Clare Bronfman

Me

Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.

– His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

For almost nine years I lived like a Gypsy, traveling the world with a small community of people. As a professional show-jumper (equestrian), I had the good fortune to represent the United States many times with my teammates. Together we would travel from country to country to compete, sharing wonderful experiences along the way. We came to rely on each other for success, advice and the sharing of resources. During the course of competition, we succeeded together and failed together; however, the sense of “together” always ended there. At the end of the day, we would go our separate ways—often I wouldn’t even recognize riders if they weren’t wearing their riding attire.

Just over four years ago, I made a decision that drastically changed the course of my life: I retired from the sport of show jumping. I distinctly remember the choice: after the first EM Tech Training™ I was doing drills and practicing my newly learned skills; I had worked with four people and was on my way to the fifth. As I was driving in my car that day, I felt more fulfilled than I had after the most successful victory of my riding career—I realized I had earned the privilege of connecting deeply with other humans, and was able to help change their lives profoundly. In that moment I decided it was time to join a new community.

As I write this, VWeek 2009 is coming to an end. What has been so remarkable to me over the past ten days is our community: we are a group of people from all different walks of life—different cultures, careers, ages—who have come together not because of a common profession or a common activity, but because of a common ideology. We’ve created our community because of a common way we want to be in the world, with each other and with ourselves.

For me, the beauty of our community is how we support one another. We come together based on a mutual value of evolving into a more noble humanity, and through our willingness to show up for ourselves and one another, and utilizing the remarkable tools of Rational Inquiry™, we’re able to help each other blossom.

As I walked out of my room this morning, I encountered a person I have only known for a few days and I experienced a feeling of love. Never in my life did I think I would be able to look at people I barely know and feel a deep sense of love.

This week I’ve pushed through fears to uphold myself, and as I watched others push through their fears, I felt profoundly moved by the beauty of the human spirit; I was in awe of the human struggle. I never thought I would be able to experience such compassion.

I believe the greatest gift one human can give to another is the gift of humanity—the opportunity to see oneself and others as human. What Keith Raniere brings to the world is such a gift.

Growing up on a farm in the English countryside was wonderful – the one rule I remember in our house was to be outside whilst the sun was up! I have fond memories of jumping on my pony bare back in the field, making mud pies, adventuring through the swamp and talking to the fairies in the flower garden! Since my childhood, I have traveled much of the world discovering the cities of Europe, the mountain peaks of Nepal, the forest in Australia and many countries in between. I have stayed in the most luxurious hotels and slept many nights under the stars. All of those adventures on a small farm in the English countryside developed into a world traveler.

I have just completed an eight day training called Family Values, where we explored what it means to be a parent and the responsibility of a parent, and a person in a position of authority. Our childhood shapes our foundation and the decisions we make for the rest of our lives yet there is no PhD, no formal education for parenthood – so how do you prepare? How do you learn to be a good parent? I trust there are certain natural instincts that come alive in a woman once she is pregnant, yet that still does not answer the question of what to do; how to teach, punish, reward, build and nurture a child. Having questioned these things over the last days I have concluded there are no “right” answers to these questions – there is knowing my values, what is right for me – and what I believe is the right for the child and having the mental tools to evaluate based on that. I believe this principle applies to all relationships – it feels like compassion; considering other.

I feel very fortunate for the choices my mother made – whilst they were not always easy for her, and choices I do not think she would have made had she not had children – the effects of her choices laid out a beautiful foundation for me.

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.

Anne Frank

Nelson Mandela

These are the heros of our age; people who are willing to hold their vision of a better world above the opposition of the norm.

- Keith Raniere

I remember watching the “Free Mandela” concert when I lived in England. I did not understand who Nelson Mandela was at the time, but I was amazed at the amount of people that came together in a cry for his freedom. It was a cry for humanity. Throughout his life, Nelson Mandela has exemplified courage and nobility in his endless pursuit for us to treat one another as humans regardless of the color of our skin: To put the fact that we are all human - first.

The transformation of a nation from fear and violence - lead by one man with tremendous courage - is an example to all of us. It changes what is possible for each and every one of us.

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela!

One of the most miraculous things in nature is the ability for a plant to blossom. As the plant is nourished and cared for, it develops into a radiant flower: As it opens its’ awesome beauty is revealed.

It is apropos to celebrate Nancy Salzman’s Birthday as the “Festival of Flowers”. She is an exceptional gardener. Nancy has touched the lives of so many of us, and helped us to blossom.

The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.

- John Ruskin

Countless times she has helped me to be able to uphold myself; to be the kind of person I want to be, and I am one of many!!

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

- Albert Einstein

Eleven years ago two people conceptualized a curriculum that would have an immense impact on the world, and change the course of my life. I am forever grateful.

I remember my first intensive: My goal was to like myself – to develop a relationship with myself, and feel proud of myself.

I remember when I won the Grand Prix of Rome – I had dreamed of winning a major competition since I was a child – it was remarkable…….. for the first hour. As the adrenaline wore off I became fearful – how had I done it? How could I do it again? The weight of expectation set in.

Two years ago I competed in my second ever triathlon, I had been up for the best part of three days working on a video project – yet I was excited for the day ahead! I had trained for the bike and run, yet my swimming abilities were rather weak! Nonetheless, I jumped in the water as the horn blew! The biking was wonderful – always my favorite, I love the intensity of going uphill and the feeling of freedom coming down. When I dropped my bike and set off for the run, my legs felt like jelly; I had three more miles of hills to run!! As we neared the end I allowed my stride to open to give the race everything I had – alas as I rounded the bend I realized there was one hill left!! I pushed up the hill and fought the pain all the way through the finish – I had not won, but I had given it all I could.

In this second story the focus was different; I learned so much about myself through the triathlon, my love for striving, my determination and strength of my will – the result was extraneous from my experience. I felt proud of me.

As my journey continues and I strive to experience and get to know more of myself, I would like to thank Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman for being in my life. What they bring to the world is truly remarkable. Their creation of Executive Success Programs, and now NXIVM, is a wonderful gift for humankind.

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

- Aristotle

Michael Jackson - The early years

Music has evolved in leaps and bounds. Over the years there have been certain iconic figures who have had a tremendous impact of shaping different genres of music; the work of Beethoven lives today through his own music – and also through the music of many great composers who followed him.

Michael Jackson is one of such people. He was known as “The King of Pop”. Around the world he is renowned for his artistic excellence and unique creativity. His music and style has been foundational in many of today’s genres.

From the monasteries in Dharamsala, India to villages in Africa, Michael Jackson is a household name; children around the world can be found in the streets practicing the infamous “moonwalk”. Michael Jackson will live on in all of us; in generations from now I would imagine one will be able to track an aspect of the music of such a time back to the “King of Pop”.

This past weekend I was in Sun Valley, Idaho with my 6 siblings (with an additional 4 in-laws), 23 Nieces and Nephews (with an additional 2 in-laws), 1 great niece and 1 great nephew along with many extended family members and friends to celebrate my fathers’ 80th Birthday. Over 70 people traveled from afar to join in the celebration. This was a rare occasion!!

We came together to pay tribute to my father, who has affected all of our lives greatly - directly or in-directly. Through my relationship with him I have built the desire to strive for excellence, to find within myself the strength to uphold the things I believe to be important and to endeavor to use the wealth and power entrusted to me for the good of humanity.

The things I enjoyed the most were re-connecting with family members, experiencing some of my nieces and nephews for the first time now they are old enough to interact, and hearing the various stories from each generation enabling me to get a better sense of our family. I walk away from the weekend forever transformed.

“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future”

- Alex Haley

Eve Ensler is a woman who has devoted her life to transforming the way that women and young girls are treated and viewed in society. She was made famous for her production of The Vagina Monologues, a ground breaking play which came as a result of Eve interviewing more than 200 women about their lives, bodies, sexual experiences and Vaginas.

In this video Eve talks about our civilisation’s current obsession with Security (and insecurity)- her wise words give you an insight to her wonderful mind, and the nobility of her mission.