I’m Paul.
I’ve just returned back home in Holland.
The change in me has been profound. For the first time in my life I have a clear plan of where I want to be and how I’m going to get there.
This change is all down to a remarkable 12 days… the single most defining time of my life… and a remarkable person…
Journey To Chiang Mai
The trip to Chiang Mai had not been a good one for me, first day nerves too. paul I’d been a wreck before I flew out to sort out my life, problems at work, burnout and personal life in tatters. It was going to take a lot more than Chrissy”s enthusiastic offer to organise a trip to be an elephant trainer for the day to get me out the hotel that first Sunday. More like a rocket!
I sensed from the start that Chrissy and her team were the ones to sort me out and get my life back on track. I’d tried coaching and therapy before but this is in a different league.
Waiting for results of the personality profiling, I was tense, very tense, but despite the high scores (which is not a good thing in profiling!) the analysis was uncannily spot on and, coupled with Chrissy’s remarkable ability to read the things you are not saying and sixth sense for understanding people, was very revealing!
At this stage I think Chrissy realized that she had a challenge ahead of her. I certainly did. But the analysis, together with my initial personal goals that I provided before flying out, were to prove to be a good foundation for the rest of my program.
Learning to Accept Myself
The program WAS a challenge not least Chrissy’s special homework assignments. They seemed to get harder and harder! But they certainly worked, seemed to switch on certain lights in my head and stirred up feelings I’d never experienced before, and within days I’d had what can only be described as major breakthroughs. With it came sense of relief, that I was, after all perfectly normal and finally with encouragement I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I needed more time to reach the stage I needed to be at before returning home but Chrissy miraculously accommodated me into the next week’s schedule.
Flexibility is an art form with Chrissy, juggling hours and schedules to give everyone what they need!
Exploring the wonders of Chiang Mai
But the program was not just about the sessions with Chrissy. The rest of the team are just as caring and good at making the time in between into an unforgettable experience and a holiday in its own right.
First there’s Son, an incredible host (knows so much as trained tour guide and so interesting to just chat with him) and one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, who bent over backwards to arrange the trips to suit me (I’d not booked anything before I came out and decided I’d better see something of Chiang Mai before I left!) and who became a real friend!
Then all the excellent staff at the Hotel Puripunn (such a relaxing, tranquil hotel, I could happily have not ventured out the whole 2 weeks I was there!) who were so friendly and made my stay there so memorable! I travel a lot and have stayed in many hotels but never before in one with such a warm, friendly atmosphere.
In addition to the trips with Son to see the Temple in the mountains and a personalized City tour of Chiang Mai (including stopover at a local Food Market not to be missed!), plus a 2 hour Spa and all body massage session, I still managed an impressive furniture-buying spree, flight in a microlight, an incredible 130km off road adventure by motorbike through the jungle (actually my best adventure to date in life and new hobby!) and a trip to see elephants (such amazing animals) all in the space of 3 days. Not surprising I was shattered when it was finally time to (sadly) leave Chiang Mai and the team! But when I go back next time I’ll have things better planned …
Life Changes after Chiang Mai
I’ve only been back in Holland a few days, so no real chance to put all my Life Change plans into action. But the change in me has been profound and already is noticeable to others, even to me.
For the first time in my life I have a clear plan of where I want to be and how I’m going to get there. I’ve some difficult actions to take, like quitting my job and going out on my own, but somehow now I’m happy to take them and confident things will work out better. And that’s all down to a remarkable 12 days, the single most defining time of my life, and a most remarkable person …….. Thank you!
Quote from the film Up in the Air summed up my new found feeling of stability – “Same Guy, just one address!”