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From: israel@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Lifespring (a graduate's experience, long)
Message-ID: <7330@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 2-Jun-84 19:44:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.7330
Posted: Sat Jun  2 19:44:59 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 5-Jun-84 08:12:20 EDT
References: <235@ihu1h.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 220


	From: woods@hao.UUCP
	
				      I have been in contact with a
	company called "Lifespring" which is in the psychology
	"business".  They run a 5-day, 50-hour course, again for $400,
	that is supposed to do all the things that these training
	sessions are supposed to do (get in touch with your feelings,
	build self-confidence, and all the other cliches).

I was introduced to the Lifespring program about three years ago by a
friend.  I took the Basic course then (which was $350 at that time).
I also took the second course (the Advanced course/Interpersonal
Experience) as well as the third program (the Leadership program) and
a few of their weekend courses.

I will start out by saying that found it extremely worthwhile, and have
had friends do the course because of it.  I'll try not to make this
into a sales pitch or do any prosyletizing (Oh no, I can hear them
screaming "No prosyletizing on net.singles!" :-) ), but I will try to
give you the information that you asked for.

The Lifespring course is what is called an experiential course.  The
difference between an experiential and a non-experiential course is
like the difference between being taught tennis on the courts.  In other
words, what goes on in the training room are a set of exercises designed
to let you experience the way you handle various aspects of your life.

The basic philosophy behind these courses is that all of us have a system
of beliefs that control much of what we do.  For example, one of mine is
that if someone learns what feelings are going on inside of me, (primarily
negative, but both), then I'm going to look foolish and they will have
some power over me.  I've gotten over this one a great deal, but haven't
excised it yet.  Now you can see how this belief can get in the way of
relationships.

The exercises in the courses are designed to elicit natural reactions
from you so that you can look at your reactions and notice patterns that
will indicate what some of these beliefs of yours are.  The key to this,
and something I must really compliment the Lifespring trainers and staff
on, is non-judgemental behavior.  What this means is best represented
by the statement "It's alright to feel that way, as long as those are
your true feelings".  The training room has the most non-judgemental
atmosphere that I've ever experienced.  With that atmosphere, people
slowly start to trust the other people in the room enough to share some
some of their deep, dark secrets.  I think that it is somewhat similar
to what goes on here on net.singles, for example take a look at how
much Jeff Sargent is willing to reveal about himself.  However, there
is also some judgemental behavior here, as well.

The training is divided into three parts, lecturing (20 %), exercises
(60 %), and sharing (20 %).  The lecturing is the trainer discussing
an alternate point of view on some area of life.  For example, one point
of view which is put out in the course with a great deal of time spent
on it, is the idea that we should consider ourselfs responsible or
accountable for much more of our lives that we have previously considered
ourselves accountable for.  You are not required to adopt any of these
points of view put out by the trainer, but you won't benefit without
at least having an open mind to consider them during the course.

The exercises are of many different types.  One type is called closed-eye
processes, but they are commonly called creative visualization.  The idea
is to be in a relaxed state with your eyes closed, while the trainer takes
you through some type of scenario.  You visualize the scenario, and various
portions of it will call for some participation by you (which you also
visualize), but what you do in the scenario is up to you.  There are also
two person exercises, called dyads, in which the two of you interact in
some fashion.  Some of the exercises are in the form of games also.

The sharing can best be compared to what goes on in net.singles.  People
in the training voluntarily stand up and share with the rest of the group
things about themselves that they noticed or learned.  Sharing is
concentrated on people's experiences, not on facts or stories.  Advice is
not a part of it since it is what you want to do that is important, not
what someone else wants you to do.  The sharing helps you in two ways.
When you are sharing it is sort of a relief to put into words or to tell
people these things that you've kept bottled up inside.  When you are
listening to someone else, there will be times that you will sit up and
say "Oh my god, I thought I was the only person in the world that felt
that way!"  Or someone will point out something about themselves that is
as, if not more, applicable to you too.

								At the
	request of a very old and close friend of mine, I went to what
	they call a "guest event".  The graduates, who were all
	there voluntarily and have no official connection with
	Lifespring, all seem very happy, hug and kiss each other a lot,
	etc., and all swear that they were varying degrees of basket
	cases prior to going through the BC.

I wasn't a basket case before Basic, but I'm in a HELL of a lot better
shape emotionally now.  I also feel that I'm in better shape now than
I was immediately afterwards, since part of it is about learning to
observe what you do and why you do it, and not just learning about
yourself for that week.  I can explain the hugging and kissing by saying
that what goes on is an intense emotional experience, and as a result you
feel very close to the people you shared that with (just like any other
experience, e.g. college or a camping trip).  What you say does turn a lot
of people off, and look cultish (I have been called a Moonie, though I've
never sold flowers at the airport :-) ).

I would like to counter any claims you may have heard that after taking
the Lifespring Basic course you will be happy, life will be hunky/dory,
and you will live the rest of your life happily ever after.  (Lifespring
also cures bad breath and hangnails).  It just ain't so.  There ain't no
such thing as perfection or complete happiness.  You can't trap the
bluebird of happiness, but you can pet it occasionally (Hmmm, I like the
sound of that.  How about that for a good .signature line?).

What the training does give you is an atmosphere where you can examine
your life, what you like and don't like about it, and look at what you
want to do about it.  Participation is the key point here.  The answers
won't be given to you, but if you participate fully, you can find some
of them yourself.  One thing that I find fascinating about the whole
process is that everyone learns something different.  I have come out
of the training room at the end of an excercise watching everyone else
jump up and down for joy, while I want to go into the corner and cry
(No exaggeration either, it happened Saturday afternoon of Basic, but
that is another story).

Now to address your GOOD/BAD points:

	  GOOD                                                 BAD
	
	  Everyone who has been through it                 It is like an Amway
	  seems so happy and says it is largely            meeting with lots of
	  due to the BC.				   hype.

G:  This is because the people who go to guest events and talk about
Lifespring do so because they found it very beneficial.  I've known people
who ranged from thinking of it as worthless, to indifferent, to pretty good
and also to absolutely fantastic, though the percentage of the first two
is fairly low.

B: I agree.  This is something that a lot of the graduates dislike.  Here
I'd like to make a distinction between the Lifespring organization and the
Lifespring courses.  It is the organization that is doing this hype, and
I've know plenty of graduates who loved the courses, but won't get involved
at all with the organization.  Part of the reason for the hype is that
Lifespring is ONLY found out about through word of mouth.  There is no
advertising.  People get involved with it because someone that they know
and trust told them about it.
	
	  My dear friend, whose judgment I trust,          $400 and 5 days is a
	  says I would greatly benefit from it.            very large
							   investment of time
							   and money.

G: What can I say?  You know your friend and I don't.  You have to go on
your own instincts on that one.

B: It is a lot of time and money.  Personally, I found it worth it on the
basis of the large improvement in the quality of my life.  The time wasn't
a big issue for me, but, being a student, the money was.  I finally decided
on it on the basis of the money-back guarantee (to be discussed below).

	  If you complete the course and are not
	  satisfied, you can fill out a form and           They were a bit too
	  they will refund your money (they said           secretive about what
	  at the guest event that about 5% of those        actually goes on in
	  who complete the BC ask for their money back).   the BC.  They did
							   show some clips of
							   real sessions, but
							   not enough to give
							   me a real feel for
							   what it is like.
							   They claim that too
							   much detail will
							   ruin the course.
	
G:  I can tell you that its true.  I've known a number of people who have
gotten their money back with absolutely no hassles whatsoever.  This
includes a girl that I did Basic with who was the sister of the person who
told me about Lifespring.  I think that the percentage is reasonably
accurate, though I can't check it.

B: This does sound lousy, but I mostly do agree with it.  The reason for
it is that, being an experiential course, the basic things you have to
study are your reactions to things in the exercises.  If you knew about
some of the exercises in advance, you could (and would, to an extent)
formulate your response ahead of time.  This response wouldn't be based
on your emotions and beliefs (the things you are trying to watch), but
instead would be based on your intellect (something that is pretty much
ignored throughout the course).  This response would also be something
that you either feel is expected of you, or something that you feel is
a "safe" response.

I re-audited the Basic course two years ago. (All graduates are allowed to
re-take the Basic course for free anytime they want to, though this is
subject to space limitations).  My first Basic was a really overwhelming
experience, but when I re-audited it was just relaxed and fun, but not a
really big thing.  I think that this is to a good extent because I knew
the course and what was coming.  In fact, there was one exercise during
the week that re-audits were not even allowed to take part in, because
they knew it, but instead had to watch.

	   Opinions welcome, but please, no personal flames like "boy are you
	screwed up".  I'm aware of that and I'm trying to do something about
	it, especially in light of the fact that it looks like I'm going to be
	breaking up with my SO, placing a further emotional strain on an
	already-damaged ego.  Lifespring is only one of the options I'm
	considering, but it is the one I know the least about that also seems
	to have the most potential.  What I really want is first or second
	hand information, not "it sounds like a crock".
	
			    GREG

Well, I hope that I gave you what you wanted.  I tried to avoid sounding
like a salesman for Lifespring, but I am basically very positive about my
whole experience.  If I didn't make myself clear at points, or you have
other questions about it, please feel free to send mail or post them.
Good luck, and let me know what you decide.

				Bruce
-- 

Bruce Israel

University of Maryland, Computer Science
{rlgvax,seismo}!umcp-cs!israel (Usenet)    israel@Maryland (Arpanet)