The Turning Point is hands down the BEST seminar I’ve ever been to. In fact, it’s so motivating that I’ve now been to three of them. Every time it’s different too b/c you’ll go once, learn some things that you want to change in your life, and then you’ll go home and apply what you’ve learned. The next time around, you’ll learn the same information, and yet, you’ll hear something different…something you didn’t apply the first time you left the seminar. You’ll take your new information, go home, and apply some more positive changes into your life. Then, as you go more and more, you’ll repeat the cycle.
This weekend was just incredible for me though, and for a few different reasons. First off, it marks the one year anniversary for B and my FIRST Turning Point seminar. As we reflect on how much we’ve changed our life for the better this year, we look onto just how much better it is going to become again in 2009.
B and I two weeks after our first Turning Point
Second, Ang was there. That’s right, my first alliance member, the girl I wrote about in my last journal entry. She’s the one that decided to stop making excuses and TAKE ACTION, and got on a plane on short notice to change her life.
What an amazing weekend for her and her boyfriend, Mike. It’s awesome just how much The Turning Point does for people. Besides the fact that Mike quit smoking that weekend (Side note on Dec. 26th: And has proposed to Ang), Ang had an experience of a lifetime that taught her to never let anything hold her back.
You see, six year ago, Ang’s mom passed away in a tragic fire...The Rhode Island Night Club Fire. Ever since her passing, Ang has let her mom’s death really hold her back. Even the site of a flame on a birthday candle would trigger awful feelings inside her.
At The Turning Point, Ang learned a valuable lesson. One of the biggest parts of the seminar is all the attendees eat fire. That’s right, YOU will eat fire there! (To see a video of my friends and myself eating fire, click here.)
Brandon eating fire!!!
This was extremely scary for Ang. After all, she did let even the site of fire remind her of her mother’s death…and she refused to eat the fire. She let the fear hold her back.
Later that night Brandon and Mike went to talk about Mike’s experience, and Ang and I decided to have some girl time to reflect on why she didn’t eat the fire. We brainstormed a little, and Ang revealed that she felt that she would just be disrespecting her mother by eating the fire…after all, that’s how she died! I felt differently about the situation though, and explained my outlook on the firing eating. I told Ang that she has let her mom’s death (and fire) hold her back from doing so many things. This was a chance for her to change that. All day she had learned about taking action and not letting things hold her back, and that’s exactly what she was doing by not eating the fire.
I ate fire!!!
Then I told her that I didn’t see her eating fire as disrespectful. I saw it as victorious!!! An action in HONOR of her mom! I said to her “You can eat the fire and say, ‘You may have taken my mom, and yet you WON’T take me!’” That night triggered something different in her head.
The next morning, she went back into the seminar and asked Marshall what his opinion was. He had a very similar opinion to mine. That was the point when Ang knew what she had to do. At lunch that day, she took action and, in honor of her mom, ate fire!!! It was a real emotional moment for Ang, and I was so proud to witness her overcoming her fear.
Ang the Fire Eater!
**Side note: December 15th**
Ang and I are in constant contact and is doing awesome! She has many people noticing all the positive changes in her and Mike since attending The Turning Point, and she reports that she is not letting anything hold her back anymore! Anytime she may feel a little fear, she thinks of how she honored her mom when she ate fire. When she sees fire, she doesn’t freak out anymore. She reminds herself of all the good times she had with her mom. And she is taking new actions every day towards getting the life that she really wants. I’m so proud and excited for her…and I know when she continues to apply everything she learned in Atlanta, she will continue to achieve many more successes for herself.
On another positive note, Mike is still not smoking. He will celebrate his one month anniversary on Christmas Eve!
Congrats you guys! We love you!!!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You guys are so great! I am so thankful we met! Thanks so much for all of your help with my success. I look forward to having you guys in my life always and for all the success that has yet to come!
Thank you Rachel! We are very grateful to have you in our life too! You are a rock star, and I’m super excited to watch us all continue to grow together!!!