Landmark Education. Those two words create a lot of very different reactions, ranging from extraordinarily positive to hopelessly negative.
This blog is a response to a reader's comment on my first blog regarding Landmark, "Landmark Education for Kids."
I wrote the first blog soon after I completed the Landmark Forum, which is the first course. I was on cloud nine and revelling in my new ultra-positive perspective of my life. I felt, for the first time in my life, I could create any experience, because I had new tools in my tool belt and I was excited about creating better relationships with my friends and family and also to live in a more peaceful, happy, way of being.
I have found that I am more peaceful, content, and powerful, since taking 3 Landmark courses. Am I perfect? No. Do I want to be perfect anymore? No, definitely not.
Anyone, who takes any sort of self-help course, will get different things out of the experience. I consider myself to be a fair, well-balanced person, willing to look at both sides of any issue, before making a well researched decision. I have no regrets about taking the Landmark courses I have completed. I have learned ALOT from them, and I continue to benefit daily, from the principles and philosphies I've taken in from my Landmark experiences.
Having said that, I can understand how people are turned off of Landmark courses, when they see people they know become arrogant or judgemental and think everyone should take Landmark courses. Please understand, this is not everyone's approach, and in some ways it goes against Landmark principles. It is true, that Landmark leaders do encourage people to bring friends and family because, let's face it, Landmark is also an organization who wants to survive as well and their survival as an organization is based on butts in seats. The other side to that is people are excited about their new way of living and they want to share with people they care about.
After having more time and experience with the organization, I can say they have some amazing and wonderful philosophies that are very, very helpful. Life comes at you with all sorts of surprises, some welcome, some not. After taking a few Landmark courses, I may still worry a bit, but not nearly as much as I used to, which leads to peace and happiness. I'm currently taking a break from Landmark courses so I can better support my family and slow down enough to really practice some of the valuable life lessons I've learned.
I choose not to judge others who haven't taken Landmark courses, because Landmark is not 'the only way.' I let people around me know how it has benefitted me, if they're interested, they'll look into it. I trust, that they'll come to find their path in their own way. Landmark Education is a patchwork quilt of borrowed philosphies, ideals and common sense. The content is nothing new, but the way it's delivered, as courses with people sitting next to you to share with, is a very effective way to stimulate change in one's life.
Did I always agree with the approach the Landmark leaders took with encouraging particpants to bring others? No. Do I think it's a perfect organization? No. Do I think it's been a catalyst for millions of people to wake up and really live and get excited about their lives and their own potential when they weren't before? Yes. In my humble opinion, Landmark Education teaches its participants to be more compassionate, better connected, more loving individuals. That's a good thing. It may not be a perfect organization, but I for one, am very thankful for the experience and for Landmark in doing their best to create more peace, love and harmony in our world.
If you'd like to read more about the Landmark Forum experience, check out http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diana-odasso/my-landmark-experience_b_105502.html
