"Breakthrough was a rite of passage; it was an initiation; it was a rebirth. I was myself, but no longer the self that I had been. I had crossed over a threshold; I had reinvented who I was; I had given myself permission to change; I had joined the company of heroes." 
                                   ~~~ Mike Wolfe, General Manager, Advanced Products, Green Hills Software 2006

If you ever said “I can’t” in your life, a great opportunity To learn that “I can”
                                   ~~~ Annie Reis, Architect ~ 2006

"Breakthrough is one of those things that catches you off guard.  You go in thinking you'll have some fun, do something a little scary, and go home in your familiar skin.  Instead you find yourself running the rapids and
carried way beyond your known boundaries. Then boom - you shed your old selflike a snake skin because now you are a new person. But you are not stranded alone out there - you have friends cheering you on. You are shining light into each other and wondering how you can carry this amazing energy into the life you left.    Later you find you are part of a larger family of Breakthrough graduates, and in this family, you rock! Several people in our weekend workshop said the only other weekend that compared to what happened here was the weekend they got married."
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jill Littlewood, Littlewood Studios, Santa Barbara, CA April 2008
 

“ The Breakthrough Weekend for me was an experience of personal growth, awareness, and transformation in an amazingly fun package!  The support, confidence and trust I found in the workshop allowed me to let go, find my voice within and the “showman” inside of me!  Give yourself the gift of doing the Breakthrough Weekend!”
                           ~~~~~~Eric Wishan, Fanancial Consultant

Tess:  Thank you for mirroring radiance.  Your smile lights up a room, in fact
it spotlights anyone you lay eyes on. What a beautiful woman you are!

Mick:  Whatever channel you’re swimming in, you are blessed to have found your
purpose.  I believe that even if you never did another breakthrough workshop,
your gift has multiplied 10,000 times, as the ripple effect, and will continue
in ways you may never know. We are graced by your presence.
                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Laura Givertz, Owner, Fibula Jewelers, Santa Barbara

I consider my Breakthrough Performance a rite of passage. I was convinced I  couldn’t sing, yet Mick gently challenged  me  and encouraged me to open to my fastness and claim my power. My life has been profoundly improved. 
                               ~~~~Ann Roberti ~~ Feldenkrais Practitioner ~~  San Rafael, CA

 Breakthrough: Opens your heart, Calms your mind, Gets you back into your body, Frees your soul
 and boy is it fun. Mick weaves a special blend of magic that I haven't found in 11 years of attending workshops.                  
                            ~~~~Jacinta Tobin, Vice President, Business Development

"Breakthrough is a fantasy come true. I learned that I have a unique voice that yearned to be heard and doesn't
have to be perfect. Breakthrough has changed by life by encouraging my true self to emerge into the light
of self expression.
It's difficult to truly express my gratitude for all that my Breakthrough Experience has given me. I know I am a changed person,with more confidence in myself and more gusto for life! How could a person not blossom into more of who they truly are under the guidance and care you both provided? We were rewarded for our trust by your commitment to our growth. All of us changed in profound ways, and I moved from barely squeaking out a sound to a full-throated "Hot  Mama" on stage. It was one of the most fun and most joyous experiences of my life! I always felt safe in your home and in the loving space you created
for each of us (no matter how difficult we became as we worked through our resistance). There is a reason your email address is "big embrace";you embraced all of us a group and as individuals. From your love and support came the courage for me to change and expand. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity you both provided. Many, many thanks from the bottom of my heart!"
                             ~~~~~Mary Lawson -Learning Disabilities Specialist   Santa Barbara City College
 

 At    At first, the Breakthrough Performance Workshop looked like a crash course in how to free my inner
 Mi  Mick Jagger. I finally got it, that the workshop has very little to do with the actual singing
an   and  strutting of stuff, it has more to do with all that stuff that keeps us from singing and strutting!!

            ~~~~~Don Lattin, Journalist, San Francisco, CA

 

"This was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I found my voice after many years of being afraid to be heard. I learned how to be with my fear, to use it, to ride it. It was powerful beyond words."
                       ~~~~~~Lisa Levin, Graphic Designer

"I am quiet and reserved, but I have another side I wanted people to see. What a breakthrough! The intensity and exhilaration of this experience will last a lifetime."
                     ~~~~~~~Michael Moyer, Architect

"Breakthrough coaxed me out of my shell and brought me safely to center stage where I was more expressive than ever before — a truly necessary process for any performer."
                                  ~~~~~Nicole Roberts, Singer/Songwriter

"I was a guy who was convinced that I could not sing. The Breakthrough Performance Experience provided one of the most challenging, absolutely exultant and outrageous events of my life. I was completely supported to passionately express my creative voice. I did it, so I know you can!"
                                      ~~~~~~~Max Poppers, Design Consultant

"It was an opportunity that I will never forget - standing on a stage, singing in public, and most of all, presenting myself in an expanded way! With that breakthrough, I continue to be more of who I can be in the world."
                              ~~~~~JoAna Gray, Marketing and Project Management Consultant

"One of the most powerful and easily the most fun 'personal growth' workshops I've ever done. It launched me into my creativity in an amazing way."
                          ~~~~~Peter Santosh Lalor, Computer Consultant

"I was given the chance to access and express the passionate musical part of me that had always been only a fantasy."
                              ~~~~Steve Fox, Venture Capitalist

"I highly recommend the Breakthrough Performance Experience for all who aspire to be leaders and role-models, or those who simply want more."
                     ~~~~~~Sheva Feld, Ph.D., Psychologist, Corporate Consultant

"I am a professional entertainer. I've always said I can do anything on stage except sing. In the Breakthrough Performance Experience I found my big, beautiful voice."
                                      ~~~~~~Louie Pearl (aka The "Bubble Man"), Owner Tangent Toys

"Prior to this weekend, I would have much preferred jumping out of a airplane to singing in front of people – and that’s with or without a parachute! I discovered tremendous freedom to just be me."
                       ~~~~Ron Migdal, Senior Systems Testing Technician

"What a thrill! The Men’s Breakthrough Experience was amazingly cathartic and tremendously empowering. I feel unblocked, much more creatively alive. You must experience this!"
                                 ~~~Chris Hurley, Landscape Gardener

"Mick Pulver has exceptional facilitation skills, coaching experience and deep dedication to truly support every single participant on their healing journey. Every moment of the workshop I felt seen, heard and received with unconditional love. What a gift!"
                                    ~~~~Diana Servan, Computer Programmer

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IN-DEPTH ARTICLES & LETTERS

BREAKING THROUGH

When it comes to trying new things and taking on the world my husband is like a golden retriever bounding across the lawn, greeting the day. On the other hand we all know a cat that relates cautiously when sensing sudden movement in her territory. That’s me. Know your fears and keep them at a safe distance, slink quietly by them and curl up in a comfortable position, out of sight. Purr softly so as not to be heard.

So when my enthusiastic husband came home from a Breakthrough Workshop weekend last November(05), glowing with self-confidence and looking fifteen years younger, I was intrigued. He had performed with a live band in this small venue. I shared his glow vicariously, and told my close friends about this unique experience he’d just had. As Loren prepared to take on the eight week workshop which ended with a live performance at SOhO, our local night club, I wondered if I might try a taste of it. Our son was off to college now and I needed to challenge myself. With the support of two close women friends who wanted to give it a try, I signed up for the weekend. I truly love music and knew I wanted to stretch that cautious cat-like soul of mine.

Mick and Tess called to let me know that they would like to tack our weekend onto the beginning of the eight week workshop. That sounded fine. We all showed up, eight weekers and weekenders alike, happy to be there, unaware of the path that would unfold. Some of us had known each other for years and others would be new friends. Mick opened by saying this workshop invited people to try on some feelings and ideas, there were no absolute truths, no right or wrong answers, just a safe place to investigate ourselves with lots of love and support built in. All he asked was that we be open to the possibilities in each of us. This struck me as authentic already - but trust was the active ingredient and I needed to find that inside of me. We began to share, participate in various movement exercises, simple things to allow us to be vulnerable and play with our voices. I felt like I was being allowed to frolic and make noises like a small child. By five o’clock on Sunday the weekender women were hooked. Gaby, Gwen and I looked at each other and said” Let’s just do it!” We committed to the eight weeks along with my “golden retriever” and Gaby’s husband and three new friends we already felt so bonded with.

Then came the songs each week like prescription medicine for the soul. Why are they giving me these songs I have to belt out? These are about sexual power and freedom! Each time I sang in front of our now safe little group, I felt a little more exposed, often with my heart beating in my throat, knees weak, stomach churning and emotions on edge. For someone who had been made fun of for having a soft and squeaky voice this was like walking naked in public. It was exhilarating at the same time. Tears often flowed when we watched each other sing. I was always fascinated to watch Mick and Tess read the energy in each of us, where it might be blocked or unconscious signs in our bodies and voices that hinted of something begging to be expressed. Now and again one of us would sing from that relaxed place and we began to recognize it and see it unfold.

As the weeks passed and we now faced the fact that our “celebration” performance was actually going to take place, we took turns being the cheerleader as one or the other of us flagged in our trust. Just visualizing the crowd of people in the audience would turn my stomach to a churning , burning mush. I experienced a feeling of having a double life, kindergarten teacher by day, sexy diva by night. Cognitive dissonance like I’d never experienced! Thoughts of the process, song lyrics and emotions took up more and more psychic space in my day and often in the middle of the night.

It was a mere ten days before our show. Would this happen? We now all owned a song that we’d perform, it was beginning to imprint on our minds and bodies. But how in the world would we pull this off? We were now to watch and be involved in a creative process that reminded me of children pretending and creating imaginary worlds. Mick took off his coach hat and became the strict director/choreographer. Tess became the multi-tasking detail manager and resident sngel. Creating choreography that would support and include everyone was a gifted new role that Mick dove into, all the while assuring us that we’re ready for this step. And we were. What a night it was.

So how much gold can I dig up and keep from this immense, intense journey we’ve all been on together? The nerves, the excitement, and alas the passion of singing and moving to my song were only matched by the group dynamic, the team that we became and the unlimited support I received from and felt for each person. The realization that so many audience members, dear family and friends, were caught up in that dynamic and also glowed for days after was an added gift. Here in this often sad world, love joy and support flowed in unison. Now I know that, in that process, I broke through and glimpsed my wholeness, my vastness , my being.


Linda Solin. Teacher
March 2005

Music, Fear and Fun
Joanne Renee Munley

I love music! I love listening, dancing and singing to it. I also love learning, especially about myself. So when I heard that The Breakthrough Performance Workshop uses music as a vehicle to help people overcome fears that block them, I was more than willing to “give it a go” – yet the thought of performing onstage to a live audience with the possibility that I could make a complete fool out of myself provided me with enough “fear ammunition” to think about it before I made the leap.

Two years later I found myself at the first weekend of our workshop along with 12 other participants, waiting for a turn to sing in front of the group for the first time, in preparation for our onstage performance eight weeks later. The added excitement of that moment was that Bob McKenzie from KTVU Fox 2 News was there, filming us for a future “Segment Two” on the 10 O’clock news. While interviewing me, he asked if I wanted to be a professional singer, like some of the other participants. I let him know that my main reason for being there was to have fun with music and hopefully to just “get over myself” while doing so. I explained to him that in my personal life, as well as in my career as an educator and consultant, I burned myself out again and again by so much “efforting,” struggling, and attempting to do everything perfectly. And when I didn’t match up to those expectations, I would hold myself back from trying new things, feel frustrated at myself and shrink myself down hoping others wouldn’t see how imperfect I was. I let Bob know how fearful I was to just think about being seen performing – not knowing how perfect or imperfect my performance would turn out to be.

So, for the next eight weeks I got to face that fear repeatedly each time I rehearsed in front of our group. Of course, other participants had their own “recipe for fear” they were dealing with. The beautiful thing was that our facilitators were so supportive and honoring of each one of us that I felt safe to reveal other beliefs and fears I had been ashamed to have anyone else know about. Bringing in CDs to sing each week where either the words or music touched me deeply helped me to get to know myself better. I loved researching music where the artists could express for me the parts of myself I wanted to reveal at that moment. Feeling the love, support, and compassion of the other group members also helped free me up to “just be me” with whatever was going on and we soon become a very closely bonded group. A wonderful shift was happening – instead of avoiding and not wanting some of these places of myself to be seen, I became very curious watching “what wanted to show up.” It was like I was on an adventure getting to know myself.

Soon my worries of singing in front of others – not knowing if my voice was off-key or if I was rhythmically incorrect – gave way to getting very present with the music, my experience and the other group members. At one point in the workshop I remember one of the facilitators telling me I had a choice between perfectionism and fun, and I knew then I was ready to stop struggling so hard to get it right. From that point on, instead of wanting to get my turn over with, I looked forward to singing in front of the group – perfect or not. Now I was actually having fun being in front of the group and even wanted more microphone time. Wow!

As the performance date come closer and more of my friends, colleagues and family members told me they would be at my performance, I started to forget once again about fun over perfectionism and my body let me know that it did not like that. During the workshop, a health challenge I had been dealing with was flaring up and I was afraid I would not be able to perform. Once again, leaning on the support of our facilitators and the group I felt their confidence, trust and acceptance of me being who I am. With the performance just a week away, the Breakthrough staff kept growing as more and more former participants returned to help our group prepare by finding costumes, choreographing group numbers, and being there for emotional support. Again, the love and support kept pouring in and I felt so cared for that my fears again started to melt away. I noticed that I was speaking up and asking for help, allowing myself to receive it, and trusting that others would be there for me. I realized that I did not have to do life alone and struggle so hard to get it right and I really started experiencing “breaking through” this old fear pattern.

It was now the night of the performance and our Breakthrough group gathered at the 7th NOTE Show Club in San Francisco. The club was overflowing with about 350 audience members, the band was blaring and I was waiting backstage for my time to go on. In that moment I could not say that my fears were gone, but it did not matter. As I felt the immense love and support of the audience, filled with all our friends and relatives who came to encourage us, and the love of the support staff that were volunteering their time to help with the performance, as well as the love of the facilitators, band members and the other 12 participants, I just knew I could not fail. So, when I stepped onstage I did make the choice of “fun” over “perfectionism.” I did make the choice to show up and be seen in all my talent and beauty, and I did make the choice to surrender and trust the “perfection’ of the moment.

Now, two months after my performance those same choices present themselves to me in how I choose to live my life. New work opportunities are brewing for me and with great anticipation I am embracing this change. Thankfully my fears do not run my life as much as they used to. I’ve realized that life does not have to be such a struggle and that my apprehensions do not need to be in the way of my being in the world. Now I understand what Nelson Mandela said in his 1994 inaugural speech:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are more powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

Today, because of my “breakthrough experience,” I see myself and my world differently. I choose to stand and shine in my own glorious light rather than in the shadow of my fears. And when I forget, I just close my eyes and recall the immense love and gratitude I experienced receiving my applause at the end of my solo number. Then once again I remember to trust myself, others and “life” more. In surrendering to that, the music I have loved is now in me and I live life from a place of adventure, mystery and effortless fun.

Thank you Breakthrough!
Joanne

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