MY JOURNEY

1. My Journey, in Short
You are here: 2. A Bit More
3. An Ever Fuller Story
4. Ever So Much More Coming to Mind

There is also a short video on my father and myself. So many connections between us, and also huge differences in our life paths.

2. My Journey - a Bit More

FROM STUCK TO LIVING FULLY,
FROM LONGING TO FLOURISHING

THE STARTING POINT: STUCK
Discontent Frustration Longing - and Trying and Trying and Trying

I remember so well the pain of being stuck in a relationship I knew, so utterly within me, was not the right relationship for me. I wanted out, but had nothing that qualified, for me, as a “reason”. No abuse, no cheating. Just . . . I didn't quite know. Maybe boredom.

Work: flight attendant. Lots of time off. And such an urgent desire to be a writer, artist, actor. Also so many efforts, courses. Trying and trying and trying. I remember, I believe it was a film script, So Sorry, Charlie. Very light. I remember a novel, George Papadopoulis is Dead. The first pages felt very alive. After that, it didn't.

The pain of not being in the right life, of having “everything” - and nothing that I longed for. Nothing that felt meaningful to me. As a flight attendant, I stayed at the Hilton in Paris, the Radisson in Los Angeles and Zurich. Very nice, but so what.

I did not know what to do to move to a life that felt right to me.

I remember a nightmare I had, over and over. I was floating in the ocean, wanted to move. I could not. Not even a finger. I woke up. Terror and despair.

I know how I ended the nightmares. I read of a technique: tell yourself a better ending and that will happen. I had no idea how to change things. So I just told myself, before falling asleep, that my dreaming self was to find a solution.

Once again, I was floating on the ocean and could not move. Terror and despair. And then a small wave under one hand moved the hand. And suddenly the hand could move, and then the arm, the other arm, and all of me. I woke up.

The nightmare never came back.

But I had not solved what the dream was about.

I think back to myself in my 20's. I did not acknowledge, even to myself, how horribly stuck I felt - that part of me that was buried inside my everyday life where everything looked good. But I did not feel love. Somehow that feeling had been closed off. I did not talk about this, not with anyone.

I had no idea how to get unstuck.

I wanted to be in love, to love. I didn't have that.

I wanted to write a brilliant novel, like those that touched me deeply. I knew what I wrote was nothing like that. I could not even keep a journal. I'd write a page, and put the journal aside, come back to it in a year, write another page.

Work? I was stuck. Flight attendant. I had no idea how else to earn money.

My very nice partner, who had a much better idea about possibilities, pushed me to go from taking courses, to going for an MA. I had no idea this would lead to one enormous breakthrough change.

I don't remember acknowledging my sense of being desperately stuck to anyone, except in tiny bits, to myself.

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MY TURNING POINT: A TINY STEP
with a huge impact, over time

I have no idea where I heard that, as a student, I was entitled to 18 free counseling sessions. I didn't go because I felt stuck. I easily got angry at little things. I wanted very much to change that. I decided: I'll take a couple of sessions to get rid of the unwanted anger.

I didn't take just 2 sessions, but the full 18.

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THE DECISION MOMENT

At the end of those sessions, I had a dream. I was coming out of a changing room at one side of a huge gym. My therapist - overweight - was running laps without running out of breath or sweating. My thought: she is much better at this than I am.

My decision: I want much more of the changes that have been starting, more of the talking in a fuller way than was normal for me and being listened to. I want what she has, able to run without effort. I wanted to get what she has.

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DECADES OF EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY

I had no idea of the amount of inner blocks within myself, and of how hard it would be to undo some of them.

There's so much I was unaware of - like that I was dragging generations of blocks. I came to very much recognize the pull from past generations.

I had absolutely no idea I was embarking on decades - four so far - of personal development, a journey that has included my creating my own model of personal development, because nothing I came across felt complete.

I did not only explore - and use - the approaches I came across. I evaluated strengths and lacks.

Someone is famous for being the first person to summit Mount Everest. I have no idea why anyone would want to do that.

But I am doing my own summiting - not coming to something finished, like Mount Everest - but imagining, constructing, creating what has come to be my own model of personal development: Full Flourishing, developed to help others on their journey.

Aladdin found a cave of jewels. For me, this exploration with its many discoveries is better than coming into a cave filled with shiny objects.

My sense: we need to find, come to and develop our personal “Mount Everests” - and Full Flourishing is my route to it, to help others on their journey,

Just recently I came across yet another approach, Cognomovement. I read the testimonials. Over and over they were from people who had tried so many approaches. Many improvements. But many things still did not feel right. Cognomovement gave them what they needed.

For me, it's one more tool.

Is this the final one? I have no idea.

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EVER MORE FLOURISHING

I was a flight attendant taking classes. Always so much was missing. I became a prof, writer, poet, thinker, coach.

I have an ever so much greater - and still developing - understanding of what is going on in the world. Basically I was questioning so little. Now I question everything.

I have a much larger reach
- from the few people I talked with and the limited things I talked about
- to my students, discussing so many interesting subjects from ethics to world views
- to a online audience reaching thousands with ideas, explorations, and also stories and poetry.

Most, I have such a sense of flow in my life, being able to take action. A fullness to life. Adventure. Connected to others who are also doing what they can to make this world the garden that I have the strong sense it is mean to be - each of us in such different ways.

There are no more years of being stuck at some point or another. I respond quickly.

I've let go of so many blocks and have accumulated quite a toolbox.

Ever more satisfaction.

Ever more ease in my creativity.

The melting of deep-seated terrors.

Flow, as in how I dance, and how I create.

I remember so much stiffness.

Also I have the sense I lived in an ocean of shame - ashamed of not having friends, of any imperfection, of my background,

I wish I could report: Heaven on Earth!!! I cannot. Griefs, doubts, hesitations.

I still come to dark nights of the soul. But I do not stay in them for years.

Also ever more reaching and flourishing.

Imagine being on a high plateau. It isn't heaven. But it is breathtakingly beautiful.

If this calls to you, to your own sense of frustration with being stuck, to your own longings, I have an invitation for you: schedule a free 15-minute Discovery Call.

When I think back to my long ago self, I shake my head in wonder. I cannot believe the distance I've traveled.

I am so grateful to my much younger self who took the first step. She had no idea all she would find. She wanted to get unstuck. She got that and ever so much more, including the key to her own deep creativity.

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FOR MORE:
1. My Journey, in Short
You are here: A Bit More
3. An Ever Fuller Story
4. Ever So Much More Coming to Mind

There is also a short video on my father and myself. So many connections between us, and also huge differences in our life paths.
___________________
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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

MY JOURNEY

2. My Journey - a Bit More FROM STUCK TO LIVING FULLY, FROM LONGING TO FLOURISHING

2. My Journey - a Bit More

FROM STUCK TO LIVING FULLY,
FROM LONGING TO FLOURISHING