Talks & Workshops

Talk: My Personal Journey

#1 "HOW TO CREATE A PERSONAL SPIRITUAL PRACTICE"
(three to six hours, depending on content selected)

#2 Raising Consciousness in the Workplace:
Meditative Tools for Reducing Stress, Improving Relationships and Increasing Job Satisfaction
(three to six hours, depending on content selected)

Participants will learn how to:

Scientific research is revealing that meditation transforms the brain by increasing activity in the brain where pleasure and wellbeing begin, and decreasing activity where depression, anger and unhappiness originate.  By learning what meditation is, and is not, and how to manage your thoughts as well as three simple meditative techniques, you'll be able to reduce stress in the workplace, deal with difficult people more effectively and experience improved job satisfaction.

#3 "MANAGING CONFLICT AS A SPIRITUAL TOOL
TO DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS"
(three to six hours, depending on content selected)

Course Description

Too often, potentially good relationships are damaged by conflict and our expectations about conflict. People see conflict as destructive, rather than as an opportunity to deepen their relationships. They also may have difficulty recognizing their own roles in conflict, and their own power to deal with it productively. By modifying these perceptions, and learning practical conflict management skills, people can more readily accept the opportunity to manage a conflict situation, and learn to work with it more effectively.

This program is designed to deal with the most difficult aspects of participating in a dialogue with another person when previous arguments, personal histories and emotions have influenced relationships. Participants will learn the skills for deep listening in a way that creates productive dialogue and plants the seeds of trust.

#4 FROM CONFLICT TO CONSENSUS:
FACILITATING TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING

At one time or another, every organization faces serious conflicts. Sometimes the members of the organization can work out their issues; at other times, conflicts fester, affecting the harmony and productivity of the organization, and damaging relationships.

Susan Quinn, with over 20 years' experience as a consultant and trainer, has the expertise to create a safe and productive environment where work teams, boards of directors and committees can talk about and resolve their real-time issues. Her approach is both intuitive and practical, spiritual and down-to-earth. You can request her Statement of Qualifications through the contact information listed above.

*All workshops are designed with a balance of lecture, activities and discussion.

Comments from workshops:

Susan and I met when she was doing some initial research for her book, The Deepest Spiritual Life. She interviewed another pastor and me and I was struck almost immediately by her personal sincerity and desire to know the profound truths of human community and existence. She was very open about her own personal quest for an authentic spiritual life and I soon found we had many values that we held in common.

When I became part of a new experimental community of faith, it was only natural that Susan was one of the first people we invited to share with us concerning spiritual practices. She custom designed a teaching session for our community’s particular needs, asking many questions in advance of our meeting. 

When we finally had our training session, the handout materials were excellent, the various sessions were well conceived but, most especially, Susan’s teaching style was personal, encouraging and practical. Some of our more spiritually mature participants received information that they could build upon, whereas our novices walked away with very sound understandings of specific ways they could extend and deepen their own spiritual walk.

We had a thoroughly wonderful time with Susan and plan to have her back sometime in the near future.

--Van Pewthers
Pastor – Christ Community of Faith
Placentia, California

______________________________________________________

Susan, I just had to write to tell you how very meaningful your presentation was last Wednesday evening. I was first bowled over when you were able to name everyone in the room at the very beginning of the session. It only went uphill from there. 

Thank you for what you brought to us. Meditation is not something with which I am familiar -- mostly because I'm so easily distracted by my own thoughts. You presented a way by which even I might succeed at opening my inner self to God. I've been practicing each evening. Like you, I find myself less preoccupied at night than in the morning. 

I very much enjoyed what you brought to us! Shalom!
--Barb Parker

______________________________________________________

"Thank you so very much for working with my class. They are still writing and talking about their experience with you. Several now understand how they can use techniques from other traditions to deepen their own spiritual practices. Another is planning a trip to the Judaica store you told them about. I think their experience with you is the single most impactful activity of this class."
--Kikanza Nuri Robins
Adjunct Professor of Spirituality
San Francisco Theological Seminary, Southern California