MY JOURNEY

Where to begin? I believe the best place to start is before I encountered the personal development movement.

I was one of those people who did not have problems. I had a relationship with a super guy. I had work that paid well and left me with lots of time to take courses. My weight was fine. I ate healthy food and did some exercising. I traveled.

But nothing felt right.

I didn't talk about this.

What was there to say? No verbal abuse. No physical abuse. No addictions. I wasn't depressed.

I was happiest reading novels - great novels. I had always loved entering into all those other worlds - people who did amazing things. Adventures. Passionate love stories.

But everyday life felt unsatisfying. I often felt bored.

I almost accidentally fell into personal development.

I easily got angry at little things. I knew it was stupid, but could not stop it. The university were I was getting my MA offered 18 free counseling sessions. I decided to take 2 or 3, to get rid of that stupid anger.

That's not what happened. It was a bit like Alice in Wonderland - falling into a world I had no idea about. For example, I learned that anger was not stupid or evil, but a sign of something, and that I had the right to express it (though not to blow up).

Martin Luther King Jr's most famous words are: I have a dream. It was of a world changed, a world where his children were judged by their character, not the color of their skin. I love his dream.

I had a dream too. After the 18 free sessions, I dreamed of coming out of a changing room. Something in me recognized changes were happening, maybe as big on the personal level as the changes King dreamt of on the social level.

It's my sense, actually, that we need both changes. I'd always been for pro-equality social changes. This was my first recognition of the importance, to me, of some personal changing.

In my dream, I'm far from at some finish line. I'm just coming out of a changing room at the side of a huge high school gym. I notice my therapist - chubby, unstylishly dressed, unstylish hair - effortlessly running laps around the gym, not even short of breath.

What next?

Once I got started, my journey of discovery has continued for over forty years. So many layers. And so many different approaches to personal development, from in-depth explorations to changing habits, from talk approaches to body approaches.

I went from being an outsider coming upon an unknown world, to an explorer who could not find any model of personal development that felt complete, to the creator of her own personal development model - Full Flourishing.

As for the personal journey, it's still going on.

How to bring you further into my story?

Here's the story of my father and myself. So many connections, and such a deep difference. I encountered the personal development movement, and have explored just about every aspect. My father - such a brilliant, passionate man - did not.

MY FATHER, MY SELF

Testimonials

Chris Zahn

BChris Zahn Before I met Elsa, I had wanted to be a writer for years, but I didn't write. With Elsa, with her baby step formula, I started writing.

I also felt disconnected, didn't know anyone else like me, who was questioning things. I was anxious from all the hysteria. I was worried about the future. There was crazy talk about the “New Normal."

I was referred to Elsa and Full Flourishing right then, when I was seeking a like-minded group. I found what I was seeking. A group of thinkers who weren't willing to accept the propaganda we were being spoon fed.

What I found was a group of like-minded people. And I'm connecting with way more like-minded people outside the group.

It has been transformative to work with Elsa and the group. The world had gone insane. Elsa and the group were a breath of sanity.

We learned a lot from each other. I learned much more quickly than I would have on my own.

Elsa and the group are very caring. This encourages engagement. I'm encouraged to engage within my sphere of influence about everything.

I recommend Full Flourishing and Elsa's ACE method (Awareness, Caring, Engagement) for everyone.

Chris Zahn, friendly guy who can't help being logical

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Maria Nardi
Maria-Nardi

Dr. Schieder’s “Getting There From Here” was a wonderful experience for me. Many times, people don’t take initiatives simply because they don’t know what to do or how to start.

Dr. Schieder has a way of helping people not only define what it is that is holding them back, but she provided a framework for activation and execution of goals.

Our group meetings were engaging and fun.

It gave me the motivation and support I needed to formulate a plan.

Once I began the process, the stress of feeling static left me and instead I was energized and renewed with a deep sense of purpose.

I highly recommend her program for anyone wishing to take their goals from thoughts to concrete action.

Maria Nardi, software developer

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Mary Andrew

Mary Andrew

When I came upon Elsa's work, I had been galvanised to protest by the horrific slaughter of children in the Manchester bombing.

But I felt isolated, downcast and daunted by the mountainous size of the problems.

I have always been utterly anti-racist, but because it involved terrorism, my friends thought I had become a bigot.

I didn't know what to do.

Elsa's amazing, inspirational work has become a beacon of light to me, and her friendship has furnished me with the encouragement and support (and occasional rap over the knuckles!) which I desperately needed to become tougher, more confident, and much more active.

I no longer feel alone; united we stand!

Thank you, Elsa, so much for all you have done to embolden me, and nurture my development. I am truly grateful!

Mary Andrew, working for a voice in mainstream politics

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Jane Bayler

Jane Bayler

Elsa is a strong and wise leader who has inspired me massively with her commitment to humanity and her powerful leadership.

She is super smart and at the same time very compassionate and caring.

She is utterly dedicated to the advancement of justice and human rights, and ending unnecessary suffering in the world.

Elsa will truly help you to flourish and achieve your full potential both as an individual and in the context of your wider role in society.

I encourage you to engage with Elsa who will help you to flourish fully as a human being and reach your highest potential in terms of the impact you make in the world.

Jane Bayler, entrepreneur, proud cancer survivor, marketer and trainer who helps thought leaders and experts generate impact and authority through their online presence and communications.

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Nicole Davidoff

Nicole Davidoff

Elsa is a spiritual healer and a brilliant writer and thinker.

And her music videos are a reminder that there is a beauty in this world too!

She is also for me a pillar of strength and a voice of reason.

Nicole Davidoff, passionate advocate of human rights and freedoms, passionately against any ideology that is totalitarian, cat lover

The Full Flourishing Formula