"When I signed up for The Freedom Class I was well on my path for self-discovery and spiritual connection through 40 years of reading, journaling, meditating, praying, and spiritual support. I had completed workshops/courses through many mentors, including Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, Terri Cole (author of Boundary Boss), and Brene Brown.
I had participated in 12-step programs since 1991, including Al-Anon and CODA. I was a highly functional recovering codependent who was well-versed in boundaries, effective communication, self-care, and relationships. However, there was still something missing.
I still felt empty. Numb at times. I needed to go deeper into self-recovery. I found Tamie M Joyce, who specialized in codependency, adult child syndrome, and narcissistic abuse recovery and the effects of these on relationships with oneself and with others.
This class provided a safe place to FINALLY get to the real source of my pain and dysfunctional codependent behaviors by exposing all of my emotional wounding and raw debilitating fears.
For decades (40 years!) I had been working on ME - and this included raising my emotional awareness. I learned how to express emotions, communicate them, and manage them all through teachings, daily readings, affirmations, meditation, and prayer - guided by amazing mentors (like Melodie Beattie, Brene Brown, Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, Esther Hicks, and Maryann Williamson).
Because of these I was able to label and manage feelings of pressure. Feeling overwhelmed. Feeling like I didn't fit in. Feeling less-than. Feeling disappointed. Feeling anxious. Feeling responsible. Feeling discouraged. I pretty much associated those emotions with my life as a codependent. I took on tools to recover from the classic behaviors and emotions that come with codependency like control, people-pleasing, over-functioning, and perfection. It helped a lot - and I felt like I had a handle on my emotional wellness. I felt like I had a handle on healthier relationships. I felt like I had a handle on life.
BUT I DIDN'T.
Not until I went deeper to even heavier and core feelings that underlay all of the above. That is what I was missing. No matter how functional I had become, I was still IN DENIAL about how childhood trauma impacted my core.
For 60 years I was "protected." My pain was buried with painful memories of what really happened. My soul knew it. Which is why I had to get deeper to get to my Truth.
Through the Freedom Class, I was finally able to understand - WHAT HAPPENED TO ME; how traumatic and unfair it was; that I literally had nothing to do with it; and, that NO HUMAN DESERVES what I experienced.
In my newfound clarity and perspective, I wasn't as afraid to deal with the emotional wounds. For the first time, I felt safe enough to explore what injustice can do to a child, like me. I felt safe, for the first time, to feel the heavy emotional wounding (without feeling that it would kill me and that I would not come out on the other side).
What surfaced when I finally felt safe? Terrifying raw fears and feelings of TOTAL DESPERATION, including my raw fear of staying alive/surviving. Extreme feelings of betrayal. Abandonment. Rejection. Unrelenting anger. Sadness. Shame.
These emotions were much scarier to deal with than the ones listed above, like disappointment and feeling overwhelmed. They felt life-threatening. But, these were the ones that HAD to surface for true freedom to live an authentic life.
I now realize that the emotions listed above that I DID deal with (for decades) were sourced from my underlying core emotional wounds and fears. No matter what I tried to do to deal with the emotions listed above, they would NEVER have completely gone away - until I was free of the core wounding. I don't care HOW GOOD I was with codependent recovery.
In the safe environment of the Freedom Class, that little girl FINALLY got the courage to realize and accept all of this. AND, more important, tell somebody. Somebody who listened. Once those core, driving, raw emotions were out, she came out. Free.
Tamie is great. Compassionate but direct. She isn't afraid to tell it like it is - but she does it with a softness and with no apology or over-justification - which makes it so authentic.
She has been through this stuff - and experienced it firsthand. I needed that. I needed someone who truly understood my fears and issues - but who was at least 3 steps ahead of me in emotional awareness, mental clarity, and spiritual connection.
For me, the coach-client connection was enhanced because of her spiritual faith in a Higher Power - aligned with how I see life and the Universe. She is truly the Light that illuminated my path.
I now fully understand who I am - and how I got here. I can honestly say that I have fully mastered self-love at the age of 64. I suppose I am a testimony to "It is never too late to grow up to be a healthy, functional adult.".
I am no longer afraid to feel a full range of emotions - and can experience and express them without past triggers and fears. For the first time in my life I can honestly look at myself in the mirror and feel proud - at peace - and know that I will protect and love who I truly am at all costs, never sacrificing that love for anyone or anything outside of myself. I literally have become the love of my life. With self-love, I can move higher to live as a SUPER EMPATH - strong, with power, and healthy love. I am truly excited about all of my future contributions to others and the world around me.
Through the Freedom Class, I had to face and accept all of me - including my past dysfunctional behaviors of control, people-pleasing, and perfection. Once I did, I could release them and take on more functional, balanced ways to live. I had the courage to release toxic relationships - those that no longer serve me - and replace them with healthy functional relationships.
The Freedom Class has given me radical knowledge about the full spectrum of narcissism - why I attracted narcissists in my life - and even how narcissistic traits play out in my own life. It has given me tools and communication styles to deal with narcissism and toxic relationships.
What I would say to anyone considering joining The Freedom Class is this class isn't for the faint of heart - it takes deep dives into deep fears. It's scary. It's overwhelming at times. But it is all necessary to break through the Truth - to get one out of denial and pain, and free from the dysfunctional coping strategies we take on to survive. Don’t sign up if you aren’t willing to do the work.
I would also tell you to be patient. It took me decades to get where I was. I couldn't expect to get it all cleaned up in weeks. Going back and redoing the modules is critical. The information offers something new each time because of readiness, timing, and increased awareness.
With this growth in emotional and mental clarity, I feel ready to take off - and tune into my spiritual gifts to my world. I am excited to see what the future holds." Pixie Hamilton ~ Retired Engineer