I joined Sean Hagan’s retreat ‘The Spirit of Work: The Integrated Professional’ at Bonnevaux last year. The retreat was wonderful, and there was a lot of harmony within the group, as well as a deep sense of respect and genuine listening.
Sean is also very empathetic and “bares his soul” with sincerity and humility, which makes everyone feel united by the same “imperfections” and the same problems in life.
I should specify that at times it was challenging for me to follow all conversations – English is not my first language and I have a slight hearing impairment. Nevertheless, Sean and the whole group were fantastic: they showed a lot of sensitivity and attention towards me.
And I didn’t miss the focal points of the retreat, which were reflections on:
– The search for a deeper meaning to our existence. What gives our existence fulfilment? For example, our work takes up so much of our day and acquires importance and meaning based on THE WAY we approach it. If, for example, we put it at the service of others
– The awareness that drives our ambition to success and prestige, the desire for gain, power, the need to play an important role in society are common traits to all human beings. But do they translate into a fulfilling life?
– The ability of overcoming tensions, of going beyond interpersonal conflicts thanks to compassion, the constant “driving force” behind every relationship and the foundation of what we do and think
– Finally a core reflection from this retreat was that of ‘joy’, in other words living in relationship with another person brings joy to our existence
