As Esalen Institute embarks on a new decade, it does so with a renewed sense of purpose and priorities. Over the last year, General Manager and CEO Terence Gilbey and other members of Esalen’s leadership team have been engaging in a listening tour to help determine how best to increase the Institute’s mission impact in the decades to come. The outcome of these discussions with community members — including Esalen staff, faculty, donors and friends — has resulted in a set of strategic priorities that will drive new changes in 2020.
“A constant theme that has come up in our conversations has been around connection,” observed Terence. “Despite the increase in connectivity through technology, we heard that so many of us are feeling disconnected, isolated and even polarized.
“What we seem to be seeking are more ways to reconnect: to ourselves, to others and to our shared humanity. As the birthplace of the human potential movement, Esalen is in a unique position to remind us of our potential of being human again.”
In the coming months, Esalen will be announcing a series of initiatives designed to support what Terence describes as the nonprofit’s strategic imperative: to increase its mission impact exponentially. To help create a roadmap to meet this goal, a strategic framework has been created listing the following six strategic priorities:
Just three years ago, Esalen was forced to shut its doors for nearly six months when challenging winter storms resulted in landslides both to the north and south of its Big Sur campus. Cut off from the rest of the world, a small residential staff stewarded the land while a handful of colleagues supported essential business needs remotely. Due in part to the overwhelming generosity of Esalen donors, the Institute was able to continue operations without workshop revenue until it successfully reopened in July 2017.
“Esalen would not be here today without our larger community,” said Terence. “And for that reason, and many more, one of the core elements of our strategic framework will focus on being of service to and better engaging with our Community -- which I describe with a big C.”
Community has always been an important concept at Esalen, observed Terence, and given our focus to increase our mission impact it is even more imperative that this concept be as inclusive as possible. In other words, we want to include anyone who has connected with Esalen in the past or who has a desire to be part of our mission today.
Areas for potential exploration include ways to extend the Esalen experience at home and after the workshop, ways for Esalen workshop participants to connect with each other outside of Big Sur and expanding learning opportunities through its residential education experience.
The listening tour continues and, according to Terence, all feedback is welcome. Please email GM@esalen.org with your thoughts and ideas.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
As Esalen Institute embarks on a new decade, it does so with a renewed sense of purpose and priorities. Over the last year, General Manager and CEO Terence Gilbey and other members of Esalen’s leadership team have been engaging in a listening tour to help determine how best to increase the Institute’s mission impact in the decades to come. The outcome of these discussions with community members — including Esalen staff, faculty, donors and friends — has resulted in a set of strategic priorities that will drive new changes in 2020.
“A constant theme that has come up in our conversations has been around connection,” observed Terence. “Despite the increase in connectivity through technology, we heard that so many of us are feeling disconnected, isolated and even polarized.
“What we seem to be seeking are more ways to reconnect: to ourselves, to others and to our shared humanity. As the birthplace of the human potential movement, Esalen is in a unique position to remind us of our potential of being human again.”
In the coming months, Esalen will be announcing a series of initiatives designed to support what Terence describes as the nonprofit’s strategic imperative: to increase its mission impact exponentially. To help create a roadmap to meet this goal, a strategic framework has been created listing the following six strategic priorities:
Just three years ago, Esalen was forced to shut its doors for nearly six months when challenging winter storms resulted in landslides both to the north and south of its Big Sur campus. Cut off from the rest of the world, a small residential staff stewarded the land while a handful of colleagues supported essential business needs remotely. Due in part to the overwhelming generosity of Esalen donors, the Institute was able to continue operations without workshop revenue until it successfully reopened in July 2017.
“Esalen would not be here today without our larger community,” said Terence. “And for that reason, and many more, one of the core elements of our strategic framework will focus on being of service to and better engaging with our Community -- which I describe with a big C.”
Community has always been an important concept at Esalen, observed Terence, and given our focus to increase our mission impact it is even more imperative that this concept be as inclusive as possible. In other words, we want to include anyone who has connected with Esalen in the past or who has a desire to be part of our mission today.
Areas for potential exploration include ways to extend the Esalen experience at home and after the workshop, ways for Esalen workshop participants to connect with each other outside of Big Sur and expanding learning opportunities through its residential education experience.
The listening tour continues and, according to Terence, all feedback is welcome. Please email GM@esalen.org with your thoughts and ideas.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
As Esalen Institute embarks on a new decade, it does so with a renewed sense of purpose and priorities. Over the last year, General Manager and CEO Terence Gilbey and other members of Esalen’s leadership team have been engaging in a listening tour to help determine how best to increase the Institute’s mission impact in the decades to come. The outcome of these discussions with community members — including Esalen staff, faculty, donors and friends — has resulted in a set of strategic priorities that will drive new changes in 2020.
“A constant theme that has come up in our conversations has been around connection,” observed Terence. “Despite the increase in connectivity through technology, we heard that so many of us are feeling disconnected, isolated and even polarized.
“What we seem to be seeking are more ways to reconnect: to ourselves, to others and to our shared humanity. As the birthplace of the human potential movement, Esalen is in a unique position to remind us of our potential of being human again.”
In the coming months, Esalen will be announcing a series of initiatives designed to support what Terence describes as the nonprofit’s strategic imperative: to increase its mission impact exponentially. To help create a roadmap to meet this goal, a strategic framework has been created listing the following six strategic priorities:
Just three years ago, Esalen was forced to shut its doors for nearly six months when challenging winter storms resulted in landslides both to the north and south of its Big Sur campus. Cut off from the rest of the world, a small residential staff stewarded the land while a handful of colleagues supported essential business needs remotely. Due in part to the overwhelming generosity of Esalen donors, the Institute was able to continue operations without workshop revenue until it successfully reopened in July 2017.
“Esalen would not be here today without our larger community,” said Terence. “And for that reason, and many more, one of the core elements of our strategic framework will focus on being of service to and better engaging with our Community -- which I describe with a big C.”
Community has always been an important concept at Esalen, observed Terence, and given our focus to increase our mission impact it is even more imperative that this concept be as inclusive as possible. In other words, we want to include anyone who has connected with Esalen in the past or who has a desire to be part of our mission today.
Areas for potential exploration include ways to extend the Esalen experience at home and after the workshop, ways for Esalen workshop participants to connect with each other outside of Big Sur and expanding learning opportunities through its residential education experience.
The listening tour continues and, according to Terence, all feedback is welcome. Please email GM@esalen.org with your thoughts and ideas.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org