The RC Community in China
To mark the thirty-fifth anniversary of RC’s introduction on the Chinese mainland, Chen Pingjun, our Regional Reference Person, proposed a series of free online RC events to hear from RCers who have been quiet because COVID forced the cancellation of most of this year’s in-person events. The events brought together Co-Counselors from all around the Chinese mainland and helped us get more connected with one another and more aware of the resources for healing and growth provided by our Communities.
Six RC teachers, including me, planned the events as a team. There were four different topics: our RC Community, family work, women’s and men’s liberation, early sexual memories, as well as workshops and gather-ins on other topics. All happened within three weeks.
The first event took place on December 19, 2020. The topic was “The Big Family of the RC Community.” Thirty-four Co-Counselors were present. Chen Pingjun asked each participant to do a brief self-introduction and then, after a mini-session, share how they have benefited from RC.
I was moved to tears by what they shared. I am a Co-Counselor in a small developing RC Community with only a few active members. I often feel lonely and helpless, struggling to persist in RC. This event gave me a rare opportunity to get connected with Co-Counselors all around the Chinese mainland and feel the existence of the big warm family of the RC Community, thus making me much less lonely. Hearing the Co-Counselors heartily share how they have benefited from RC, I became more determined to teach RC to more people and contribute to building solid and loving RC Communities on the Chinese mainland.
The participants shared the following about how they have benefited from RC:
M.R. (studied RC in 2012): I used to feel that it was difficult for me to survive and that life was empty and boring. It is RC that has helped me live a happy and meaningful life. I believe I can help make the world a better place by teaching RC to more and more people.
L.W. (studied RC in 2019): RC gives me a lot of security and strength. Listening to each other helps me and others greatly. When I feel powerless, it is Co-Counseling that gives me power and makes me happy. The RC Community is a safe place where we can trust others and discharge fully.
L.P. (studied RC in 2019): I was impressed and pleased with my attempt to use Co-Counseling to deal with my feelings arising from unhappy family relations, and I was able to avoid big conflicts. In the future, I will try to use Co-Counseling to discharge any small emotions at any time instead of suppressing them and letting them accumulate.
D.M. (studied RC in 2020): My friends all saw the changes in me. For example, my facial expressions have relaxed a lot. I always feel there is something powerful backing me up.
B.H. (studied RC in 2005): RC is my second family where I can try new things and fulfill myself. I’ve reclaimed my willingness and ability to try new things.
T.H. (studied RC in 2018): RC benefits me first and then my children, other family members, and my students. I used to try to solve other people’s problems, but now I support others to solve the problems themselves by listening to them.
W.Y. (studied RC in 2020): RC helps me reclaim my desire to talk. The online group (mainly for setting up urgent sessions) provides a precious opportunity to get a Co-Counselor for a session when I need one.
Z.M. (studied RC in 2019): I met RC when one of my family members was seriously ill. By doing Co-Counseling I became no longer afraid to face the situation and was able to help and support my family. I can also accept myself more.
Y.B. (studied RC in 2017): At first, I rarely had sessions, so I didn’t benefit much from RC. Later, when someone in my family got sick, I had some sessions that were helpful. As a client I felt supported, while as a counselor I was able to feel my power and capacity to help others.
L.S. (studied RC in 2014): I have changed a lot since I learned RC. During the past year, my mom died first and then my dad died, too. It is RC that supported me and helped me through the most difficult days. I would like to share RC with more people and help them learn to release their emotions and act rationally.
J.Y. (studied RC in 2020): I like the way RC is taught in class, both the how and the why. I have a sense of safety from RC and have become more powerful. Having long sessions is helpful to me.
L.T. (studied RC in 2019): It’s nice to see so many RC teachers here. When my life was in a mess in 2018, RC pulled me out of the abyss of pain. Now I can be myself and care about myself more instead of always trying to please others.
X.C. (studied RC in 2006): I used to lead an empty and unhappy life before I met RC. RC gave me rebirth, greatly changed my life, and is a key support in reclaiming my wisdom and ability to love. It is a difficult process, but I have always chosen to believe in myself and others.
X.Z. (studied RC in 2010): As a man I used to feel lonely. Having been in RC for ten years, I feel much less lonely. I’ve changed a lot and regained strength and confidence. I used to find it hard to change myself, let alone the world, but now I’m aware that I can indeed change the world, and I am doing so.
L.H. (studied RC in 2002): With RC I got reborn. RC helped me through my difficult times. It is due to RC that I get along well with my family and have a successful career. Many thanks to my persistence.
P.J. (studied RC in 1988): One of my middle school classmates said that I have changed greatly when we met again after more than twenty years. RC enables me to find the meaning of life that I have been searching for so I can live a more meaningful second half of my life.
W.H. (studied RC in 2020): I heard about RC many years ago but got to learn it only this year. It’s great to be able to get support (through Co-Counseling) whenever I need it. It is great that I can now deal with my feelings in sessions and think more clearly.
Y.L. (studied RC in 2008): I learned RC when my son was a young person. RC helped me and my son a lot. It also helped me deal with my job and get along with my families.
J.M. (studied RC in 2016): The RC Community is always my most reliable companion in life. It is also useful to many other people, so I’ll teach it to more people.
X.Q. (studied RC in 1989): I used to be an introvert and found it difficult to get along with others. RC changed me and helped me find it fun to interact with people. I can still improve myself even in my seventies—old people are willing to and can change themselves.
S.M. (studied RC in 2013): RC is something like a gym where I can get refreshed. I’m trying to teach RC to more people so that they can also benefit from it.
G.D. (studied RC in 2004): I have a sense of belonging in the RC Community. Whenever I attend an RC event or meet my Co-Counselors, I get refreshed.
W.Y. (studied RC in 2020): It seems as if a door has opened for me to become more aware of myself. RC has also helped me to listen to my child better so that he can discharge well.
Y.W. (studied RC in 2017): RC helps me to deal well with my job, studies, and relationship with my wife. Attending RC events keeps “upgrading” me just like computer software does.
Y.N. (studied RC in 2020): It makes me warm to know that there are a group of people who can support me by listening to me whenever I need it. Good discharge enables me to deal rationally with things. I’m becoming more able to support my family members.
China
(Present Time 203, April 2021)