How do I deal with the guilt of getting rid of sentimental items?

Linda Van Tine found that Heather Aardema helps reframe this by asking if an item makes you feel 'light' or 'heavy.' This perspective shift allows participants to release the guilt associated with items given by others, like family members.

Is the School of Living Lighter community supportive?

Yes, Linda describes the community as a safe, inclusive, and genuine environment where members are 'all alike' and help one another through shared obstacles.

What is Heather Aardema's coaching style like?

Linda notes that Heather is infectious, authentic, and catches every detail, often stopping to help participants reframe their language from 'I need to' to 'I get to' to create a positive outlook.

Can the Urban Monk program help with chronic autoimmune issues if I've been sick for decades?

Yes. JoAnn Alexander had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis for 40 years and was still sick despite eating organic and juicing. She found that the program's focus on education and specific gut testing identified food allergies she never knew she had.

Is it possible to fully recover from C. diff using holistic methods?

While her medical doctor said she would never be rid of it, JoAnn reported that after following the Urban Monk protocols and doing 'the work,' her final gut testing showed no C. diff in her system at all.

Does Urban Monk provide support for the emotional stress of chronic illness?

JoAnn emphasized that the community aspect made her feel 'seen and valued' for the first time in 40 years. The program taught her breathing techniques and self-compassion, which significantly lowered her anxiety levels.

What do real people say about community support?

13 people recorded interviews about community support across 10 organisations. 3 of them mentioned feeling heard and supported by the provider in their own words. The most common timeframe people described was over a year. Every figure below is a count of what people said in their recorded interview — not a clinical trial or a survey.

First-hand accounts from people who talked about community support in their recorded interview.

What people said changed

Counts of interviews where the person described this in their own words.

Felt supported3 of 13 mentioned it
“And there are a lot of ⁓ tools that are offered to you and you'll find out what resonates with you and I believe your life will be richer as a result and you'll have more insights into ⁓ how your brain works and you'l…”Elizabeth Vanderwel
More energy3 of 13 mentioned it
“And now I have the courage and the confidence to be able to go out there and do this. surprised me the most about the FFBS program was this touting of sisterhood. this notion of creating the community. she went in the…”Loretta Guerra
Mental clarity2 of 13 mentioned it
“One of the things that's really changed for me is that there is no brain fog.”JoAnn Alexander
Confidence2 of 13 mentioned it
“Time is money and this is a good move. in the past, I don't think I would have that confidence that it's going to be successful. with clinician business labs, what I've been able to do is transition my team optimally…”Derek Cook
Better sleep2 of 13 mentioned it
“I like to go, so just the scenery for me, then getting able to hike in it. it was just good to do that to be with other like-minded women, and to You know, learn more as we had dinners, we had other times where we cou…”Toni Jackson
Weight change2 of 13 mentioned it
“I'm definitely more into the weight resistance training and I actually like it.”Toni Jackson
Digestion1 of 13 mentioned it
“The moment I realized that this program was working for me was when I stopped having diarrhea pretty much every day or constipation.”JoAnn Alexander
Mood & stress1 of 13 mentioned it
“So it's how you find acceptance for yourself and knowing that where you are is okay and what you're going through is ⁓ legitimate and your feelings are real and you get to a point where you learn to process those item…”Elizabeth Vanderwel

See the full data tables for Community Support →Read the research write-up →

How long it took

Over a year · 1

Stories in this topic

Showing 12 of 13 interviews.

What people were sceptical about first

“Loretta Guerra initially had hesitations regarding the cost of the program. However, she viewed it as an investment in herself and confirmed that she has received a return on that investment through the growth of her business and personal confidence.”Loretta Guerra
“Because the people around you are worried sick about you.”Gillian O'Connell
“Luanne initially had concerns about the cost of the program compared to other alternatives. However, after discussing pricing structures with Marcelle and experiencing the extensive evening support, Zoom meetings, and professional resources, she found the val…”Luanne Johnson

Frequently asked

How do I deal with the guilt of getting rid of sentimental items?: Linda Van Tine found that Heather Aardema helps reframe this by asking if an item makes you feel 'light' or 'heavy.' This perspective shift allows participants to release the guilt associated with items given by others, like family members. — Linda Van Tine
Is the School of Living Lighter community supportive?: Yes, Linda describes the community as a safe, inclusive, and genuine environment where members are 'all alike' and help one another through shared obstacles. — Linda Van Tine
What is Heather Aardema's coaching style like?: Linda notes that Heather is infectious, authentic, and catches every detail, often stopping to help participants reframe their language from 'I need to' to 'I get to' to create a positive outlook. — Linda Van Tine
Can the Urban Monk program help with chronic autoimmune issues if I've been sick for decades?: Yes. JoAnn Alexander had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis for 40 years and was still sick despite eating organic and juicing. She found that the program's focus on education and specific gut testing identified food allergies she never knew she had. — JoAnn Alexander
Is it possible to fully recover from C. diff using holistic methods?: While her medical doctor said she would never be rid of it, JoAnn reported that after following the Urban Monk protocols and doing 'the work,' her final gut testing showed no C. diff in her system at all. — JoAnn Alexander
Does Urban Monk provide support for the emotional stress of chronic illness?: JoAnn emphasized that the community aspect made her feel 'seen and valued' for the first time in 40 years. The program taught her breathing techniques and self-compassion, which significantly lowered her anxiety levels. — JoAnn Alexander