After graduating from the Center for Purposeful Living, I joined Trees for Life, a grassroots, people-to-people movement that enables individuals around the world to plant fruit trees in developing countries and provides them with the tools of empowerment in education, health and the environment. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t use one of the many tools I learned in my year at the CPL, or that I don’t recall the inspiration derived from the others who demonstrated their commitment, integrity and loving sacrifice daily.

From Practical Spirituality class, I learned how to listen reflectively, which has improved my communication skills and helped deepen my relationships. In the Service Entrepreneurship class, we worked with time management, which, for example, helped me find time to write this article while maintaining a full schedule. Just as meaningful was the concept of “thinking big,” which has expanded my capacity to serve and be effective.

Learning to be a “Totally Responsible Person” (TRP) helped me realize that I can control how I respond to any situation, no matter the circumstances. Using TRP techniques helps keep me avoid “victim” mentality, blame and guilt, and that has improved my quality of life and effectiveness hugely.

Something that comes into play everyday now is my newfound ability to be flexible and adaptable. In the past, I tended to get ruffled when experiencing lots of change. Now, I welcome change, and it has become a game to see how flexible I can be. When things seem crazy, I also draw on the increased confidence attained at the CPL through taking on new tasks and accomplishing more than I previously thought I could.

Now, life is a laboratory . . . so I experiment. When I try something new, I accept the results as learning and make adjustments through the feedback received. I was greatly assisted by the fact that the Center is a very action-oriented program. We had plenty of opportunities each day to put into practice the teachings and concepts discussed. The daily practice over the course of a year helped build a solid foundation.

I will always cherish my time at the CPL. The experience was challenging and rewarding. I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated and to have realized my potential to contribute in the world.