NGA Invites You to Ignite Your Life

Contributed by Joshua Hardman, an alumnus of NextGen Academy (NGA). Ignite is a branch of NGA’s NextGen Trainings flagship programs/experiences.

People need to feel listened to and understood. People need to know that they are worthy of being loved, and are loved. They need true, authentic connections with other emotional beings.

The tricky part comes in getting individuals with a lifetime of negative experiences into that space where they can open themselves up to others and confront their inner demons and past trials. It’s an abstract space, but one that isn’t any simpler for its lack of physical markers. The only way to go is inwards, but that can be the furthest gulf of all to jump.

The Ignite Intensive is the spark that cuts through the smoke. Every Ignite experience has a different dynamic of individuals with unique backgrounds and personal challenges, but there is at least one constant about every Ignite: every participant will face moments when they look their problems in the face and say, “that’s enough”…or push it away for another day. That is their choice.

Ignite has several key components, each developed over the course of many years and complementary to the others. The first is education through interactive presentations. These presentations are smart, funny and enlightening. Participants will come to put their “issues,” or whatever it is that holds them back from the life they want, into a framework that they can understand. They will learn about conceptual and tangible approaches to becoming subjects over their challenges, masters of their universe.

Ignite is an intimate experience, which relies on the effectiveness of the second component: intentional discussions. Discussions happen as a part of the presentations; throughout the day; and as a part of the activities. Participants will re-live important life stories, and talk through their issues from a number of angles. This has several purposes. For one, simply talking about one’s walls can be a cathartic experience. The participants will also find that they are not alone in their struggles, and may glean just what they need to hear from another participant. Ignite is a compressed emotional experience, and I guarantee that the participants will emerge with valuable friendships, whether new or deepened.

Finally, Ignite is filled to the brim with “things,” or activities that are metaphors about life. Some of these things, such as Ignite-invented paintball games, are well-known via advertising. Most are a surprise, to keep them fresh and to upend preconceptions. All of Ignite’s activities have aspects that are fun, adventurous, physically challenging. In the end, however, the participants will find that the biggest obstacle is usually mental, that what matters most is who they are being in a situation—not what the situation is.

Life can have meaning; escaping an addiction is possible; fulfillment and commitment in love can be found; a relationship with a parent or sibling is reparable.

The Ignite staff extends an invitation to any young adult aged 16-30, regardless of their religious or non-religious paradigms. The Ignite camp takes place in Northern California, is hosted by Unificationists, has two weeks with open spots in July, and costs $950.

With a desire to bring this training to as many as possible, we encourage participants significantly reduce the cost by signing up with others or by qualifying for a scholarship. For information about transportation, costs, etc. visit nextgentrainings.com. To learn more about Ignite, you can also email admissions@nextgentrainings.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and ask to speak with an admissions consultant.

Ignite and NextGen Trainings are projects of NextGen Academy, a 501c3 non-profit Corporation, which has a new website at nextgenacademy.org