Stories of Transformation: Nancy Watts

Nancy Watts, participant of The 3 Doors Academies 6 and 7 in North America, shares about the impact The 3 Doors has had in her life. Her participation was made possible in part by the Gabriel Rocco Generosity Fund, supported by community members.

It’s hard to put into words the profound effect that The 3 Doors has had on my life. An overarching theme is that I am more fully present. The world around me is more alive and vivid; I notice its richness and its nuance. I move through my life with a greater sense of calm and peace.

RELATIONSHIPS

My relationship to myself and to others is more meaningful and authentic. I am far less reactive. I am able to engage more fully in relationships while recognizing when I need to step back—remaining connected while setting boundaries with compassion for both myself and others.

I have greater trust and less fear. One example of this change is in my relationship with my daughter. As she has matured into an adult and started making her own life choices, there have been times of emotional distance between us. Through recognizing and working with pain identities in The 3 Doors, I have experienced healing and greater acceptance. I appreciate the person my daughter is and our matured relationship.

EXPERIENCING EMOTIONS

I am able to experience the full range of my emotions, for the first time in my life, and bring them into the warmth of refuge without being overwhelmed. I experienced a significant and ongoing childhood trauma. For most of my life I was detached and cut off from my emotions, afraid of the depth and power of them.

The 3 Doors teachings and practices helped me to develop trust that I could hold my emotions in inner refuge and allow them to be as they are. It was in the safety and stillness of a guided group meditation during an Academy retreat that I cried for the first time over the loss of my father in my childhood.

GLOBAL SUFFERING AND PERSONAL CHALLENGE

I have been especially grateful for the teachings, practices and community of The 3 Doors during this time of great suffering in our world and as I have faced major health challenges. Regular practice has helped me be more fully present in my body and to notice the subtle changes that are important in recognizing and managing the symptoms of disease. The breathwork that is inherent in these ancient practices has been vital to the regulation of my various body systems and functions. It has been especially helpful to recognize that I am not the pain and other sensations that I am experiencing.

At times, I honestly wonder how I would have coped without the support of The 3 Doors program, the development of a regular meditation practice, and the ability to find refuge within. Through these, I’ve learned to meet what arises—both within myself and in the world around me—with greater clarity, discernment, purpose, and wisdom. This has helped me to engage with suffering in ways that feel authentic and effective for me, without becoming overwhelmed by despair or losing hope.

Learn more about the Academy and the Gabriel Rocco Generosity Fund.