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Who We Are and How Life Challenges Was Born 
©2001 TE ZINS Alissa M. Lukara, president and originator of Life Challenges, explains how Life Challenges came into being: "The idea for Life Challenges came to me one morning at 4 a.m. I was emerging from several years of personal challenges, including dealing with Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and healing the wounds of childhood sexual abuse. Facing these tests completely altered my life, perspectives and relationships, and taught me as much about living fully and compassionately as about handling adversity. During those pre-dawn hours, I thought about all the other people going through challenges who were waking up in the middle of the night-in pain, feeling sad or anxious or empty-and about how many times I had woken up feeling that way. Most of all, I imagined those individuals feeling alone-as so many dealing with life challenges do-not wanting to wake a friend or family member, unable to call a therapist or spiritual advisor, even if they had one. Perhaps they didn't even feel like talking to anyone, but still needed help. The idea for Life Challenges and its Web site-something people everywhere could access anytime-unfolded in an instant. Each topic within its main sections embodies an area in which I learned lessons that helped me on my own journey and that I found represent universal themes or core issues that can be applied to anyone's adversity. I share articles and tools that I discovered-or wished I had discovered-while facing my own challenges and that provide tangible ways to use or perceive trials as opportunities for growth and transformation." Alissa Lukara is the author of the memoir Riding Grace: A Triumph of the Soul (Silver Light Publications, February 2007) and president and founder of this nonprofit website, Lifechallenges.org, which provides individuals in 97 countries worldwide with the self help tools they need to cope with and transcend adversity. Riding Grace chronicles Alissa's 12 year quest through the dark night of adult chronic fatigue syndrome and childhood sexual abuse to accept the unacceptable and find wholeness and healing. She offers inspiring workshops and presentations to groups, drawing on her personal healing experiences and the larger perspective she gained from them and empowering people to use challenges to transform their lives. Lukara’s work has appeared in numerous publications including Conscious Women, Conscious Lives, the secret of salt: an indigenous journal, and Ashland Magazine. She can been seen hosting the Southern Oregon community television program, “Transcending Life Challenges.” A Reiki Master, Lukara is currently studying to be a family constellation practitioner which is based on the work of psychotherapist Bert Hellinger. She now makes her home in Southern Oregon with her family. You can write to Alissa at info@lifechallenges.org For information: www.ridinggrace.com. You can read some of her work on this website. Go to the Search feature at the bottom of this page. About Life Challenges  We
all at some point face a life challenge, such as illness, relationship/family
issues, job loss, death, addiction or abuse, an experience that shatters
our world, transforms the way we live and our very self as we have
known it, and may even throw us into what many call "the dark night
of the soul." This is a place where suffering can be so intense that it at times seems unbearable. However, it is also a place that is rich with potential if we take the chance to dive into that suffering and explore the rough-edged, holy mess of our lives, rather than run from it. Indeed, if in this place, we dare get really quiet and open our eyes, we may even see the signals and hear the voices in this night journey that lie beyond the suffering. Then, we have the opportunity to be reborn here, to find and embrace our own vibrant aliveness and truth and deepen our connection to the divine. Meaningful purpose may arise as we sweep away the residue of that which has become meaningless. This is a place where miracles can happen, even when all hope seems lost. What We Offer Life Challenges is about helping you seed, grow and harvest the potential of these times in your life. The writings, tools, stories and focus of discussion have been chosen:
Change
is inevitable, and in the process of this change, your attitude,
your way of being, and your life can transform in ways you never
dreamed possible. While
we do offer various forms of support, the information, dialogue
and assistance we extend on this Web site are not meant in any way
to take the place of personal therapy or medical treatment or to
substitute for advice you've received from your physician, health
practitioner, psychologist, counselor or spiritual advisor. You
need all the help you can get while going through a life challenge,
and trusted experts can provide individualized aid and guidance.
In addition, if you find your way here while you are in a state
of emergency, feeling suicidal, or hopeless, we encourage you to
call 911, a suicide hot line or a crisis intervention line in your
area in order to receive or be directed to the special attention
you need. Our blessings go out to you. Sign up for our e-letter here. Helped by this site? Your tax-deductible donations do make a difference. Click here for more donation and online charitable shopping and auction options. Copyright © 2000-2007 Life Challenges Site Design by GMR Design |