Caroline Budge
"Ronit and Leap Forward fundamentally changed the way I relate to myself, to the people in my life, and to Life itself."
From the day I first met Ronit in Costa Rica, we connected on a soul level, beyond the noise of fear, anxiety and self-consciousness and over the following four years she worked with me rigorously to penetrate this noise and connect to the peace, aliveness and potential within me. Ronit helped me to understand my nature – why I behaved the way I did – and the neurological, social and psychological influences that shaped me. Leap Forward gave me a map to better understand my inner world – my childhood pain, my survival patterns, my gifts and my limitations. I learned the tools to navigate this terrain, and to recognise, intercept and over-write these habitual behaviours. Over time, with consistent practice – with slips and trips along the way – I am transitioning from being a passive victim of my stories and emotions to an empowered self with agency and impact. I have learned not to believe my mind’s stories, however compelling they might be! I now experience a state of safety and stability in my body – I feel more grounded, confident and secure.
Perhaps the most fundamental lesson that Ronit and Leap Forward taught me is that relationship is integral to growth and healing. The hurts that shaped me were experienced in relationship and need to be healed in connection. Furthermore, change can be extremely painful and challenging and I need people around me who I trust and who have my back. Leap Forward evolved and expanded my understanding of friendship. I had the unique opportunity to learn from other community members’ experiences and to realise I am not uniquely disturbed or flawed, and there is no shame in being human. After years of feeling alone and unfulfilled, as a member of Leap Forward I experienced deep spiritual and emotional connection, and rigorous cognitive stimulation and expansion. I saw what is possible when we support each other to realize and express our unique gifts, and I experienced the beauty and magic of integrated cooperation – working together towards a common goal and creating more than you thought was possible.
With the support of Leap Forward, I was able to transform my relationships with both my mother and my stepmum. By expressing my experience clearly, without blame or judgment, and by hearing their own, I lay the foundations for more vulnerable, transparent and fulfilling relationships with them both. My relationship with money is also healthier than ever, even though I have less money now than I had 20 years ago. My financial decisions are more conscious and empowered and I have a monthly budget that informs my spending. I also live in my own home – for the first time as an adult, I made the conscious choice to live alone for my own wellbeing, and this has been a crucial ingredient to my growth. I have learned to be alone and actively choose to be with others. I am no longer desperate for company. I have a handful of dear, trusted friends and I invest my time and energy consciously.
Through Ronit I learned that love is not a choice but a force of Nature. I no longer feel afraid, weak or ashamed to love; I feel empowered and resourced – this is a seed that continues to germinate within and nourish me in ways I could never have known. I would not be who or where I am in life, had I not been part of the Leap Forward community.
