A Short Review and My Challenge

[Patrick Ward]

Here's yet another review of CGW2, but I think it might have some relevance.

The Short Review

It's been just over a week since I left the conference in Vegas. Yet, in that short time I've seen people quit their jobs, take on new jobs and careers, sell their house, move to a new city, find new friends, end old relationships, take on new loves, go vegan, go raw, learn new skills, and pursue goals and adventures they thought might never be available to them just 10 days ago. I've seen more positive thought and progress from that small group of conscious people at the conference than I've seen in all the countless corporate retreats I've been on.

There will always be small issues to adjust at events like these. For instance, I found the one-on-one sessions to go a little long, but they were still insightful. My hat is off to the courageous souls that let us laugh and cry with them, each of your stories were touching and relevant. My biggest suggestion would be to limit those to a shorter time (don't remove them completely) and give more time to the pair-off exercises; that's where I found the epiphanies I was searching for.

At the beginning of the conference, Steve mentioned that he felt more like a facilitator than a leader at these events. After having attended, I have to agree with him. Outside of Steve's wonderful message, I think it was the people that made this conference worth the effort. We can all thank Steve for collecting those beautiful souls into one place and raising the energy of Vegas for a brief period of time.

The final worth of an event like CGW has to be found in how it has affected the people that attended. I think the list in my first paragraph says a lot. Nearly every person I came in contact with at the conference has gone on to find success in their lives in some form another; and not just fuzzy, superficial success, I'm talking life-changing progress in the way they're going to live their lives from this day forward.

I'm so inspired by the changes I'm seeing in the people that I met there, it's the most profound testimonial I can make.

So, How did it affect me?

In my own life, I've started to write. It's something that I've always kicked around inside my head, but never had the courage to just do. I've got a long way to go, but I'm getting it done with the kind of momentum I didn't have at the beginning of this month.

On the first day, Marwan challenged me to write 30 blog posts in 30 days, which seemed absolutely daunting at the time. Now, however, I'm 5 days into this challenge and feeling good about it. It's going to continue to be a serious challenge on a technical and courageous level, but I'm determined to see it through. Although I'd like to spend more time on each day's post, I think the process of putting them out there in their raw state has a cathartic effect for me; it's forcing me past the perfectionist flaw that's always kept me from just going for it.

I haven't found my message yet, but I get the feeling that just by starting something I'm getting closer to that realization.

I also seem to be opening up more, allowing others into my life on a deeper level. My conversations with people are more intense now, more fulfilling (at least when the other person is willing). In the process, people are opening up more towards me as well. Love and oneness were my weakest principles prior to Vegas, but I can see now that they may end up being some of my stronger traits.

I think it's sufficient to say that CGW was really a combination of the message and the people, but it was the connections made there that had the most lasting affect for me. Steve gave us the framework to work with, the rest was up to us. I believe we all met that challenge in spades.

[Divajules]

Hey Patrick,
IMO, your review was spot on. I am so happy that you are going for it! I think it was Alex that said he felt this time was more power/courage oriented whereas the first one was more love oriented. Funny, I was unable to attend the first one (had already made plans for a girl's trip). So, I signed up for the second one. Now I understand why I was "busy" during the first one. I definitely needed a kick in the power/courage area so I definitely was meant to be at the second one. I love seeing these kinds of "after the fact" revelations. It just keeps reminding me that the universe WILL support whatever new decision you make.

Thanks for sharing. Keep going with the writing. I like what you're doing so far!

[Patrick Ward]

Thanks Divajules! :-)

I know exactly what you mean by a "kick in the power/courage area". This event was just what I needed to force me to start something.