I am writing in hopes of warning people as to the dangers of joining the Alivening Project run by Barbara and Glenn Smyly. They advertise as being able to help anyone overcome financial, relationship, and character issues, or any other problem one might have. Though my experience with this group was in the past, (late 80's), I have recently come across a website for the Alivening Project, and was stunned that they are still at it.
Basically, I want to inform others of the tactics employed by these people in order to gain a certain amount of control over their "followers" mindsets. Though it is completely possible that they have the best intentions, I feel they have proven otherwise in the past. I watched numerous couples, who were financially stable go through bankruptcies and divorces because of the teachings of this organization. The group, myself included, were taught that putting limitations on ourselves, financially, was trapping us - that we should alter our consciousness and see that we deserve to live the good life - they urged one couple into purchasing their home, despite the fact that they blatantly couldn't afford it. They convince you that the group is a family, and that paying them 10% of your income helps everyone - even though it went straight into their pockets.
When I was involved, I couldn't see that I had given up on my real family, I had denied my children physical and emotional attention, because I was told that I would spoil them, or that the parent relationship was far more important than the needs of my children. They weren't parents at the time, yet I listened to them as if they knew, because they convinced me that they did. My grown daughter still has memories of when Barbara would lock her outside, while she was babysitting, because she asked too many questions, or forgot to take off her shoes in their mansion.
Though I see that they are now parents, and hence the viewpoints they once held on the denial of attention may have changed, I feel that it is only fair to explain what I had experienced. My husband and I watched many couples lose everything they had, while still adamently standing by our then leaders - and even once we severed our ties, were ushered into feeling guilty that we hadn't worked the program well enough - that we went bankrupt because we didn't try enough, not because the teachings themselves were corrupt or that those we were following were out for their own self interest. Only now can I see that although I played a part, the Smyly's are very smart, cunning, and good at their game, which happens to be gaining others' trust and conning them. So please - beware.
P.S. I am not persecuting these people, or those that see them as mentors, as I was once in their position, however, I am doing what I know is right, and what I refused to do while I was in their clutches.
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