From Protection to Connection – a Weekend Exploration April 10-12 In-Person & Online
“The Path From Protection to Connection,” exploration is about the way we seek security, stability and protection in our lives – and how that is working for us! We’ll be exploring how the need to make things secure and predictable affects our relationships, our work – and ALL other parts of our lives!
Subhan has experienced how significant these security and protection issues are in his and other’s lives! It’s amazing how much energy most of us put into making our lives secure and predictable! And how much of it is hidden from our conscious experiences and understandings!
The workshop is happening at at The World of Meditation Center and on Zoom!
It’s happening April 10th – 12th.
Subhan created this workshop from his own experience of inquiring into Protection and the ramifications of it. He writes:
When I began to explore the ways I dealt with difficult
situations in my life, I discovered that an amazing number of them
dealt with what could be described as “protection.” I use the word
“protection” here to describe the strategies and actions that I
discovered I unconsciously created over the years, and the things that
I did, in order to feel more secure and safe in my life.
In these explorations, I discovered that “protection” seeped into
virtually EVERY area of my life! I discovered that the common
denominator here was a desire to seek pleasure and avoid pain, and to
make my life safer and more predictable. At the same time, I
recognized that I had created many ways to avoid pain, in the hopes
of finding pleasure. This avoidance would be my protection!
But I soon realized that I often did things that proved to be painful,
but still with the underlying strategy and desire of protecting myself
from pain!
I asked himself: “What am I doing when I am angry? Or when I am
sad? What was being fulfilled by my running away from painful
experiences?”
I recognized that the anger was painful; but it felt like I was using it
to protect myself from others’ words and deeds. Certainly, it was to
protect myself from those experiences. But I also felt anxious and fearful as
I ran away. And it followed me far beyond that moment!
I am seeing that diversions, such as watching movies, or surfing the
internet, or using recreational drugs, or even having sex, are
motivated by a desire to seek pleasure. And, under THAT desire, was
the desire to protect myself from pain or disappointment or loneliness
or boredom, or some other pain-creating reality.
The bottom line? I began to understand that just about every activity and
situation I examined is predicated on an unarticulated need for
PROTECTION or SAFETY or SECURITY!
And the clarity that has evolved is that all of the strategies to protect
myself– from others, from situations, from what felt like negative
emotions – from CHAOS – they all became a protection – a barrier –
from LIFE ITSELF!
I saw that I was removing myself from the insecurities and
unpredictability of life, without recognizing that THAT was the nature of
life! And, that by removing myself, I had created more difficulties, in
the form of tension, anxiety, disappointment, fear and worry!
Ultimately, it became clear that trying to elude the experience of pain
caused the stopping of pleasure as well!
I have used these experiences and insights to assist people in
counseling experiences. And this is why I created this workshop – to
share these understandings and insights, to assist you in living a more
satisfying, fulfilling life!
If you join me in this workshop, here’s what you’ll be able to explore:
– What you do consciously and unconsciously that can be described as
“protection;”
– What underlies the need to seek protection;
– How protection works;
– What the real results of seeking protection are; and whether they help
or hinder fulfilling you!
– And, you’ll discover ways to effectively deal with these protective
strategies and again find ways to meaningful connect with others and
with yourself!
The Early Bird Cost of the Workshop (until April 2nd) is: $240.00 plus the new 10.55% Seattle Sales Tax: = $265.32. After April 2nd the price is $275 plus 10.55% Seattle Sales Tax = $304.00. The City of Seattle and the State of Washington are now collecting Sales Tax on Workshops!
The Hours are: Friday 7pm – 9:30pm Saturday 8:30am – 9pm Sunday 8:30am-5pm
There will be breaks for meals and teatimes. It’s best to eat lighter meals during the weekend.
The Zoom Link TBA

