June 2022
Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced.
John Keats
Our first crack at Embodied Presence is over. That is 13 weeks of sessions with 2 facilitators and 8 participants. 13 weeks! It felt like an eternity because the amount of energy that went into building up the program. The careful crafting of the questions, finding readings/videos, facilitation, soul-searching for experiences to demonstrate the efficacy of the topics, and general insight into relevance of these ideas. And this does not include the hours I have spent in editing the books.
Was it a success? This is a difficult question because how does one begin to quantify the impact of a program. Does a participant change overnight so that they are able to step into their potential as leaders? Just because one is able to name their identities, strengths, faith, values, and visions does not mean they can become impactful leaders. Nor does understanding a concept like courage, perseverance, self-preservation, and presence translate into actions. In all my experience working with people, quantifying the efficacy of a program is difficult. Most people, if they have been positively impacted, will demonstrate small changes here and there but most important changes will not show up until later when they encounter opportunities, experiences, or people. It is a life-long process of becoming rather than just being.
Have I personally learned anything from this program? It has been immeasurable since I began this journey to share my wisdom with our audience. What I have taken for granted these last few years was new to many people and it is absolutely amazing to know that my life experiences have been meaningful not just for myself but others as well. Why amazing? I thought the lessons learned from my life were unique to me, not educational to many people who have experienced something similar but have not been able to name them. Not only did I name the experiences but have synthesized them in a way for people to understand the power within them. Everyone should be amazed with themselves for who they are.
If you are all thinking that I am bragging, I am not. I have no reason to brag - I don’t need people to know my accomplishments. I am grounded enough in myself that I do not need affirmation from others. Simply, I do what I am. I am just sharing my strengths just as I expect participants of the program, Embodied Presence, to know and name their strengths. And I am sharing what this program has meant to me.
I hope that if we continue to offer Embodied Presence, more people would be able to participate in the program. It will definitely be a meaningful experience.
Sam Joo
Founder and CEO
June 1, 2022