As a first-time participant in Building Personal Mastery 2013 at the Haven on beautiful Gabriola Island, I did my best to check my expectations at the door. But it wasn't long before the facilitators, the course content, and the structure of our days revealed the full picture. This was no regular leadership workshop. This was an opportunity to take a "deep dive" and get to the bottom of what is really holding each of us back.

The biggest thing that shaped my experience was my fellow participants. Frankly, they blew my mind. Their dedication, diverse backgrounds, experiences and the level to which they 'brought it' during the course left me awestruck. This was not just a group of leaders, this was a group of powerful individuals who wanted to be better - to understand what experiences and beliefs were driving their thoughts and behaviours and find ways to use this knowledge to become more of who they already are: powerful change-makers.

After spending a week 'stalking our ego,' connecting our current leadership challenges with our unique historic underpinnings and developing a personal mastery toolkit to help us integrate these learnings into our day-to-day lives, I asked my fellow participants to take some time to reflect on their experience. We all agreed, "others need to know how amazing this course is!"

So without further adieu, here are their reflections on Building Personal Mastery 2013. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed.

"I needed a leadership tune-up and a personal retreat and thought Building Personal Mastery would serve both needs. It was both intense and more restorative than I expected. The facilitators used a brilliant mix of modalities for "stalking the ego" allowing us to discover the foundation for our counterproductive behaviours. Now that I have been home a few days I feel completely revitalised and see the world through kinder eyes. I am ready to drop the superhero facade and be gentler with myself and others." -- Lisa Gordon, Director, Trust Area Services, Islands Trust

"I registered for the Inner Activist program with the intention of improving my effectiveness as a union activist and to meet activists from other unions, environmental and social justice groups. Our group proved to be very diverse with women and men from Canada and the U.S. from a variety of sectors. The workshop itself was far more than I had anticipated. The benefits personally and professionally are immediately tangible. But none of the work accomplished would have been possible without our excellent facilitators. They made the difficult appear easy, and in less skilled hands such undertakings might have gone seriously astray. The finesse and grace they demonstrated are only achieved through years of practice." -- Greg Fjetland, Education Advisor, Okanagan College

"This [program] is a ground-breaking and fascinating way to explore and understand your inner master. The Building Personal Mastery program cuts through the fluff and avoids the 'woo-woo'". -- Karen Tam Wu, ForestEthics Advocacy, Director of Programs

"I just finished Building Personal Mastery program with Inner Activist team and a group of wonderful talented people! The inclusiveness and richness of this journey amazed me - what a spiritual journey, integrating my head and heart, crossing cultures and races! I ignited my love for myself and the inner strength and healing power gifted through our ancestors and Mother Nature." -- Wen-Shwu Lee, Executive Coach of The Train Coaching & Counselling Corp.

"The Building Personal Mastery course has given me 'life changing' insights into the decision-making process I have employed throughout my life. With this information I have made significant changes to my patterns of behavior that were not serving me in a positive manner. My relationships with my children, wife, and colleagues have been enhanced as a result of consciously interrupting unconscious ego behaviors. As a businessman, the trickle down effect of the knowledge I gained is invaluable. I continue to recommend Building Personal Mastery to those close to me wanting to enhance their lives by exploring a more fulfilling 'truer' sense of themselves." -- Rick Beil, Business Owner, Victoria

Feeling inspired? Registration for our next Inner Activist course, Building Strong and Respectful Relationships is now open!

Wondering if it's the right course for you? Here are some questions to consider: Are you looking fortools to help engage in difficult conversations and build healthy interactions within the workplace and with others? How about to create effective collaborations that move beyond an us-and-them approach toward shared outcomes?

Building Strong and Respectful Relationships May 20 - 25, 2013 is rooted in the values of what inspires us to build common ground across differences and find practical ways to deal with frustration, anger and conflict with self-awareness, compassion and creativity.

For more information or to inquire about bursaries please email [email protected].