Simply put, without exception or exclusion, my relationships with people have developed a quality of openness, honesty and love that I express from within me. Prior to attending some of the workshops and presentations by Serge Benhayon, I was sometimes cold and calculating. Even my own mother would agree with this. This just meant that I was protective of myself and had hardened myself against ‘life’ and some of its hurtful experiences.

The work of Serge Benhayon is not some “follow the guru to salvation”, but a presentation of information about how I can begin to honestly look at myself, very deeply, and continue to do so, even when things seemed to be going well in my life. There is a level of responsibility that I have taken for myself, my actions and relationships, and an honesty that I am able to express, that was simply not present before. I was choosing to hide behind a wall or a mask that to most people looked pretty good. But all along I felt the sadness, the lack of connection and the loneliness that I was creating.

Now when I meet people, I get a sense from them that they feel the natural warmth and loveliness of me, as fully and completely as I know myself to be without reservation. My relationship with my mother is a great example. As I have mentioned, it was extremely cold and distant. Now, we share warmth and a connection that in truth is what we both so deeply wanted, but somehow could not get to. When I was able to let go of my pride, defensiveness and hurt, I was able to embrace Mum with an enormous sense of love, gratitude and warmth that felt so natural to share. In fact it feels unnatural to hold it back. My relationship with Mum is not perfect, but it certainly feels amazing. For this, I am so grateful to Serge for presenting what helped me understand and thus experience for myself.

This experience of love within my family has created a foundation for me to carry that love and warmth to all of my relationships, without exclusion. Don’t get me wrong, there are still challenges to face, but the focus becomes not on what the other person is doing or not doing, the focus becomes on how do I feel about myself and as to whether I hold that same deep level of honesty and responsibility for the choices that I make… Am I choosing to be hard, the ‘expert’, the ‘helper’ or am I choosing to connect with and express the simple truth about how I feel? Am I choosing to ‘put on a front’, or am I choosing to be free of that lie within myself? By making this choice every day, my life seems so much easier, smoother, joyful and fulfilled. I am not putting energy into something that is not true and drains me just to keep up appearances.

My mother and immediate family can see the changes also. Mum often comments on how radiant and ‘great’ I look. She can see the sparkle in my eyes all the time. And I can see that growing in her also.

By Marianna Masiorski (39)