When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change’
We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are.
What I have come to term Radical Gratitude was born in a moment of inspired insight arising from desperate confusion.
In my early 20s the experience of what is commonly called ‘depression’ arose once again. Noticing the agonised resistance to feeling this pain again it became clear that wishing it was not there, resisting it, had never worked. Resisting in fact created suffering on top of the pain. Was there another way ? I intuited there was and through gritted teeth at first, thinking it crazy, I faced this contraction and painful feeling and, thanked it for showing up. My world changed in this moment. My suffering ceased. I experienced more deeply the truth that the view I take of the world being a primary determinant of the world I experience. I saw more clearly my thoughts, beliefs and feelings are a determinant of not only my experience of life, but of what is to be experienced. Ultimately I came to see there is no separation between my experience of life and life’s form. For what is considered to be ‘reality’ is, quite clearly, only ever a perception within awareness. I have since applied this approach to such phenomena as being diagnosed with a brain tumour. As a consequence I experienced zero stress or suffering from the diagnosis. I have not yet completely lost my capacity to create suffering – I continue to be a student of Radical Gratitude.
Once this capacity to change our outer circumstance by first changing our inner world has become clear in personal experience it is easy to see how to play our part in planetary transformation. Radical Gratitude equips individuals with the capacity to end their own suffering and to change our world by accelerating the change in their own consciousness.
Radical Gratitude points to a helpful way of responding to life and improving the quality of experience. In exploration we enjoy the ever deepening experience of unity, realising we are a cocreative aspect of life itself as the illusion of separation falls away.
So, what is Radical Gratitude?
You can engage with Radical Gratitude at many levels:
1. To begin with it is a psychological technique to experience more happiness. It is a training of the mind to notice what brings happiness.
2. It is a manifesation tool which allows more of what you want – for while ‘what we resist persists, what we appreciate, appreciates.’
3. It is a simple way to cease suffering from painful emotional experience and support the integration and release of these emotions.
4. It is a short path to discover the gift and opportunity within life’s challenges.
5. With practise and grace it becomes a bridge from separation and suffering into Unity and Joy – it’s a path to the realisation of unitive or nondual consciousness.
So whilst 1 and 2 begin with simply being grateful for what we enjoy and value, 3-5 is where gratitude gets radical! We begin to apply it to everything.
Radical Gratitude is completely free from dogma or requirement for any belief other than in your own power to alter your experience. Anyone can benefit from utilising this approach to life.
As we play be aware of the tendancy to should on ourselves. It is not that we should be grateful. Experiment in the spirit of play and with self-compassion. If we are playing with applying gratitude to all experience and notice resistance we simply feel gratitude for the resistance. In this way we disengage the very mechanism by which we suffer – the belief in being a separate self.
I am invited to share Radical Gratitude around the world in both day Playshops and longer retreats. These are offered in Europe, the US, Australia and New Zealand. I will happily give consideration to facilitating a Playshop to a group in response to a specific request.
A selection of Testimonials from Playshop experiences:
“The Radical Gratitude Playshop allowed for the opportunity to access the depth of gratitude necessary to heal an old core wound involving the physical violence I received from my mom as a child. By “marinating” in presence with a group of beautiful beings along with Will’s clarity and connection to each person, I found myself experiencing a simple and direct yet profound healing. I was able to communicate to my mother energetically that it was ok, that I was no longer hurt and in fact I was actually grateful for everything that had happened. I could see the gift in ALL OF IT. Not only could I see it as a gift, I could really feel (italics)the perfection in everything I experienced. I have since spent time with my mom and have felt a spaciousness between us. Cringing at her slightest touch has been replaced by a softness and an enjoyment of our relating. I feel washed clean of much of what has been holding in my body and psyche. It is exciting to watch the ripple effect of the shift into my own parenting, and into life as I continue ‘being relaxed’ into the mercy of what is always here. The space Will holds for the group is rich and supportive. His burning fire for what’s true, his peaceful way of being, and his full-bodied laughter are contagious, deeply touching the hearts of all present. A melting happens when we come together in this way and are surrendered more fully into the shared reality of love.”
– EMB, Teacher, Mother, Tennessee, USA.
“When I sat down to write about my experience with Will, I began to reflect on the time I spent with him on retreat. His guidance is delicate and unassuming. He is well versed in non dual communication but somehow translates that into a real, malleable dialog that is meaningful in our world of thoughts and beliefs. While simultaneously opening a window for us to see through those beliefs. In what seems to be an arms race of spirituality and spiritual teachers, Will is something different, something special. He not only brings you to an intellectual understanding of your true nature, but leads you down the path of direct experience. It’s funny how love works. When you notice its ever present movement, it seems to be everywhere. Will leads with his heart, and he becomes that movement. ”
– SM, Student, Father, Tennessee, USA,
“I attended a one day Playshop with Will and a group in Venice CA. Will did a beautiful job leading people through a powerful and personal process. The material was very accessible and Will has a gentle energy and heart that speaks clearly and directly to participants. The exercises were brilliant and enlightening. I had 3 intentions coming in and each was able to be processed. I came away with a lot of clarity. And a deep respect for Will as a person and spiritual leader. He is wise, sincere, and awake. I have read much of his book and find it similarly grounded and inspiring. ”
– Dr. John Shindler. Author of the Transformative Classroom and School Series, Los Angeles, California.
“I’ve been reflecting on Will Pye’s Radical Gratitude Playshop, and really enjoying how easily my take-aways from the session have integrated into my life. I think its because Will himself truly lives the material he teaches, and often presents concepts and exercises with examples from his own path, his own challenges and his present moment. Will easily weaves vocabulary from a wide range of spiritual teaching, and then shares his unique and fabulously joyous interaction with these timeless concepts of the Unlimited Self, the Observer, the Soul — however various traditions have named this infinite concept.
It is this joy, and the strength that comes from laughter, that motivated me once more on the Pathwork. Why be miserable, when I can embrace each experience for what it gives, rather than what I believe it might have taken? Will’s certainty of the Observer and of our ability to interact with this Eternity, inspires everyone to reach for the experience. Gratitude feels scary to the intellect, and Will acknowledges this. His Playshop presses deep buttons, but his compassionate appreciation for everyone present, regardless of how stuck we were, made for a safe place to contemplate letting go of anger, resentment and pain. Every example and every experience was acknowledged and gifted with an interpretation that allowed for the temporal truth, while pointing to the Absolute Truth, where Gratitude and Love can be experienced as always present, always Now — touching Eternity is very possible from Will’s perspective.
Based on how good I felt being bathed in Gratitude for all my experiences, I am back into the habit of noticing my thoughts, and changing the direction from negative to positive. Will’s little quip about “Some folks seem to have chats in the past, and some folks have future conversations.” was a GREAT moment of clarity for me. Duh! That can be negative self-chatter. Of course it is, I’m talking in my head, and if it is at all judgmental, of myself or others, I have just reinforced a negative concept (or two). Now, when an experience pops into my head, I look for the Silver Lining — or at least the Giggle Factor. Bless, release, move on. The Playshop is most definitely a constantly reverberating experience for me, and I recommend it for everyone.”
– Kate Trudeau, Minister, Author, Herbalist, Geek, MA, USA.
“The Radical Gratitude Playshop- is a day of transformational, encouraging inspirational material that lasts (In my heart of hearts ) a lifetime.
Will’s playshop enables participants to live in love, merriment, bliss, wholeheartedly LIVING every moment to the fullest, re-membering to express gratitude towards life and its mysteries at all times.
Will spoke wonderfully about every single situation being an opportunity to grow and expand and get back to our true nature which is love.
Will shared wonderful techniques to apply in our daily lives to genuinely understand, create a habit of happiness, facilitate emotional healing and allow manifestation. Radical Gratitude Playshop facilitates the process of meeting and honoring ourselves in a way we may not have previously known. I’m forever grateful for this magnificent experience, Will’s bestowed wisdom and to all the past/present/future attendees. My humble thanks to you all. Infinite love, gratitude, and blessings. Love On!”
– Salome Gasviani, Musician, Los Angeles, CA.
“I just wanted to thank you for today. It was such a beautiful, loving reminder of the grace of everything. Your presence and willingness to hold everything that arises in the heart is such a brilliant pointer back to the Heart. Thank you. There was much heart-opening today into the awareness of when the attention is in the mind and when it it in THAT ‘space.’ Thank you for offering the space for that lesson of authenticity to take place. I’d recommend this Playshop to anyone who feels the desire to open their heart wide and shift their perspective on their world. Indeed, a Radical Gratitude! Much, much love to you.”
– Nicole K. Miller, Teacher, Founder of The Un-Storied Self, New York.