Testimonials

“You listen to the things that I’m not saying.”

I met Linda Vanderlee in February 2004 when she and Helen Patterson ran a ‘visioning’ workshop. At the time, I had only a fuzzy idea about what visioning was, but figured it was something I needed. I have always been a person who has resisted goal-setting. When people talk about setting goals and “following through”, my eyes glaze over. In fact, prior to this workshop, I held the position that the goal setters of this world lead blinkered lives, deceiving themselves in their belief that everything can be controlled and managed. I also felt that this approach to life did not allow for creativity, passion, spontaneity.

To my surprise, the visioning workshop offered me a way to get clear about what I want in my life in a way that allowed me to tap into more creativity, making space for me to live more fully, to accept my humanity and to connect with my community. In other words, the workshop was valuable for someone like me who resists goal-setting. Perhaps what was most enlightening to me was the way in which the workshop offered me tools for examining my own resistance to having clear goals.

One big reason for my resistance to traditional forms of goal-setting is my negative reaction to the message that we must do everything for ourselves--that somehow we can be masters of our own universe. Linda and Helen’s approach to visioning takes into account the complexity and richness of both our independence and our interdependence, and helps us reflect on ways we can maintain our voice within our community, create a community of support,  and play a role in fostering our community’s growth.

Since the visioning workshop, Linda has offered me coaching support in my work as an academic advisor and mentorship program coordinator in a program for “at-risk” students at Carleton University.  I never knew what “process consulting” meant before this experience.  In my work in a program for “non-traditional” students, we have set lofty goals for ourselves: “to offer equity and access to high education”; “to create a sense of community”; “to provide learning support”, etc. Linda has supported me in my efforts to operationalize these goals by gently challenging some of my assumptions, by encouraging me to take on the considerable task of negotiating change within my organization, and by helping me find concrete ways to articulate and share my ideas and values with colleagues and students. The result has been that I now have a more tangible plan for working towards these goals. But perhaps, more importantly, I am more energized  and optimistic about activating our program’s potential and motivated to take on a leadership role to make this happen.

Our meetings are working so much better these days...we seem to be so much more comfortable challenging each other in a positive way.  The work we did with you has truly made a difference.  I'm looking forward to your check in visit so we can show you!

The Living Aligned weekend was a life-affirming and path-changing experience. A booster-cable of a weekend to jump-start dreams and get life back in line with the deepest self. I didn't take the job I didn't really want. I didn't even stay in the job I no longer liked. I jumped off the world into the netherworld. More importantly, the very next day, I took steps to make my dream come true; small steps, it's true, but steps nonetheless.

I took a book out of the library, practiced singing and playing guitar, and started a song circle in my own city. Thank you, Linda, for respectful facilitation and challenging self-defeating thoughts.

Thank you for everything, Linda. You are an incredibly generous person and your gifts will live long in my heart.

"I was reading your material last night and had good thoughts and memories of the week-end workshop.  I love your space and creativity."

I liked the open discussion, Linda was fantastic. She ...brought us to a new place of thinking. Thank you!

I liked the way you were able to create a space of trust and safety; allowing for the sharing of some very personal/emotional and someties difficult information about ourselves. The feedback you gave was genuine and showed that you were very present and interested in our experiences/stories.

You are clearly very passionate about your work and this is very evident in your facilitation. I also liked the way you shared your own experiences in a way that added to the presentation. I think you have found a good balance between sharing too much and too little.

I have really appreciated your ability to be with me and witness me wherever I have been at without trying to change or convince me otherwise. To me this shows great compassion and strength.