Some people on spiritual or personal development journeys abdicate their
intelligence. Let's get personal. Stay away from house meetings with people who
you have never heard of. Run from anything that is deliberately trying to get
your money, keep you away from family and friends, and is secret. Women
particularly need to be discerning. It is recommended that you attend workshops
and retreats with established sponsors. Many of the sponsoring organizations
either have their own facilities or they set up the workshop in a good hotel in
a central location. The fees are reasonable and the same for all participants.
Call before you commit yourself and speak with the staff about the workshop you
will be attending. Listen to how they represent the organization. Are all their
answers about the cost or the program? Do they think of the leader in a Messiah
way? RUN!!!
Drawbacks to Self-Discovery
Self-discovery can be rewarding and life changing, however sometimes the
best thing a person can do is to like who they are now. Maybe a little tweaking
is not bad, but a life journey of “self” can lead to loneliness and
frustration. It can also lead people to cults, which prey on the vulnerable,
lost, rejected, and alone.
Everything in life has its checks and balances. Making a year long
commitment is great, and particularly useful if there has been a recent loss.
If after that year there are other areas to explore then do that, but please
give yourself a realistic end-time. The reason that you started the search may
not be the reason you keep on the search, so be willing to change direction as
needed.
Sometimes the biggest drawback to self-discovery is that people do not know
how to discover the good in them. They can see the bad, but overlook the gems.
The biggest gem is the willingness to pursue change at all. Most people do not,
or only to get a result they need at that moment.