to receive the necessary things for your growth.
Self-awareness requires vulnerability.
Emotional growth requires vulnerability.
Authentic connections require vulnerability.
Learning and overcoming require vulnerability.
Part of the survival instincts that live within all of us is self-protection to avoid pain and hurt, but for many, this has become a default setting. While self-protection is a human instinct, vulnerability is too. It's why, after fighting for so long, you can quickly get stuck when you find a place of rest. If you're feeling stuck, know that you aren't alone. I help those who feel stuck get unstuck and accomplish their goals.
How do we embrace vulnerability?
So many things require vulnerability, such as trying something new, sharing a challenging experience, and expressing emotions (a lesson I learned by attending a marriage weekend retreat).
"Vulnerability is the core of all emotions and feelings. To feel is to be vulnerable. To believe vulnerability is weakness is to believe that feeling is weakness." - Dr. Brené Brown
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Acknowledge Your Feelings: Recognize and accept your feelings of vulnerability without judgment. Understand that vulnerability is a natural part of being human and that sometimes, feeling uncertain, exposed, or uncomfortable is okay.
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone: Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone and take risks. This could involve trying new activities, pursuing ambitious goals, or engaging in difficult conversations. Embracing vulnerability means facing uncertainty and discomfort in pursuit of personal growth.
Identify Areas for Growth: Reflect on areas of your life where you feel stuck or where you desire growth and improvement. This could be in your relationships, career, personal habits, or self-esteem. Identifying these areas will help you pinpoint where to embrace vulnerability to facilitate growth.
Seek Support and Connection: Surround yourself with people who nourish your vision and encourage vulnerability and authenticity. Seek out communities, groups, or organizations where you feel accepted and valued for being your true self.
Your personal growth is on the other side of your vulnerability. This lesson was learned early; for some, it's one we still need to take. If you take anything from this article, understand that your breakthrough is on the other side of vulnerability. At these recent events, I gained even more clarity as an entrepreneur, coach, and a man. Notes were taken, lessons were learned, connections were made, tears were shed, and a breakthrough was had.
Are you ready to be vulnerable? Our vulnerability is inevitable. The courage to let yourself be seen despite your fears is a powerful motivator. Switching things up can keep you inspired and motivated. If the price for purpose is pain, then courage is the price for change.