Back in October ‘03 I was living a leisurely life in a comfortable house on a desirable property… lovely partner, nice kids, fruit trees… the easy life. Or so it seemed. Gnawing away on the inside was a persistent longing – a deep knowing that something wasn’t right. More so, the consistent consumption of alcohol and coffee was pointing the finger straight at that: why does one need all this stimulation and artificial relaxation if everything is so cool?
Around that time I decided to attend a weekend voice workshop with Chris James. Being a sometime musician myself, and having undergone vocal training, I thought Chris may be able to offer a different perspective on voice… no harm in having a look anyway. Back in those days the workshops had an introductory component on Friday evenings: at this session Chris suggested that those who drink might want to abstain for the weekend, and those who smoke could do likewise. I thought… why not? I had often (in the past) had a program of only drinking on weekends, to good effect. Sadly, those weekends would often get very long, sometimes starting on Thursday night and finishing on Monday night.
So I did… or more accurately, didn’t. Drink that is, for the weekend. That weekend has now ticked just over 10 years – you could call it a l-o-o-o-o-n-g weekend.
Now let me tell you, I was a pretty enthusiastic drinker, from a lineage of very dedicated tipplers… many, many generations long. Irish long. I was introduced to beer by my parents at the age of 5 or 6 – I didn’t like the taste at all, but it sure made me feel like a big man to join the adults at beer o’clock. And like the Irish (they were Irish, a lot of them), everyone drank, so you just joined in. I never knew any different, and never until I was in my twenties thought to try.
For a while there in the ‘psychedelic era’ we would abstain from the drink while expressing hypocritical contempt for ‘juice freaks’ (as we referred to the alcohol drinkers) – who we regarded as ‘violent yobbos’ – so we trashed ourselves with ‘recreational drugs’ instead. Later we graduated to using both at once, and that was horrible, but we weren’t deterred.
Anyway, by the time the workshop came up I was in my 50’s: I was solidly back on the plonk, and off the drugs. At the time of relinquishment I was probably getting through 1.5 cartons of Crown Lager per week, including what I dispensed to guests, plus several bottles of ‘good’ champagne and wine (oh, and the tequila)… and of course the odd one or three with lunch at restaurants etc… let’s say $120 – $130 per week. Serious money. Say $6000 – $6500 per year, and that without any serious entertaining. I told you I was enthusiastic.
My good wife had been telling me for years, decades even, that I ‘wasn’t there’ once I’d had a couple of ales. And as a musician (a bass player, where timing is everything) I had carefully experimented and noticed that by the second drink the precise edge would be lost from my playing.
Well… that was a long way of telling you that I was, quite simply, what used to be known colloquially as a ‘pisspot.’ Doesn’t sound so good, does it? Or look good when it is written down… but that was life, and I never knew any different. Anyway, there is an arithmetical point to this yarn, and it goes like this.
About a year after I tossed in the towel on my drinking career, I was perusing Chris James’ touring schedule one day when I noticed he was soon to be conducting a weekend voice workshop in my boyhood home town, far from here. I have a long time dear friend, also a musician, who lives near there and in days past had quite a ‘spiritual’ bent, so I phoned him and suggested he attend, thinking it may open him to a new direction, as it had for me.
Now this friend did have a bit of a reputation for having some difficulty extracting his wallet from his trousers. Consequently, eschewing the opportunity to enquire about the content of the workshop, or how it may have helped me, he led straight up with
“How much is it?”
“$330 for the weekend” I replied.
He spluttered “I’m not paying that kind of money for a weekend workshop!!!” And so he didn’t…
Three years later I was thinking about all that. Now, I don’t need a mathematician to calculate that my original investment of $330 had not only benefitted me in a multitude of ways (inner and outer) regarding my wellbeing, but was also yielding a saving of $6500/year, or 1969% annual return on the outlay. More than fair, I thought, so I rang my distant friend and told him just that, but he wasn’t impressed. So be it. You can lead a horse to water etc…
In the years since, I have participated in and enjoyed (and regularly been astounded by) many Universal Medicine healing workshops, as well as retreats, massage courses and relationship workshops; I have attended a multitude of discourses and developers’ groups, some of which have required a significant financial outlay, and some none at all. Just ticking up ten years now, that’s $65,000 minimum saved on alcohol – not even allowing for any increase in cost through the years – and I can safely say that my expenditure at Universal Medicine would be no more than one third of that… let’s say $25,000 max., leaving $40,000 profit. On an outlay of $330!
That’s over 12,000% nett profit and rising each year… now THAT’S a healthy return (pun relished). Not to mention the likely liver transplant, the loss of productivity, relationships laid waste by omission and commission, countless hangovers and endless wasted hours observing the rituals and talking utter drivel to anyone who would pretend to listen. The imposition of alcohol-afflicted people on society can barely be overstated.
However, I don’t dream for a moment that giving up drinking was the ultimate answer to my problems. The years have revealed that it was merely the first step to allowing the peeling back of the multitude of layers that I had plastered over my real self – like cheap, thick pancake makeup on a delicate and beautiful face. And only recently am I realising the connection between my addictions and an all-pervasive underlying depression that lay undiagnosed but incessantly active. But that’s another blog…
My heartfelt thanks to Chris James, Serge Benhayon and everyone at Universal Medicine (all my Brother Students) for standing firm in love as I turned this part of my life (lives!?) around: this has allowed me to once again revel in the magic and embody the joy that I once knew so well as a child, but had buried and long forgotten.
Is Universal Medicine value for money?? YOU BET IT IS!!!
PS. Now did I mention how much I used to spend on coffee and chocolate?…
By Andrew Baldwin, Retail Assistant, Byron Bay, Australia
The Truth about Universal Medicine 
Money spent to support our evolution is always, ALWAYS going to pay dividends. Any money spent on escape or relief is money down the drain, spent on something that sells itself as great and beneficial, but is in fact harmful even on a subtle level.
I love that mathematical equation but more so what you gained when feeling more of yourself. What you came to here should be printed by newspapers.
I find the Universal Medicine courses absolutely priceless – there’s no price you can put on a presentation or course that completely changes your whole life – it’s that simple.
Ah! What an amazing article Andrew, we waste so much money on rubbish and yes – money spent on Universal Medicine is more than valuable!
The best investment you can ever make is to live who you truly are. After spending copious amounts of money on drinking, junk food, entertainment, books and spiritual jaunts I can say with authority that Universal Medicine is the greatest investment I have ever made with continual benefits that supports everyone.
It really is sobering when we bring ourselves to see how much investment we are making and ultimately on what and how it often does not add up. We could be rather careless when it comes to expending our life force.
Andrew Baldwin this is a deeply inspiring blog to read. I love the playfulness you write with. The calculations on how much you would have spent on alcohol over the years that you had stopped drinking whilst attending Chris James’ workshop and Universal Medicine presentations, the investment in yourself that started with $330 is the greatest return of profit any one could ever imagine – the return being the returning to be present with you and re-developing your inner relationship with God. Totally awesome. Thank you.
“That’s over 12,000% nett profit and rising each year… now THAT’S a healthy return (pun relished)”.
Choosing a ‘good life’ is choosing a limit to how much we want to evolve and what our lives will revolve around to try to mitigate the tension our decision has generated but named as markers of our seeming acquired freedom.
I wonder why wives can tell husbands Truth but usually it has to be heard somewhere else for it to be really true. The voice within a partnership or marriage of each other matters and are we appreciating each other without the prisons of ideals and beliefs?
Universal Medicine has enriched my life no end, but never from the slant of personal benefit – only ever for the benefit for all.
The outlay of the original cost of $330 for one course that changed your life cannot be value for money enough! The fact that you saved thousands by not consuming alcohol and probably saved your health at the same time, is proof enough that Universal Medicine is a great investment and worth its weight in gold.
One cannot put a price on the return of one’s Soul, for that is the true return for the investment.
Sometimes I haven’t been to events because they have been a stretch financially but the events I have been to, not once have I questioned how much I spent on them. The ROI (return on investment) is significant and clearly felt immediately.
Lovely perspective on time and money well spent Andy. Your point is made so very gently and playfully.
I love the playful and open manner in which this blog was written Andy, and the funny thing is how we as a race of beings complain on a regular basis about how we don’t have enough money for this or that, but we are more than happy to spend that hard-earned cash on a multitude of food and drink that is actually poisonous to our body, not to mention spending it on other things like various boy toys such as boats, guns, hunting equipment, jet skis, motorcycles, etc.- all to many times find an escape or distraction from dealing with our issues and hurts.
What we have received and gained from attending Universal Medicine workshops and courses cannot be measured in monetary terms. Like the author, a lot of money over the years was spent on alcohol, cigarettes, junk food, takeaways, coffee and chocolate, at the expense of our bodies. It’s no wonder the body feels more vital when we take these items out of our diet.
‘Like cheap, thick pancake makeup on a delicate and beautiful face’ – a very apt description of what is truly going on, which many of us may not be willing to admit but nonetheless exists.
I have made many investments over the years, which at the time of making I felt were wise decisions, but in the end, were definitely not. But there is one investment that I have made that has paid the biggest and the most wonderful dividends ever, and that is the investment in my first Universal Medicine workshop. Following that impulse to invest in that workshop, which included a flight from New Zealand, my life has turned around in the most marvellous ways, into a life that I now truly live and absolutely love; it is an investment that keeps on giving and giving.
Fantastic, wholesome reading Andy. Since changing the way I live, the positive difference in my bank account at the end of the month has become VERY noticeable. However what isn’t measured by the bank statement is the feeling or joy and fulfilment that embracing this lifestyle offers. Not to mention the connection and community that comes with it.
We often have a funny idea of value … we will happily in many cases shell out to look after our cars but not our bodies. And as for all those snacks, coffees, chocolate and alcohol … if life is so good why do we need them, and that’s the starting point really to understand and see that we in fact need them and from there we can decide how to go.
Yep definitely a worthwhile investment Andrew… I love this! It’s so funny how we can quite easily spend copious amounts of money on things that deteriorate our health, wellbeing and relationships, and yet when something comes our way that supports us to return to our natural, vital, amazing selves we make it about the money. The way you live your life now and your sums really show what an awesome decision you made.
Every time I invest in a loving choice for myself I am paid back twofold and am more loving in my interactions with others.
Great investment. We all have the choice as to whether we spend our money on supporting ourselves or on things that help us to get through life.
And what an absolute joy it is to have you back in full, Andrew. It is worth celebrating when any one of us make those first priceless steps back to the love that we naturally are. . . celebrating with our hearts rather than with a drink that is. And now it has been another 4 years since this blog has been written and the savings keep adding up!
Beautifully said Kathleen, as you would know best how this amazing man has changed and evolved.
Absolutely Anna, and I can vouch that this man keeps going from strength to strength as he surrenders and deepens to become more of who he truly is . . . more tender and loving each and every day.
When we spend money and time to the benefit of the all and with that I mean not only for me personally or my family but from a wider perspective that all that we do can either bring harm or healing to all of humanity, investment to me gets a complete different meaning from the meaning that generally is practised.
Different but similar – I remember telling some people that I had spent £500 on a full health check. They were flabbergasted. Ironic considering that their lifestyle choices would almost certainly end up costing them or the national health services at least 1000% that over their lifetime!
Such a brilliant blog. And something that I can absolutely relate to. I was talking with my kids the other day and we were discussing our weekly food budget and the money that I now spend on quality products like lamb and fish that make the cost of our meals above average. But then I added in the savings on alcohol and cigarettes and coffee and chocolate and everything else….and the savings came pouring onto the spreadsheet!
Love the cheeky, sassy way you walk us through your previous way of living, Andrew. No judgement, no regrets, just a very truthful and humorous summation of the way your life was running. And the raw honesty that giving up drinking was merely ‘the first step to allowing the peeling back of the multitude of layers that I had plastered over my real self – like cheap, thick pancake makeup on a delicate and beautiful face.’ To feel the way you have returned to revelling in the magic and embodying the joy that you once knew so well as a child is a real blessing.
I have often been criticised for spending money on courses with Universal Medicine and yet to me they are invaluable. They allow an opportunity to deepen our connection with soul that can enlighten all areas of our lives and bring a felt quality and possible markers to our body, but I have never done calculations like yours. This is fun and yet at the same time so indicative of what is really going on.
Can you put a price on knowing who you are and feeling content, settled, committed, knowing your purpose and being ready for anything in life? What is taught in these workshops is priceless.
I love your down to earth honest expression Andy, and what a gold mine you have come to receive for your initial investment, that is finding the true you. Just beautiful .
Universal Medicine is the BEST investment ever. Like you we have saved huge amounts on our lifestyle. Our health and vitality has also improved out of sight and we are massively more productive in our business. But what is priceless is the joy and love that we now have in our life and as it happens what we actually pay on a monetary level to attend events is way less than what we save – but even if it were not you could not put a price on the benefits.
“Is Universal Medicine value for money?? YOU BET IT IS!!!” And there is no gambling with the truth of Universal Medicine, it just is.
Haha, and what a great blog and that’s a super saving. I would hate to see, and while at the same time love to see, my ‘investment’ in alcohol over the years which never made sense. I mean you drank, got drunk, didn’t remember and then woke up feeling awful and only recalling parts of the night or sometimes day. I remember saying it didn’t make sense and at that point because no one agreed I just kept going about my drinking. I had voiced many times how it was going to have an endpoint and sure enough a little time prior to attending my first Universal Medicine event I decided enough was enough and I stopped drinking. The single most defining factor for me to no longer drink was the fact that it just didn’t make any sense and I didn’t like the way it made me feel.
That makes a lot of sense Ray. Strange how many things we do or have done that don’t make sense – that doesn’t make sense!
Haha and yes I agree and it’s almost like we are speaking about something external not making sense except that it’s going on inside your very own body. How can something that clearly for so long didn’t make sense go on not only under your very nose but inside your own body, I mean we do it to ourselves? It shows there is something else at play, some other influence and point directly to energy and the way we align to it. I didn’t give up alcohol, from the quality I started to take care of myself in my awareness grew and it no longer made sense to drink it. It was like I woke up to what I was doing and then looked back and couldn’t believe it happened for so long.
This is the key to it Ray and Nicola. I didn’t “give up” alcohol in the traditional sense, I felt and decided that I no longer wanted to feel like the way it made me feel and thus it was a natural decision. This may seem like semantics but is actually a very important distinction to make. People always praise my will power or resolve (around not drinking or not eating certain foods) and I always correct them – its got nothing to do with will power because I don’t actually want them, I don’t want to feel how I would feel if I consumed them, so it’s an incredibly easy choice and thus has nothing to do with will power.
Well said Ray and Otto. Speaking of making distinctions, strangely enough when I was younger just because something felt awful like a hangover that didn’t make me stop as there was a certain level of awful that was normal for me or better than whatever emotion I was trying not to feel. What changed was when I started to feel so great and then didn’t want to lose that by poisoning myself. So once I connected to how clean, clear and healthier I felt not drinking alcohol for example then it was why would I choose to feel yukky when I can feel this great.
For many the spend on alcohol consumption is part of what is perceived as the necessity of life – the money that needs to be spent to avoid the loneliness they feel and want to push at bay. Our entire entertainment industry is built around this desperate push to have this empty gaping loneliness feeling out of one’s sight.
But all along, the answer to that loneliness is the investment to the inner part of us, nurturing this inner warmth and bringing focus to this as opposed to the fleeting outer world that will come and go in highs and lows. That investment is priceless.
I just love your writing Andrew, it’s absolutely brilliant. It inspires me to bring out the sass and joy that I now live every day even more.
I love this Andrew – it’s super simple maths – we have two choices when it comes to spending money – we either spend it on things that will harm us and keep us stagnated in the same spot or we spend it on things that a) truly support us and b) help us to continually grow and build a life that is of amazing quality… It’s just a simple choice of what do we really want in our lives.
Universal Medicine is more than value for money, it teaches you what values are – Living values is what inspires true change instead of what we commonly have “The imposition of alcohol-afflicted people on society can barely be overstated.”
I LOVE this blog for all the reasons everyone has mentioned above and more. I LOVE this blog because it is real and it is true and the man who stands before me today is the same man I fell in love with 40 odd years ago minus the protection. And every single day I get to witness even more of who this beautiful, tender man truly is. What a bonus! All from a $330 layout!
This is a brilliant summary Andy of the amount of money we can spend on distracting ourselves and keeping ourselves numb and never really questioning it. If only the same amount of time, energy and money was put towards investing in our evolution and healing we would be pleasantly surprised to see the return on our investment brings so much joy and love into our lives.
When you accept that there is a world of energy and start to feel in your body, the criteria you use to evaluate how do you spend money and the return you get from it changes quite dramatically… for the best.
It is interesting to ponder on what investment truly is. As to me investment still comes from the idea that an investment must give a return, mostly personally, may it be money or other personal gain. So this is money or time spent to make yourself better either by the recognition or the amount of money you will gain from it. But what if we just spend our time and money wisely, and with wisely I mean without any need for an outcome or return, but just to support and serve the all that may become more by expansion because that is how the universe works? Would we then still call it an investment, or are we just part of a grander whole working in harmony with it?
Love this Andy. When we add up our sums in this way and visibly see how much money we throw at keeping ourselves entertained, whether its with alcohol, smoking, drugs, TV or Cinema, shopping, food etc etc (the list is endless), against what one person may spend on going to Universal Medicine events where they get to appreciate themselves in a way they never have before and to do some true deep healing, there is absolutely nothing to compare. In fact I would say attending a Universal Medicine course or workshop is one of the wisest ‘investments’ that anyone could ever make in their life.
Stunning Andrew, love the calculations and really love this comment… “The years have revealed that it was merely the first step to allowing the peeling back of the multitude of layers that I had plastered over my real self – like cheap, thick pancake makeup on a delicate and beautiful face. ” Such honesty and depth to that statement… and yes such a delicate and beautiful face you show us now.
Every time read this blog it makes me cry, the last line for some reason is what triggers it, about the coffee and the chocolate, it makes me smile and cry and the same time. I am so grateful to have my father back, to have his bright face, to know that my children will have a Pappa that is very engaging and not preoccupied with his addictions, to have a Dad that is enthusiastic about life and not just about drinking. This investment benefited more than one but many in the ripple effect.
What I love about this is that you only thought you would give it a go just for a weekend, and that ‘weekend’ has not quite ended after 10 years. This really confirms the power of a true choice, the timelessness of a moment, really – how it defies the confinement of perceived time frame, a choice that would lead to the next choice and the next, and the next. How ironic then when we set out to give up something or introduce a new routine thinking that is for a life time we often fail miserably.
It is interesting that in most cases the language of money speaks loudly, often more loudly than ill health or indulging in distracting activities. Reading your blog I can see the value for money but I also feel certain that how you are feeling in your body right now after making different choices, means there is no amount of money that would change the path of self care and self love you are now choosing.
Oh, and I didn’t count up the financial savings – they are indeed huge! And the cost of attending a presentation with Universal Medicine? With so much accessible for just a few dollars, I have seen nothing to compare either in quality, value and integrity anywhere else on the planet.
This is an outfit dedicated in full to serving humanity, and every aspect of its organisational framework reflects this in full – again, outstanding beyond measure and well worthy of extensive study and review in itself as to how this is possible.
1000% concur Victoria. The financial is only a fraction of the picture, but if we were to keep it that reductive we would still see the astonishing value that Universal Medicine is. A simple spreadsheet detailing the money that I now don’t spend on so many things, compared with the cost of attending these deeply supportive workshops, would show a profit/loss balance that any company would go crazy for!
I’ve also stepped away from alcohol consumption completely Andrew, and yes, the coffee, the chocolate… In fact, the weekly shopping list is today exceedingly simple.
Do I feel better for it? OMG, immensely and powerfully so… And I also put all of this down to the direct inspiration to actually honour myself in full (or at least embark upon the path to doing so), from attending workshops, presentations and courses with Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine, and yes, also some with the amazing Chris James along the way.
One simply cannot put a price upon what is in fact priceless – our connection and communion with ourselves, and the absolute Joy that can be known with consistency in our everyday lives, when we actually say ‘yes’ to honouring ourselves, and realise that the myriad of ‘escape tactics’ explored (alcohol and the rest…) never brought one iota of such richness at all…
I love your calculation here Andrew, it is so very true. We invest in so many things especially our addictions and spend thousands of dollars in the year without questioning it once, but when it comes to our health we turn every coin and question whether it is worth it.
I agree Universal Medicine is the best investment I have made in lifetimes – the returns are out of this world.
Awesome sharing Andy. It is interesting how when it comes to splurging or spending money on things that indulge us we often don’t think twice but when it comes to spending money on things that support us we often hesitate- that is something to ponder on. How it is not as easy an investment.
Coffee, food and alcohol (just to mention a few), are often taken as part of the ‘joie de vivre’ or the ‘savoir vivre’. They are another indicator of how much one knows how to live enjoying the pleasures of life. As images, they are perfect at conveying everything about a great life. And yet, this is all false. We need a true and thorough discussion on well-being that will allow us to call out the images of it that are not true and that poison the human body when we engage with them.
If by the second drink a person’s precision and timing is out from playing the base guitar – then what is the repercussions and ripple effect with the flow and timing with everyone and everything else around them?
Really lovely and inspiring to read Andrew; thank you for sharing your experiences and your wisdom. What a transformation you made after making the choice between a weekend with Serge Benhayon or a weekend with your old self.
Can’t argue with that! If it were just about the bottom line (which it so isn’t but it’s interesting how this is so often where the arguments against start) Universal Medicine is incredible value for money and the greatest investment I have ever made. Ever.
‘like cheap, thick pancake makeup on a delicate and beautiful face.’ What a great way to describe the layers we (mis)use to not be our true self.
It’s so true – we don’t care how much we spend on stuff that DOESN’T support us or our evolution, but when it comes to spending money on things that will actually support us we count every penny – it doesn’t make sense. Why not only buy things or use money for things that we know will support us to move forwards and genuinely care for ourselves?
I too used to have what I considered to be a good social life, alcohol was always involved and it often turned into a long night. Now I choose not to drink alcohol, my life has changed because I am fully aware of everything that goes on, and my fellow guests and friends also now choose not to drink, we have a fab joyful time no hangover and my life as a whole has changed too. All thanks to the presentations by Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon, who are worth every penny I have ever spent, and my bank balance is in a better state than it ever was before.
We can have such a skewed relationship with good value and our health. I have yet to have a full health check up, and yet it would be so valuable. There is always the option to take our health to the next level, even if we consider we are doing well, and I have found that Universal Medicine is the perfect platform to support such changes. It has given me a whole new perspective on wellbeing, one that consider more than just obvious health parameters, but also the ability to connect and express, ultimately a very sound investment.
The general attitude of weekends is time off, time out, time for me. Yet it is the opposite of this, full commitment and purpose that totally nourishes my whole body and being.
Andrew, great to read about the turnaround in your life. I have also turned my life around, having been inspired to stop drinking alcohol and now living with self-love and appreciation for myself and that’s as well as now being committed to life and work and people, so yes definitely worth the investment in the Universal Medicine courses that I attended.
Attending Universal Medicine courses, workshops and events have been a wise investment for me too. I now work full time, I took myself overseas for the first time in over 10 years last year (because I couldn’t afford it, not working full time) and I spend my money much more wisely. Darn right Andrew a great investment indeed.
I love your playful and lighthearted approach here Andrew, I agree with you that people often resist doing a workshop due to the initial outlay of a few hundred dollars or so forgetting that this is a true investment that has the potential to save you thousands long term and to improve your health and well-being enormously.
It really brings it home how much money has been saved when you write it down, and that the changes to every aspect of your life far out weighs any money which has been used to attend Universal Medicine courses. You only have to attend a one day event at Universal Medicine course or an evening at one of Chris James’s sing alongs to know that it is money well spent.
Absolutely Julie! If we look at the energetic cost to our body of living in protection, running ourselves on emotions, and treating ourselves with disregard and abuse, then we would also be blown away by the impact of that cost.
Thank you Andrew for such a joyful and honest read, amazing the changes you have made after one loong weekend, with the continual peeling away of the what is not you to reveal a deeply tender and loving you, just beautiful.
I can so relate to how you have put you not drinking as a very looooong weekend. For me it has been very similar: one day, I just didn’t feel like smoking or drinking and I have not wanted to do so ever since. It didn’t come with a determination of ‘I will never…’ I had no intention of giving them up. I just haven’t felt like it, and it’s been 12 years. I just feel like a different person all together.
And what is more, paying for a Universal Medicine or Chris James workshop or in fact anything that is truly loving and supportive of ourselves is a payment towards evolution. This is in contrast to the payment we can make for something loveless and abusive such as drugs or alcohol which is a payment towards involution (anit-evolution). The difference is HUGE.
10 years and still going and growing richer and richer each day – in my book that’s a hell of a bang for your buck Andy.
If I add up the figures for my outlay over the years I could get a balance in dollars and cents. But the true balance that has returned to my life is not able to be calculated in finiancial terms, I feel the childhood joy, the love of life, a clarity and awareness that was not there before is back, I could go on and on but the best thing of all is I now know me, and have filled the empty missing feeling I always had, knowing there was more to this life and there is …. and my investment in me has returned gold.
Absolutely a pleasure and joy to read your story Andrew!
We don’t consider the amount of money that is spent on alcohol, but what you show here is quite staggering Andrew. I have also noticed that quite a few people that drink alcohol also smoke and with the price of cigarettes around £9 or £10 this is a lot of money society is contributing towards an unhealthy body that will require doctors or hospital treatment in their later years. Imagine if this money was put towards keeping yourself healthy as you have done Andrew, the rewards are far greater in terms of a healthy body than they are for what is seen at the time as pleasure, but in reality is just an opportunity to check out and numb ourselves from not wanting to see and feel what is truly going on in our lives..
Yes Andy I have to agree . . . “The years have revealed that it was merely the first step to allowing the peeling back of the multitude of layers that I had plastered over my real self – like cheap, thick pancake makeup on a delicate and beautiful face.” And what a beautiful and truly delicate face you have! I am so blessed to have been able to witness this ‘peeling’ as this is another 2 years down the track and more and more gold is getting uncovered.
I simply return to this blog because I find it such a joy to read and every time I get to the last line I cry, I don’t know why and its usually only one tear. I really want to hear the next blog, you have such a sensational writing style and I think I speak for everyone when I say, we want more of Andy Baldwin’s blogs everywhere, they are just too good!
I have to agree Sarah . . . ” we want more of Andy Baldwin’s blogs everywhere, they are just too good!
Just gorgeous to read Andrew, thank you and loved your humour and calculations. Your money well spent on workshops have brought amazing returns both universal and eternal to your life.
Totally true. Investing money in Universal Medicine is the best investment ever. It is investing deeply in ourselves. What we get in return to the money is simply out of this world to the benefit of everybody.
Andrew, I love your spunk and humour which comes through so beautifully when you write! And yes I could not agree more that Universal Medicine certainly is good value for money! Any money spent on a Universal Medicine workshop to support ones own growth and self love is money well spent!
Andrew on re reading your blog tonight, which I found as fun to read as the first time, l considered my return on investment from participating in Universal Medicine Workshops. Money saved in no longer needing to purchase asthma and sinus medication for one. But the biggest return on investment is how much I am engaged in life, all from a steady confidence that I now have.
The tension in my body knowing there was more to life than what was in front of me has been constant throughout my life. I simply wasn’t willing to acknowledge it. It’s not that I am ungrateful or don’t appreciate what I have but I can always tell myself that I have a roof over my head, food, clothes, a nice car etc but all of these and more doesn’t solve the tension inside me when I feel there is more to unfold.
Andrew this is phenomenal, brilliant and absolute, real matter for us to know about – this is HUGE BENEFITS. In every way, healthy. Gosh, I love it, I love how simply this business, Universal Medicine, indeed brings what its name is (universal medicine) – now that is new to market! Bringing something truly to mankind as presented.
I love this blog! Some of the best writing ever — it inspires me to write and I want to read more from you Andrew, your writing is amazing. No other way to put it.
I have always liked to make sure what I am spending my money on is worth its value, and recentlyI have started to apply the same on my food choices – that the food I buy is what nurtures me, and the reward I am getting is just amazing. It was a surprisingly quick return, too. I am really appreciating the fact that what we invest in is what we get.
“$65,000 minimum saved on alcohol” is quite a staggering sum, and yes the money would have been most welcome back in your pocket, but for me most importantly, was that you had saved your body so much pain and suffering by not pouring $65,000 worth of alcohol down your throat. One delighted body and one growing bank account; a great result all round. And then there was the saving on the coffee and the chocolate still to be calculated! Wow Andrew, you have certainly stated a strong case for Universal Medicine, and Chris James, being a “good investment”. And I absolutely concur!
“Is Universal Medicine value for money?? YOU BET IT IS!!!” The value of all that Universal Medicine offers is incalculable. Nearly everything else in life is money down the drain, literally. The joy of reconnecting to who you truly are is priceless.
This is just super dupper impressive. Wow Andrew thanks for beeing so honest and not holding back a tiny little bit. Yes every money spent to allow one to come back to this joyfull child that we all have inside is absolutely more than worth it.
I cried on my reread of this incredible article, your writing speaks to a global audience and the same time as warmly resonating with a deep inner knowing within me personally. I love your humour and intelligence and your mathematical prospective. I only really have one comment for you though and that is Where is your CHOCOLATE and COFFEE quitting blog? I want more!
There is a grand return in the courses of Universal Medicines. What you write here is great proof of that. That savings you’ve made on changing your diet alone is incredible and then taking into account the improvement in health, the raise in productivity and the absolute connection with ourselves.
Andrew I really love this humorous look at the monetary cost of our addictions. I can recall wondering how one could afford to keep going to workshops, as I noticed people repeating them again and again, but to my amazement the money was not a problem after all. Since my income was consistent the spare cash must have come from the money saved that would otherwise have been spent on alcohol, a vast array of treats, bought lunches, self-help books etc. The simple act of making myself a beautiful nutritious lunch each day not only served my health but also my wallet. Every dollar spent on courses or treatments with Universal Medicine (and Chris James) has been an investment that has rewarded me beyond financial calculation.
Just re read and re lived my past life pre- Universal Medicine revisiting this blog. That was a place I never wish to return to! This is a great piece of writing Andrew. . . we look forward to your blog on depression as your writing and expression is s-o-o-o-o-o accessible to all.
Sometimes financial figures are talked about as ‘cold hard facts’, but that is not the case in this blog by Andrew Baldwin, who has brought to light and to life the real return that we all get by investing our time in to true evolution.
The figures indeed expose an incredible investment, but what makes that so worth it, is the peeling back of the layers that we take on ourselves to eventually reveal the true us within. Priceless even.
I love your light-heartedness –in regards a very serious matter; it is incredible how much money we can waste on alcohol, drugs and all the other stuff that is just there to fill the gaping holes of our discontent and unease.
And now to see such an amazingly beautiful and clear man, who plays his bass with such clarity and joy, and also offers continual help with his amazing command of the English language… whatever Andrew is doing it has turned his life around for the benefit of all.
Thank you Andy for sharing your story in such a playful and honest way. It seems that addiction has no consideration of the costs involved in maintaining a habit, at any cost. But mention spending money on something that is health giving to the body and they refuse to. Universal Medicine is more than great value for money, it is showing us the value of who we truly are.
Andrew, thank you this is a great way of looking at your investment in Universal Medicine and how you have made more loving and healthier choices for yourself and your family. I loved your playfulness at the end ‘PS. Now did I mention how much I used to spend on coffee and chocolate?…’ It is a lovely reflection of the joy that you are.
It’s quite absurd that the majority of people on earth (my self included) will spend their hard earned money on items that serve only the purpose of self-abuse, numbing, stimulation or distraction without any argument or hesitation. Yet, talk about medicine, good and true medicine, even health supplements or something that will support the body and our life and we have a whinge about the costs. It seems very backwards if you ask me. Glad Andy has sorted it out and can inspire others to look at where their money is going, as I have been.
‘The returns on investment to self care are infinite and certainly pay the most valuable dividends.’ So true whilst the monetary investment has been well worth it, it has been learning how to truly care for myself that has has the biggest impact on me and my contribution to society.
Universal Medicine is undoubtedly a good investment – in ourselves. How to put a price on that? Love how lightly you have approached this and it is so true that so many are prepared to pay out ever increasing sums to numb ourselves to not feel that hurts they are trying to hide from. Once we make the choice to invest in ourselves and peel back the layers so many expensive habits drop away and commitment to life increases which has enormous value reflected in our relationships and society in general.
Andrew this is a great blog, your question. “Is Universal Medicine a Good Investment?” Without hesitation an absolute Yes! In investment terms this is an investment that has given me the best return, and continues to do so, because it has brought me back to knowing my essence.
Great point Sally, the returns I have received from Universal Medicine over the years have been life changing and allowed me to live more of the true me, it is certainly worth the investment.
A gem of a blog – thanks Andrew. Your writing style makes it so easy and enjoyable to read. What I took from it is how much we invest in our ideals and beliefs to support us to stay the same and not change. How we are able to live like turtles and just poke our head out sometimes and then safely retreat back into our shells if we don’t like what we see/feel. Yet just as you have shown Andrew, once we are prepared to take a risk and be vulnerable in stepping back and taking an honest look at ourselves, we discover that there is much more going on in ourselves than the narrow perceptions we have been fearfully clinging onto. Yes, it’s an endless process but one certainly worth the investment.
I agree Rosemary, I love how Andrew infused this subject and blog with fun and lightness.
What a great blog Andrew clearly showing how much money can easily be spent on substances that actually poison and harm our body. In contrast, what a great investment spending money on some Universal Medicine courses was in so many ways.
Andrew – this is a great blog. I had a chuckle at the end when you said – ‘now what about the coffee and chocolate?’. The impact of these foods are sinister in that the benefits of giving them up are hidden under the many layers of raciness and numbness they have produced by their consumption. The addiction to the taste and altering effects of their initial consumption are enticing and totally separate a person from who they truly are. So fantastic to have you back and the light you bring to those around you and the world
Is Universal Medicine value for money? Absolutely!!
There have been some complimentary presentations I have attended too that have blown me away! What is being shared on stage by some remarkable and inspiring people is so profound that I often think many WOULD pay big bucks to hear and reconnect to this wisdom. The service UM offers is second to NONE.
Beautifully said Rachael and I absolutely agree, what Universal Medicine offers is value for money. Thousands of people’s lives have turnaround in amazing ways since meeting Serge Benhayon, many have returned to full-time work, truly healed their illness’s and conditions and living a life that is joyful, more vital and their relationships have become more loving and true. I do not know of any organisation in the world that truly supports and inspires people like Universal Medicine does.
Here here Anna – I know from experience that many avenues of self-help or self-devlopment make all the promises in the world to satisfy our lusts for something more to life. Universal Medicine never promises anything, there is no discussion like that at all, what is presented is on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis and it is up to us to feel the truth of what is being shared. I no longer seek for myself, I simply let myself be because I have learnt that I am enough and have it all within.
Ha! What a great blog Andrew – and no less than a miraculous turn around in life. To have the courage to step out of the darkness that ran your addictions and come back to the light you know we are all from, is very inspiring and just proves that we all have this capability within. We are never too far gone to return to where we came from.
Love the humour and joy in which you share your journey with us Andrew. Reading this today I’ve reflected that if I’d gone a different route other than attending the most amazing, life changing workshops/presentations with Chris James, Serge Benhayon/Universal Medicine would I be sitting here in deep appreciation and joy for the gift of life and those around me. Most probably not as I would still be living in a mind ‘numbing’ way and not taking responsibility for any of my choices. Now how can a price be put on that?
I love this post Andrew. So real and of course fun! Doing the maths gives us a super clear picture of the benefits you’ve gained from choosing another way.
Yes Elodie, not only has Andrew’s wallet enjoyed the change, but I can feel the Joy and appreciation in his body too – Now that is good medicine!
Great blog Andrew Baldwin, spelling out how much we can spend on substances that are actually keeping us away from a healthy and truly fulfilling life.
A great blog that reflected to me the skewered view we have of what is expensive and what is not. I have had many nights out in the past that would cost me the outlay and then the resultant ill health, so a double whammy of bad investment, on the contrary investing in something that supports our wellbeing is a multiple good investment as the ripple effect of the choice and the output brings back to me so much that is positive. It proves to me it is never really about the money but about the choice to choose good health.
So true Stephen. You’re point about our perception of what is expensive is so bang on. It’s amazing how easily we find money for things that purely have no positive purpose for us.
Agreed Stephen. It’s easy to look at an initial outlay as if to say that’s the be all and end all in terms of whether something is value for money or not. I can say that like Andrew, I have saved a considerable amount of money since starting to attend Universal Medicine presentations and changing my lifestyle. The real benefit is how I feel now compared to how I was living my life 10 years ago and life just keeps getting richer. Now that is definitely something worth investing in!
Love it Andrew. When we truly invest in ourselves the dividends can have an extraordinary effect not only for our own lives but cause a ripple effect that can subsidise others with equally profoundness and inspiration until they too can commit to investing in themselves.
Lives, money and relationships saved and not only saved but truly blossoming. This is a great sharing Andrew and fun to boot.
This is required reading for all who choose not to look at these addictions and feel they cannot do it, it’s too hard. We can all learn from each others experiences, and seeing the joy you have brought into your life and the lives of others since then, with your music, is amazing! Thank you Andy.
I loved this blog the first time I read it Andrew and I found ,more to love on the second time around ! We are fortunate to have Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine in or midst here, and for that I am very grateful and could not put a price on it! Thank you for a great sharing Andrew.
It was a very welcome return to your delightful blog today Andrew and you had me smiling and nodding in agreement all over again. And this time I particularly loved the reference to the layers of pancake makeup, the masks that we all wear at some time in our lives; the “makeup” that if we don’t peel off at times, just gets thicker and thicker and our “beautiful and delicate faces”, as well as every part of the delicate and beautiful us, simply gets buried deeper and deeper under the layers. So has making the investment to attend Universal Medicine events and workshops been a good investment? It’s been more than good; it’s been the best return on any money that I have ever spent!
The work and presentations of Serge Benhayon and Chris James are priceless – you can’t express this in money. Both are great role models for integrity, love and joy.
Is Universal Medicine value for money?? YOU BET IT IS!!! Absolutely Andrew it is the best investment I have made in my life and will continue to do so because I know that it has brought me more joy than I have had in my life prior to Universal Medicine. To me it unravels all the questions I had about life, why we are here, whey do we have illness and disease, why do children get sick that no one was able to answer. All the top scientists in the world all have theories but no one can deliver the absolute truth that we know in our hearts like Serge Benhayon and for me this is priceless.
I know what you mean Natalie. I was doing my budget a couple of months ago and I stopped and pondered on how much money I should allocate to medical appointments. I ended up allocating enough money for 2 visits per year. I never get severely sick like I used to when I drank and consumed huge amounts of chocolate and soft drink.
Taking the first step towards change can seem expensive at the beginning because it is all new to you. If you continue on with your self development you will soon see the rewards of your commitment. Everything becomes more enriched and the savings are endless, and the UniMed courses are worth every cent if not more.
Great blog with a serious message about the return on investment to be gained when we finally decide to take responsibility for our choices, our bodies and our actions. Universal Medicine consistently yields the kind of life-enhancing results that you just can’t put a price on.
I love the humour and playfulness in this blog Andy. Your initial layout of $330 for a weekend was money well spent and benefited not only you but also your whole family. The cost of the alcohol is one thing but the cost as a drinker to your health and well-being is huge and impacts the family enormously. The loving changes you have made in your life are very inspiring – and this all began with you being open to the truth and discovering your inner joy.
Absolutely awesome blog Andy! It can come as a shock to us when we record how much money we spend on things that do not actually support us. I love how you have exposed this for us all – and love your sense of humour….I was never a big drinker, but I was a big chocolate eater – I might have to work out how much money I lost in that pursuit…ouch!
I was a chocolate eater AND a drinker… but I didn’t measure the chocolate eating in dollars, I measured it in teeth, by the cavity.
Oh… that’s big dollars too!!
And I’m still paying.
Sometimes the cost doesn’t come from your wallet but from your body. Either way you still pay the price, and it ends up costing you more than your annual expenditure on chocolate or alcohol.
Ha Ha – yes cavities do equal dollars too! Not to mention the ravaging effects on the nervous system from the caffeine and the sugar in the chocolate and how the dairy dulls you out too! Wow – the things we do to ourselves and worse yet convince ourselves that it is a treat!?
Yes, it is great to have some figures like this on how we can willingly spend money on things that are harmful and do not support us, and, as seen with your friend we can be reluctant to invest in more loving support.
Spot on Lorraine, and I would add that there is first the willingness to be blind or unawares of what we are doing that actually harms us so. For if we allowed ourselves to be totally aware, then we would be so much less likely to choose to go down that path. I say less likely but the choice is still there, for all of us, all of the time, including the choice to be aware or not!
Very funny Andrew, and an amazing perspective on just how much money we willingly, enthusiastically, addictively pour down the drain hellbent on harming and destroying ourselves, and as this is the ‘norm’ it is hardly questioned. Life has transformed in every way since attending the first presentation of a Universal Medicine workshop, and it just keeps getting grander. Priceless.
Not only is Universal Medicine value for money, its evolutionary.
Thank you Andrew.
“the first step to allowing the peeling back of the multitude of layers that I had plastered over my real self – like cheap, thick pancake makeup on a delicate and beautiful face.”
Your blog feels really freeing, how awesome your awareness of your delicateness and beauty that is there inside awaiting expression, it was great to read your words.
Those stats are huge and completely woven in to the fabric of our society as an expected part of working life. So far removed are we from vitality that non- productivity is factored into workforce budgets as par for the course. The course is way off and in order for us to return we have to choose a very different way. Perhaps it is time we all invested in Love?
Perhaps we invested in Love? Oh Lee, that is a great investment. Write to all the Financial Magazines and Papers and ask them to put it on the Front Page. Yes please.
Awesome sharing Andrew – Our biggest investment I feel is to appreciate who we truly are – and that is priceless but, to get to that point I invested in a workshop which led to me meeting Chris James, Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon. Life as I know it today would otherwise be a very different story. As you share Andrew how you turned your life around “to once again revel in the magic and embody the joy that I once knew so well as a child”. Priceless. Thank you.
I can only agree Andrew, Universal Medicine workshops are worth every cent – the best investment one can make to improve his self-care and loving choices, which leads to a more vital state of being.
Oh man! What a great blog!
The light, fun and playfulness you write with brings such simplicity and nails the absurdity of the social norm of drinking, and offers such a great insight to what an astounding alternate investment is available.
I know what I’m going to put my money on!
Thanks Andrew.
Wow what a saving, when you do the maths, it was much more than money that was saved. It was your life. And how much is that worth. To actually have it back and to be enjoying it by being present and showing up. I see how much your life has improved and the absolute joy in which you live it now in.
Going to the courses run by Serge Benhayon has been absolutely awesome in the true sense of that word. Before I found the way of the livingness I often felt desolate and deeply unhappy even though my life was full of beautiful family and friends. Now I never feel like that and I appreciate my beautiful family and friends so much more because I am fully present. Thank you for this blog Andrew. We were so fooled by the numbing effects of alcohol but not anymore.
Love your figures Andy – jaw dropping in fact. That plus a repeated dose of pancake makeup layer removal leaving you revelling in magic and joy, makes the $330 a total bargain of an investment in you.
Universal Medicine is the best investment anyone can make if they would like to experience more joy and harmony in their relationships, work or their own bodies and wellbeing. The benefits received are absolutely priceless.
Totally agree. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns once we start to uncover what’s really going on. The willingness to discover more of who we naturally are, underneath all the rubbish we’ve used as protection, is well worth the effort and dare I say very very freeing.
I agree Francisco. Universal Medicine is the best investment I will ever make. I immediately knew I was on to a good thing and haven’t looked back. The investment keeps on paying amazing returns and I know this will never stop.
Absolutely Vicky, Universal Medicine is the best investment I have ever made and I ever will make. The returns are phenomenal and these are ongoing. The benefits go far beyond just self.
Is Universal Medicine value for money? Each and every event I attend, whether it be free of a significant financial investment is life changing. That’s right, each and every one offers me potentially life changing revelations – if i choose to accept and act upon them. You can’t put a price on that!
You’re absolutely right katemoroney1, you cannot put a price on your health, your vitality and your general well being. Investing in yourself as Andrew, you, I and many others have done, is not only an investment in such a priceless commodity – us – it is an opportunity to make a change in the quality of our overall way of living.
I had so much fun to read your blog Andrew. What a change you did – not to mention the amount of money you safe. Thank you for sharing this exquisite experience.
This is brilliant, Andrew. Some years ago, when I was not ready to commit to the teachings Universal Medicine presented I used to say I didn’t have money to do their courses – even though I was travelling overseas to attend other kind of courses and workshops. Your blog is very funny, but makes me ponder on what ‘investment’ truly is – that is what I choose to align to, what I choose to put my energy into, and more often than not this being translated into a very obvious form of money.
“The imposition of alcohol-afflicted people on society can barely be overstated” – so true and it seems to be getting worse by the day as is violent behaviour, fuelled by alcohol, ever increasing and escalating.
Andrew this is a superb piece of writing that I felt every cell in my body come alive to, thank you. I’m going looking for your next blog now…
This was a joy to read Andrew. Your transformation is very inspiring. What an amazing turnaround and a truly health return (pun also intended) you are now experiencing from the loving choices you now make. And feeling how much more of you is being lived and shared with your family and others is so beautiful and absolutely priceless.
I so loved reading your blog again Andrew. I really enjoy the fun you bring.
“Is Universal Medicine value for money?? YOU BET IT IS!!!” Value for money – and some.
Thank you Andrew I truly enjoyed reading your blog, your style of writing and expression. It was great to learn about your life and how even though your friend didn’t come along, you chose your own way regardless. It always amazes me the money people save from making more loving choices, and like you say, the return is priceless; all that is presented through Universal Medicine. I could only image the money I have saved this time around, by not ever buying any alcohol, getting into sugar or chocolate, by the blessing of choosing to be a part of Universal Medicine since a teenager.
Yes, it was amazing to see how much money Andrew saved simply by making some loving choices, and as you say Arianne by choosing to invest in Universal Medicine the returns are indeed priceless.
Imagine having this conversation in the middle of a party where most of the money that had been invested in the event was in honour of providing a space for people to self-abuse and distract themselves in some way. I can’t imagine you would be very popular for bringing a reality check to the situation.
Awesome blog Andrew, it is such a joy reading, and it really made me appreciate the choices that I have made and how I chose to invest in myself by attending Universal Medicine courses; without a doubt this has been the best investment I have ever made and one that continues to blow my mind away as my life just keeps getting richer and richer with regards to the level of intimacy, love and joy in my relationships, and that is priceless.
WOW – it’s amazing how much money we spend on things that actually physically hurt us. I totally agree Universal Medicine is a fantastic investment and one I would make any day of the year. Thanks for sharing – a very unique perspective!
Absolutely gold Andy.
Andy, I am so glad and laughing with joy at the fact that having let go of even a drop of alcohol, instead of talking utter dribble, you’re now delivering absolute masterpieces such as this. Priceless Andy, and as you say on an outlay of $330, you’ve got to wonder what prevents others from chucking in the drink and drugs and making a commitment to simply be themselves — with us all enjoying this immensely.
Andy I love that line ‘pancake makeup on a delicate and beautiful face’, all those layers of protection masking something so tender and exquisite. I can’t even imagine how much money I have saved from 8 years of not drinking or anything else recreational enhancement! Smoking as well, crikey it would be A LOT! Every penny I have spent on sessions, workshops has been returned in gold.
I’d like to add to the list the huge amount I spent on emotional CDs which kept me in emotional turmoil and misery.
I enjoyed reading your blog again Andrew. So down to earth and honestly open. There are
so many benefits that come with seeing things clearly and cleaning out the stuff that don’t belong to us.
I love this blog, it exposes so clearly the lack of common sense we apply in the health choices we make. I would be one of these people who spent a fortune on alcohol, I now wonder why it is so easy to spend money on something that abuses the body, but it is seen as a waste of money to spend a lot less on something that might help the body.
Hello Andrew, this is a classic piece of writing for me. Your writing, wit and approach are just so engrossing to read and I could read these types of blogs for hours. You should write a book or 2 I think. Needless to say we should go to what the blog was written about. I love how you have ‘crunched the numbers’ and clearly there are many like you who are having a significant return on their initial investment. An investment in truly caring for yourself that then flows out to everyone. I agree Universal Medicine is the greatest value for money and based on your numbers how could anyone disagree.
A few pounds or dollars spent but true Gold in return. Well worth it every time in my cash book.
Wonderful blog Andy. Today is my wedding day. I am getting married to my partner of four years whom I met on a Chris James weekend workshop. Value for money – absolutely! Chris’ work brings true blessings to everyone who chooses to ‘drink from the trough’, rather than the bottle!
Wow look what grew from that original investment! that’s gorgeous, congratulations both of you.
I had never stopped to calculate how much money I have saved. I know I have saved my physical and mental health and many of my family relationships. I often where I would have ended up if hadn’t found Universal Medicine – If I look at what I have turned around in my life my guess is that I was right on track for the a divorce, having an affair, plastic surgery, drug and alcohol issues, depression, serious health issues because of obesity. Thanks to Universal Medicine I can cross all of those things out of my life.
When we look at the hard facts of where we are heading it is scary. To actually put into figures the money we would potentially spend on our own ill-health is frightening. Investing in ourselves and our own wellbeing serves us and humanity as a whole…with one less person to drain services. There is much to ponder on here.
I haven’t spent much money on alcohol but I have spent money on New Age courses and books and I would say I have saved a lot of money as I wasn’t getting anywhere. Attending the presentations and workshops by Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine now that’s a different story as every penny I spend is definitely well worth it!
After doing some math, I worked out I would have spent about $3000 a year easily on gossip magazines, romance novels, lollies, biscuits and chocolate. Not so much alcohol or cigarettes, but still a waste of money. Never have I considered one cent spent on Universal Medicine courses anywhere near a waste of money.
“Not to mention the likely liver transplant, the loss of productivity, relationships laid waste by omission and commission, countless hangovers and endless wasted hours observing the rituals and talking utter drivel to anyone who would pretend to listen. The imposition of alcohol-afflicted people on society can barely be overstated.”. Great point (amongst many there Andrew)….and I particularly giggled with the utter drivel – gosh I have spoken a bit of that in my time! I too have chosen to no longer drink – after being a big drinker for many years – and it is quite phenomenal to see the affects it has when you can step away from it and see it for what it truly is. I am very glad (as is my hip pocket) that it no longer has its hold on me. LIfe is much grander without it.
I too was an over the top partaker of the beverage and would have saved tens of thousands on not smoking or drinking over the years since attending universal medicine presentations. Not to mention the tremendous health benefits. Thanks for sharing this very entertaining blog.
I love how you write Andrew, it’s so playful and fun. It’s amazing to see the money saved by no longer self-medicating with alcohol… and coffee, chocolate, etc! But the monetary savings gained from attending Universal Medicine workshops pale into significance when we consider the enormity of the changes that we have made in our lives as a result of Universal Medicine teachings!
Lo-o-o-ved your blog Andy, and the journey of your return to the beautiful tender man you always were underneath all the incarcerating layers. Now we get the true you, and so from one small investment the whole world gains.
Great blog Andrew, thank you. After every Universal Medicine course, event, webcast etc that I attend, I am always so thankful I invested my time and money into it as they are always amazing and life changing.
I love the way you calculated the return on Universal Medicine Courses and everything surrounding. They of truly a lot of value for the money. It is an inspiration you don’t get elsewhere.
I would say it’s priceless 🙂
Andrew I enjoyed reading your entertaining blog. I know that there is much depth under the banter and much for us all to learn also in regard to investment in ourselves through self Love and self nurture . Definitely the best investment we will ever make, thanks to Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon.
It’s amazing when one lays out what they have been wasting their money on and see the true investment and support in life that the workshops and presentations of Universal Medicine bring. Thank you Andrew for your honest and humorous blog.
Wow!- it’s great to get a monetary perspective of your savings when you chose to stop drinking, not to mention the many positive benefits from having attended workshops from Chris James and Universal Medicine. I never drank, but I too totally agree that the outlay for Chris’s workshops, for which I have attended many, have been so so worth it. They have changed my life also.
Absolutely loved reading your blog Andrew and the humour in it, has revealed a different perspective, confirming that the multi-dimensional returns from The Way of the Livingness way of life far outways the initial cost for sure.
I love this Andy. I love your honesty and your humour, and the man that is expressing his truth so clearly – now that’s a return that’s absolutely priceless – the return to the true you.
What a great way to calculate what you have gained, just on a monetary basis alone the savings are really incredible, not to mention all the other ways you have benefited in your life from attending Chris James and Universal Medicine presentations and courses. Really great to read your blog.
Andrew I enjoyed reading your blog, your way of writing has surely benefitted as well. I can feel your joy in life and your sense of humour. The investments we do in attending Chris James and Unversal Medicine workshops and courses is absolutely priceless.
What a fantastic blog Andrew- I was smiling the whole way through. I shudder to think of the money I spent on alcohol in the past – probably at least $5000 a year. All the while causing great harm to my body and wellbeing. Universal Medicine on the other hand has been an investment with returns greater than I could have ever imagined.
Loved reading this again, thanks Andrew. I know I have made a sound investment in my studies with Universal Medicine also, and the dividends are being paid back to me every single day. Modest outlay and investment in myself with bountiful reward.
My investment in Universal Medicine is helping me “peeling back of the multitude of layers” that prevented and still prevent me from being my true self. The returns on my investment are truly manifold.
Priceless – you and Universal Medicine… oh and I just saw Gretel’s comment above and me too of course!
Investing in Universal Medicine is the best thing I’ve ever done, both monetary-wise and personally. It is also proving a great investment with everyday people that I come across, who have no idea about the esoteric, but as I learn to open my heart and let people in, they benefit too. I too spent too many pounds on spiritual couses that charged far more and have given me far less, and led me astray. i appreciate daily all I have received from Universal medicine, it’s practitioners and and Serge Benhayon.
Pisspot… I haven’t heard that word in many years Andrew but it sure conjures up some old sordid memories of nights out with the boys. I’m a numbers person so I loved the way you presented your return on investment. I went from spending LOADS on partying from the mid 80’s to the late 90’s when I discovered the New Age/Spiritual and mainstream Personal Development world of workshops and seminars. Over the proceeding 12 years I spent many tens of thousands of dollars on such. Indeed I came away with a mountain of “knowledge” but was I anymore connected to life or fulfilled? Nope! My investment in Universal Medicine over the last 4 ½ years, which by the way would be a very small portion of what I’d previously spent, has yielded me a life and placed me on a path I know I was born to live. It got me back in touch with “true purpose”, something I found to be ever so illusive in all other forms of personal development. In investing in the Universal Medicine workshops I’ve invested in a beautiful new relationship with the real, true and purposeful me… and that cannot be measured in monetary terms.
I agree Andrew, Universal Medicine is definitely value for money. Investing in me has been the best investment I have made.
Super simple way of looking at it Andrew. Talk about bang for your buck!
Great story Andrew and I couldn’t agree more – there is no comparison to a life drinking, to not. I am forever grateful for being a part of the esoteric community and all it has to offer.
I’m boggled by your statistics Andrew. It is telling that so much is willingly spent on alcohol, coffee and chocolates when what we deeply yearn for is lovingly free to all of us.
That was fun to read Andrew but so very true! I can’t even remember how much I used to spend on what I used to call ‘being socially active, having a ‘good time’, having hobbies’ – all based on covering up underlying disturbances that followed me around through life. Now I have less of these expenditures but I don’t miss what they used to pretend to bring me – a connection with other people under a ‘safe setting’ (Online, tabletop and live-action gaming where people gathered together all under the umbrella of the hobby or collective interest). Through the presentations of Universal Medicine I continue to build a sense of myself that is at ease regardless of where I am – I don’t need the activity to distract or break from a tense life as I learn that life need not have that tension, thus no need for the expenditures.
‘but I don’t miss what they used to pretend to bring me’ – I like that. Yes, there is no substitute for a true connection with other people.
Once true connection is felt it makes all other interactions stick out like a sore thumb, more and more so, the more we connect to others and ourselves. I am now finding that situations within the family are such that as we are willing to connect more to each other on a deeper level, there is less tolerance of behaviours that are not loving because there is less desire ‘to not rock the boat’ and more to be with each other on a more than superficial level. It is by no means perfect and there is always going to be deeper qualities to connect to in ourselves and with others but that quality of connection gets more and more obvious as time goes on.
I can relate to your sharing very well Leighmatson. It reminds me on the time in my life, where I was not connected to myself and in this period I had so many ideas and beliefs about life, what I should do and what I shouldn’t do. Only when I started to reconnect to myself, I could feel, what is good for me and what not.
Awesome Andrew – I too have gone to many courses by Universal Medicine and found they are the greatest investment in me. I don’t know how much I’ve saved financially, but I know that the changes that I’ve made in my life are priceless in terms of how good I feel now.
This is very honest and beautiful Andrew, thank you for writing it. Your transformation is certainly remarkable. We all know that no amount of money can buy what we learn, gain and benefit from the presentations and workshops by Serge Benhayon, Universal Medicine and other fabulous presenters, such as Chris James. The most important investment we ever make is into ourselves (as presented by Serge). In my opinion, your friend is missing out big time. But better late than never!?
Hi Andrew, Investments like that don’t come around everyday, but boy are they worth looking out for!
Andrew I’ve so enjoyed your blog! I can say that the first Universal Medicine workshop I attended was cost wise well priced when compared to other workshops I was looking at in my search for meaning, but it was the only one that delivered far more than I dreamed possible. My original investments have returned far more than the outlay in many ways – alcohol savings, sugar craving driven food expenditure, not to mention quality of life, relationships, health … you name it.
Thanks Andrew, what a great perspective! Not only value for money but all else it helps us realise and access that ultimately affects the all in a very positive, true way. What Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine brings really is priceless!
I agree, money, brain cells, relationships etc, had once all laid waste and broken. Now they thrive more and more each day.
Loved re-reading your blog Andy, it’s true Universal Medicine has saved me money, no more crazy amounts spent in pubs drinking gin and tonic, or lounging around in cafes drinking coffee and eating cakes or gorging on chocolate and biscuits and crisps. Universal Medicine is definitely the best investment I have ever made and I am reaping the rewards everyday.
I agree Alisonmoir, Universal Medicine is also for me the best investment I have ever made and considering the fact, by having invested in true health, how much money I have saved by not getting ill (based on unloving choices). Awesome.
Thanks for the great Read Andy! Universal Medicine workshops sure ARE worth the healthy return. This was a very clever and well written blog.
Such a joy to read this Andy, your writing has a great rhythm and a humorous way. I was grinning from ear to ear when you spoke of the huge savings you have made – and whilst I haven’t done the math, the many thousand$ saved as well as the many endless hours of non-productivity speak volumes in my daily life now. A huge thank you to Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon for presenting the very simple truth that they way I was going was not the way.
I agree the financial return from attending Universal Medicine courses in ones life is massive. The amount of money my Husband and I now require to live life is substantially less than our pre Universal Medicine days.
Universal Medicine is true value for the money. The best gift I ever gave myself. Great blog Andrew I enjoyed the humour.
I love your playful approach to writing this blog Andrew – a true investment in ourselves is priceless as you have shared.
Love the way you express in this blog Andrew. I have definitely received more than my money’s worth from attending Universal Medicine workshops & sessions with practitioners. I would not like to think about where my life would be without this support. The benefits cannot be reduced to simple numbers, but even if they were, I am still way ahead, and yes Universal Medicine is a good bet.
Love your humour Andrew and your willingness to justify (with humour) the amount that you no longer spend on being a ‘pisspot’. Looking forward to your next blog(s) on chocolate and coffee!
Such a good point Andrew, I have never thought about it like that. I have saved SO much money now having stopped drinking, smoking, eating junk and take away. My life is so much more productive without these things, I am making more money than ever before! I spend very little on the presentations of Universal Medicine – they don’t cost much… the return is far, far greater.
Thank you Andrew. I very much enjoyed your light-hearted take on the true value of Universal Medicine. I totally agree that the investment in ourselves far outweighs the cost.
Hey Andrew, I relate to everything you have expressed in your article. Some of my acquaintances have questioned $70 per week or fortnight expenditure on healing sessions…I have responded that is only a fraction of my former cigarette and alcohol weekly budget. Thank-you for breaking it down and spelling it out, as the bottom lines figures are most revealing.
Andrew, this is a great blog on revealing and getting more conscious on the financial side of our lives. When I learned to know Universal Medicine, the pull was there. Now, after having made extreme life changes since then from a absolute exhausted person to now mostly a vivid and joyful person. I have my own working place as well as working employed partime. Before I had no job at all because of my exhaustion. Universal Medicine, presenting the ageless wisdom, is gold for me and my life.
Andrew there is a real feeling in the beginning of your article of you being completely buried under a mound of alcohol. Alcohol is a very obvious example of something that we use to cover ourselves up in an attempt to self soothe from the trauma of not being our true selves. There are a trillion billion things that we use to self – soothe. Each of us has to extradite ourselves from the imprisonment of our own ways of being. By making loving choices we gradually return the body back to being the love that it is and in so doing all that is not love drops away. You now stand beautifully bare in your true essence. Glorious.
Great blog Andrew, I love how you put it all into perspective. Many people have spent huge amounts of money on alcohol, coffee and entertainment to numb the pain or for self abuse. But when it comes to spending money to rejuvenate, heal, nurture and care for one self so many are reluctant to invest any time or money on this. Your blog reveals that most of us have issues with spending money on healing and nurturing ourselves, almost like we are not worth the time and money. A crazy way to live. I have never invested money on self-abusive substances like alcohol and drugs. 3 years ago I have started to invest my time and money on healing, learning about self-love, self-care, self-nurturing through Universal Medicine. It has been amazing! The investment is not only for me but for my family, friends and everyone I come in contact with. Everyone around me also benefits. How awesome is that?
I love the analogy of peeling back layers of thick, cheap pancake make-up to reveal the beautiful delicate face that’s been there all along!
Andy I love how you presented the great value for money Chris James and Universal Medicine Workshops are. This is not something I have ever considered as I find what I receive from the Universal Medicine workshops absolutely priceless! If I stopped and thought about it I have avoided the cost of a divorce, endless medical treatments and huge amount of food of no nutritional value I used to consume. A hefty sum indeed, so on reflection great value for money in my case as well.
Thank you Andrew, enjoyed reading this blog. You are an inspiration of what true investment in life is.
Now that’s value for money!
Alcohol, chocolate, coffee… everyone of us can continue this list easily, can’t we? These things are like limpets creeping on our common sense, making us blind. Universal Medicine offers a marker of Truth, so we can see things again for what they really are.
Great Humour, Andrew!
Thank you Andrew, for your honest and playful story. I love the way you make the value of your choices tangible as you did with the profit and loss approach. And what you say, the figures you show us are only about the savings on the purchase of alcohol and do not incorporate the side effects that are related to the consumption of alcohol and to other substances we use to keep us running like coffee and chocolate etc. The true value of choosing to return to the child we used to be, to the love we are from, is beyond our imagination.
A highly amusing blog on a serious subject Andrew, I loved reading it and can’t wait for the next instalment. I am to do a Chris James workshop soon and soooo looking forward to that one. Anyway….. I love your comment “The years have revealed that it was merely the first step to allowing the peeling back of the multitude of layers that I had plastered over my real self”, is that a play on the word ‘plastered’? if not, it should be!
It just shows what can happen if we have the courage to take the first steps to “unplastering” the layers to allow our true selves to shine through. Thank you for sharing, and thank you again, and again Universal Medicine for presenting to us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, Amen.
I live in Melbourne and I attend Universal Medicine events and after takinig into consideration travel, accomodation and course fees I am still ahead when I calculate how much I would of spent on alcohol, cigarettes and junk food.On top of that I now have more harmony and less termoil in my life
How wonderful it is to read how a ‘side-line’ of a weekend workshop (‘abstain from alcohol during the weekend’) can lead to such a turn around and transformation. Sometimes we need something or someone outside of us to inspire us, reflect something back and/or to invite us to try something differently. It all starts with a choice and a commitment to that choice. The rest follows. So as with Andrew and his friend. To say yes or no to the invitation, that’s the question.
Andrew this is a very honest account and a very positive way to look at a truly great investment in ourselves. At times I get hung up on the cost of travelling to Australia then paying for workshops. But when I look at the areas of my life where I am not spending money, the support and nourishment I have on a daily basis to live my life in a truly loving way and the way we live as a family in our reflection to others, the cost is minimal and the joy is endless.
Well, when you do the math like that Andy, investing more time, money and energy in a lesser existence does seem a bit odd…!
I love the way you write Andy. You nailed it with;
‘The years have revealed that it was merely the first step to allowing the peeling back of the multitude of layers that I had plastered over my real self’
Once I put down the weapons of destruction; yes the drugs, alcohol, coffee, food etc…and faced myself squarely in the eyes… that was when I began to ‘peel back’ the issues that have held me back from being the gorgeous Woman I am.
This can take time but wow … day to day……what an opportunity to claim my true beauty and worth and feel the shedding of an old skin.
An amusing and very entertaining account on one hand, a very serious indictment of the falsity of labelling one part of society as juice freaks whilst irresponsibly and arrogantly proclaiming one’s addiction to pot and other drugs as being of a superior nature.
so well written, you are really bringing the attention to the money side of things which is great for people to read and realise how much they could actually save, and they can also spend their money and get something very valuable and that is, healthy relationships, joyful lives, loving homes etc etc. – I also say, UNIVERSAL MEDICINE IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY.
Love your article Andrew, so humorous and honest. Universal Medicine has also been the best investment I have ever made in myself. Yes it has saved me lots of money but even if that wasn’t the case I would still be glad to have made the choice to attend the courses and workshops that Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine put on after all what price can you put on love, joy, vitality and health.
Great article ,exposing the phenomenal costs that alcohol inflicts on its victims and society as a whole , by unknowing and unloving choice that is . I like your accountancy for sound logic.
So true Andy, no price can be put on the love, support, health and vitality that I now know as a result of being involved with Universal Medicine workshops and retreats, knowing the Benhayon family and not least – all of the students of the Way of the Livingness I have met along the way. Seeing it as an investment, would be an understatement. Thank you Andy!
I so relate Andew, I have saved loads on buying chocolate, alcohol and nights out since connecting back to the love I am. Not to mention how much energy and emotional stability I would have lost if I had continued with the same self abusive pattens!
What an awesome investment and brilliant return to self Andrew, great playful and fun blog.
Great blog, Andy I absolutely subscribe to it, every cent well worth invested and the massive amount of money I saved that I before used to spend on lifestyle and recreational drugs and the good bottles of wine that did not cause me any headache….. Universal Medicine is the best investment ever….
Oh yes Andy – since I am with Universal Medicine I save a lot of money too (for Alcohol, Medications, Psychotherapy, Couples Therapy, Unemployment..)!
Ha ha I love your sense of humour and loved reading your blog .. Did you write one about the depression that lay undiagnosed? And WOWSER you really did make a very healthy return in more ways than one. Thank you for sharing and …. write more : )
I love this blog Andy, you absolutely have a gorgeous and entertaining way with words and sharing the facts of the matter.
Everything you have said is absolutely correct. People tend to focus on the cost of things like workshops that could possibly change their lives but when it comes to substances that cause abuse to the body, a second thought isn’t given. Money aside though- one can not put a price on living a joyful and vital life and raft is exactly what living the presentations by Universal Medicine deliver along with the huge amount of steadiness, unwavering love and support.
What an amazing blog. I love your candid humour and honesty. Yes it’s true! We can choose what to spend our money on. I would rather spend it on something that is going to support me in my life rather than something that will slowly destroy me. What Universal Medicine presents is in fact price-less, and is excellent value for money.
I can remember at the first course I did at Universal Medicine and thinking the same – how much? But I knew and could feel that Serge Benhayon had something to offer, that was different than any other person I had come across… To that day I still know that my choice to pursue and attend Universal Medicine workshops and courses has been life changing – and I didn’t think I had anything that I thought needed healing – oh yes I did!
Thank you Andrew for simplifying what could be the greatest investment one could ever be involved with and that is to invest in your self and Serge Benhayon along with Universal Medicine are by far the best advisers to assist us.
Wow Andrew, I have never seen the benefit from the saving money aspect because of not drinking anymore!!! That is so great because with that, it is even more wunderbar to visit the workshops from Serge Benhayon.
Now that’s an investment for life and in life. So good!
Great perspective on how we spend money for ourselves! Either for booze and coffee etc or for money spent to become all of you! I love it!
The humour with which you share your story is just delicious, thank you so much Andrew; and your sober (doesn’t equal to boring at all – you are very funny and deep) company is absolutely precious too!
Wow, now that is an expressive, I mean impressive saving! Best investment I’ve ever made also.
Investing truly in You is the best investment you can possibly make. Thank you Andrew.
Andrew I love your style and your honesty too in this piece. And agreed Universal Medicine and what one gains from making healing choices to love is not only immeasurable but priceless too.
Just love it. Awesome story Andy. But you missed the best part. The world now gets all of you – now that’s a good return on your investment!!
I so relate!!
We often baulk at paying for workshops, unable to see the value in the outlay (or is it perhaps in our selves?) Yet having attended many Universal Medicine courses I can say that they are worth every penny (and more!) Perhaps we are all a bit burnt from paying for courses that promise the world but do not create any lasting or true change. This is not the case here and there are thousands of people to prove it.
I was just recently thinking about how much me and my money patterns had changed since the first course I did with Universal Medicine. I lived wholly and soully for the bottle or anything else I could get my hands on to, I didn’t work for pretty much any other reason than to keep topping up, having enough for rent was my only concern. Universal Medicine help support me to turn my life around when no one else could. Now that’s a great investment with an unweaving return
I love this blog so much thanks for sharing Andrew. It was written with playful, honest, truth. Awesome.
Great blog Andy. Thank you. I can’t put a financial value on all the teachings and revelations I have had bestowed upon me by Universal Medicine. It has been an investment in my health and the evolution of humanity. It’s incredible, as you have spelt out, the amounts of money that we as human beings can spend on things that hurt us and keep us trapped where we are at, but the idea of spending some cash on our evolution can tighten the purse strings. Very interesting….
Loved it Andrew – you have certainly put things into perspective, while making me smile. My investment in myself began when I paid $20 to join in an hour long introductory sing with Chris James when he was here in New Zealand in 2000 – and it was the BEST $20 I have ever spent, as through Chris I found not only my voice, but my way to Universal Medicine in 2005. And since then I have been crossing the Tasman, usually twice a year to attend courses, so when I saw the amounts of money apparently spent on courses by those that are attacking Universal Medicine, I laughed as I knew instantly that was a load of rubbish; just lies created for sensationalism. Over the years I had many plans set up for my retirement – a word that is no longer in my vocabulary – but one by one they disappeared along the way. But the one plan and the best plan remained; and that was my investment in me; the investment to finally care for me in a way that honoured my body, no longer abusing it with food and drink that it simply didn’t need or want and was contributing to me being continually tired, unwell and overweight. Now with the shared wisdom of Serge Benhayon, and all those who are a part of Universal Medicine, I know that my body is definitely the true marker of how I am living, and my investment in it will continue until my last breath!
Ingrid, I love what you wrote here. This line is stellar – “But the one plan and the best plan remained; and that was my investment in me.” Amen to that!
I’m glad you addressed the financial investment in yourself Andrew – there are vicious blogs doing the rounds about how much money students of Universal Medicine spend on workshops and courses – but the lifestyle changes we choose to make do actually save us enormous amounts of money! I used to smoke and drink and I don’t even want to add up how much these habits were costing me! Now I have health and vitality, I am a regular student and will actually stay financially in front for the rest of my life. That’s true value.
Yes, true value indeed, Jo. I always find it strange to hear that people are accusing Universal Medicine of charging heaps for workshops/etc. I have studied with many schools of complementary medicine/healing/meditations/etc and I find UM workshops and courses to have the most reasonable costs, with many free events, and scholarships available, and an incredible generosity of the practitioners.
Absolutely brilliantly written and shared Andrew! I feel to print this and share with a few people I know… they might have the same reaction as your friend did though lol! I have to agree with you…the small investment outlaid at either a Universal Medicine weekend or with Chris James is SO worth it…. the benefits aside from the financial considerations are immeasurable!
Hard to admit, but I used to smoke 25-30 a day myself. At today’s prices for ‘quality’ fags that’s $200 /week on top of everything else. . . . . it’s like a serious drug habit in itself.
Most smokers like coffee and alcohol too: how does a working person keep up with all this?
And as you say – with barely a second thought.
Universal Reversal of these habits is the way to go, for myriad reasons!
Go Universal Medicine.
I”m with you all the way…….Go Universal Medicine!!!
This was such a joy to read Andy! I really loved it! I too have made some life changing investments with Universal Medicine courses and workshops.
Awesome blog Andrew, there are two things in this world that I will always spend my money on, and they are universal medicine workshops or presentations and shoes.
Thank you, Andrew. I love how you have presented this profound fact in such a fun way. I can relate to this kind of short-sightedness when making an investment, financially and energetically, while looking for a quick fix or solution to a situation, I have fallen for that. It’s wonderful to be able to look back and true up your energetic P&L historically.
A great point, Golnaz.