A THREE-DAY WORKSHOP · PICKERING, ONTARIO
Love Over Fear
Transforming the Way We Relate
A workshop in relationship healing, personal growth, and spiritual reflection
Jan 13, 6.30PM –15, 1.30PM, 2027
Manresa, Pickering
Suggested offering $280
It’s not new communication skills you need in your relationships. It’s learning to work with the part of you that can’t access those skills in the heat of the moment, and learning how to repair after conflict. That’s the work we do in this workshop.
Includes two nights of single-room accommodation, meals from breakfast on January 14 through lunch on January 15, and the workshop program.
People of all faiths and spiritual backgrounds are warmly welcome.
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
When love becomes a place of pain.
You entered your relationship with hopes and dreams. You wanted to feel loved, understood, valued, and safe with someone you could share your life with.
But somewhere along the way, things may have changed.
Responsibilities became a source of conflict. You found yourself carrying more than you could manage, trying to keep everyone happy, or putting your own needs aside to keep the relationship going.
Small disagreements turned into familiar arguments. Disappointments accumulated. You may have found yourself holding back what you really wanted to say, becoming defensive when you felt misunderstood, or withdrawing when everything became too much.
Perhaps you have tried being more patient, more understanding, and more compassionate. You have tried explaining yourself, solving problems, changing your behaviour, or finding the right words to finally get through to the other person.
Maybe you have sought support, read the books, or prayed for things to change.
Why do we keep having the same arguments?
Why do I react in ways I later regret?
Why is it so difficult to express what I need?
Why do I keep accepting things that leave me feeling hurt or resentful?
Can my relationship change if the other person isn’t ready to change?
Is there another way to experience love without losing myself?
If these questions feel familiar, you are not alone.
Sometimes, the difficulty is not simply that we don’t know what to do. It is that old fears, painful experiences, and deeply learned habits influence how we respond when relationships become difficult.
What if change begins when we stop trying to control every outcome and start understanding what is happening within us?
That is the invitation of Love Over Fear: Transforming the Way We Relate.
WHICH ONE DO YOU RECOGNISE?
Which relationship pattern do you recognise in yourself?
You may recognise yourself in more than one of these patterns, depending on the situation you are in.
The Fixer
“Let me make everything okay.”
You take charge, anticipate needs, solve problems, and carry responsibilities that may not be yours alone. Beneath your constant efforts, you may feel exhausted, unappreciated, or resentful.
The Peacekeeper
“Let me not make this worse.”
You hold back your feelings and minimise your needs to avoid conflict. You may preserve the peace on the outside while hurt and resentment quietly build within you.
The Escaper
“I need to get away from this.”
When emotions become overwhelming, you withdraw, shut down, or distract yourself. You may care deeply about the relationship but struggle to remain present when conflict feels too intense.
The Defender
“I need to protect myself.”
You explain, argue, justify, or insist on being understood when you feel criticised or blamed. You want your intentions and pain to be recognised, but the conversation can become a battle to be heard.
These are not personality types or labels. They are patterns of response that can develop for understandable reasons.
You cannot control how another person responds to you.
But you can begin to understand the patterns you carry, heal the wounds that influence how you relate, and learn to respond with greater awareness, courage, and love.
Join Aleena Sunny for three days of guided learning, personal reflection, healing meditation, prayer, and practical relationship skills.
Whether you are struggling with recurring conflict, carrying years of resentment, feeling disconnected from someone you love, or longing to build healthier relationships, this workshop offers space to pause, look within, and discover a different way forward.
THE HEART OF THE WORKSHOP
Understand the patterns that shape your relationships.
When relationships hurt, our attention naturally turns towards the other person. We wish they would listen more, take greater responsibility, communicate differently, or understand our experience.
Sometimes, their behaviour genuinely does need to change. Healthy relationships require mutual respect and shared responsibility.
But we cannot make another person change.
What we can do is begin to understand our own responses and discover where we have a choice.
Perhaps you learned to keep everyone happy because conflict once felt frightening.
Maybe you became fiercely independent because relying on others did not feel safe.
Perhaps you learned to defend yourself quickly because being misunderstood was painful.
These responses may have helped you cope with earlier experiences. Yet the same habits can continue to shape your relationships long after those experiences have passed.
During this workshop, you will explore how earlier experiences and conditioning can influence your reactions, expectations, boundaries, and ways of seeking connection.
Rather than approaching yourself with blame, you will be invited to meet these patterns with curiosity and compassion.
The goal is not to become a perfect partner or to take responsibility for everything that happens in your relationships.
It is to understand yourself more deeply, recognise what needs attention, and develop the freedom to respond differently.
THREE DAYS, ONE CONNECTED PROCESS
Your journey through the workshop.
You will begin by understanding yourself, explore how your patterns play out in relationships, make space for inner healing, and learn practical skills for navigating conflict and repairing disconnection.
Wednesday evening, January 13
Session 1 — Looking Within
Before we can understand the dance between two people, we need to understand ourselves.
You will explore how earlier experiences may have shaped your beliefs about love, safety, responsibility, and your own worth.
Through guided reflection, you will begin to recognise the protective habits you developed and consider how they continue to influence your relationships today.
What you will gain: An initial understanding of a personal pattern and where it may have originated.
Thursday morning, January 14
Session 2 — The Dance of Relationships
Why do two people who care about each other keep finding themselves in the same painful arguments?
You will explore the recurring dynamics that can develop between people: pursuing and withdrawing, over-functioning and under-functioning, criticising and defending.
You will reflect on a pattern in one of your own relationships and identify where you can begin making different choices.
You will also explore self-worth, boundaries, and the difference between taking responsibility for your part and carrying responsibility for someone else’s.
What you will gain: A clearer understanding of the cycle you want to change and where you have an opportunity to respond differently.
Thursday afternoon, January 14
Guided Healing Meditation
Understanding your patterns is an important beginning, but insight alone does not always release the pain beneath them.
You will be invited to slow down, turn inward, and meet the parts of yourself that may still be carrying hurt, fear, or old conditioning.
Through guided reflection and an invitation to rest in God’s loving presence, you will have space to acknowledge your experiences with compassion and open yourself to a different way of relating to your own story.
You will be encouraged to participate at your own pace, respecting your personal boundaries and comfort.
This is not about forcing forgiveness or making painful experiences disappear. It is about creating space for reflection, self-compassion, and healing in the presence of God’s love.
What you will gain: Dedicated time to connect with yourself, reflect on what you have been carrying, and consider what healing might look like for you.
Thursday evening, January 14
Session 3 — Why We React
Have you ever promised yourself that you would remain calm next time, only to find yourself overwhelmed when conflict arises?
Old hurt and present-day stress can influence our reactions before we have time to think clearly.
You will explore what happens when emotions become overwhelming, learn to recognise your early warning signs, and practise a simple way to pause before a difficult conversation escalates.
You will consider how to return to a conversation when you are more grounded, rather than allowing an intense moment to determine what happens next.
What you will gain: A practical starting point for responding more thoughtfully when emotions run high.
Friday morning, January 15
Session 4 — Choosing Love Over Fear
Healing creates the possibility of change.
This session focuses on bringing that change into everyday relationships.
You will learn practical ways to communicate your needs clearly, listen without immediately defending yourself, and hold boundaries while remaining compassionate.
You will explore the essential ingredients of a genuine apology, what meaningful repair looks like after conflict, and how accountability can help rebuild connection and trust.
You will also reflect on how to care for someone without abandoning your own well-being.
What you will gain: Practical relationship skills and personal insights you can begin applying in your everyday life.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS
What does choosing love over fear really mean?
Choosing love does not mean tolerating everything, keeping quiet to avoid conflict, or taking responsibility for another person’s behaviour.
It means learning to recognise when fear is shaping your responses and discovering that another choice may be possible.
You can speak honestly without attacking.
You can listen without losing your own perspective.
You can acknowledge your part in a conflict and take accountability without collapsing into shame.
You can remain compassionate while setting clear boundaries.
And you can learn to repair after disagreements rather than allowing each painful interaction to become another layer of unresolved hurt.
Sometimes the other person will be willing to grow alongside you. Sometimes they will not.
Your own growth cannot guarantee that a relationship will change, but it can help you become clearer about what you need, how you want to relate, and what you are willing to accept.
Love over fear is about learning to live and relate with greater truth, self-respect, compassion, and courage.
MY STORY
How relationship pain became an invitation to healing.
When I was sixteen, I experienced a deep relationship loss that changed the way I understood love, safety, and myself.
At that age, I did not have the language for what was happening within me. I only knew that something in me had been shaken. I carried questions, confusion, hurt, and a quiet ache I did not fully understand.
Over time, that pain began to shape the way I related. I wanted closeness, but I was also afraid of being hurt. I wanted to love well, but I did not always know how to stay grounded when fear rose within me. I wanted to be understood, but I sometimes reacted from old wounds rather than present truth.
For a long time, I thought healing meant moving on, staying strong, or trying not to feel the pain anymore.
But beneath everything, there was a quiet knowing that God was inviting me into something deeper.
My relationship pain became an invitation into healing.
Not a quick healing. Not a neat healing. A slow and honest journey of looking within, grieving what needed to be grieved, learning my patterns, and allowing God’s love to meet the places in me that had been shaped by fear.
That journey led me through letting go of my conditioning , healing inter-generational trauma , and a deeper relationship with God.
I began to see that the ways I reacted in relationships did not come from nowhere. They were connected to earlier experiences, unmet needs, protective habits, and stories I had carried about my worth, safety, and belonging.
I had to learn to ask different questions.
How could I acknowledge my pain without allowing it to dictate my reactions?
How could I take responsibility for my part without taking responsibility for everything?
How could I express my needs, repair when I caused hurt, and remain compassionate without abandoning myself?
And how could I allow God’s love to meet the places within me that had long been shaped by fear?
These questions did not lead me into perfection. They led me into honesty.
They helped me understand that love is not about losing myself, silencing my needs, or trying to control another person’s choices.
Love asks for truth. Love asks for courage. Love asks for compassion. Love asks us to keep learning how to relate with more awareness, responsibility, and grace.
This is why the work of Love Over Fear matters so deeply to me.
Because I know what it is like to carry pain into relationships. I know what it is like to long for change and still feel caught in old patterns. I also know that healing can begin when we stop judging ourselves and start listening to what our reactions are trying to reveal.
My invitation is to explore how your own relationship struggles might become an opportunity to heal, grow, and choose love over fear.
MEET YOUR FACILITATOR
Aleena Sunny
Founder, Garden of Life Coaching & Healing
Aleena supports individuals and couples in developing greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and healthier ways of relating.
She is currently completing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University.
She is a Certified Relational Life Therapy Coach and Certified Holistic Coach and Spiritual Healer, with additional training in somatic healing, ancestral healing, and traumatic stress studies. Her work integrates relational, somatic, and holistic approaches to help individuals and couples understand the patterns that shape their relationships, heal underlying wounds, and cultivate healthier, more compassionate ways of relating to themselves and others.
At the heart of her work is a simple philosophy: Choose
Love over fear
Understanding over judgment
Faith over doubt
Collaboration over force
IS THIS FOR YOU?
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is for you if you:
- Keep experiencing the same painful arguments or relationship patterns.
- Feel unseen, unheard, unappreciated, or emotionally disconnected.
- Struggle to express your needs or establish boundaries.
- Notice yourself pleasing, fixing, withdrawing, or becoming defensive when hurt.
- Want to understand how earlier experiences influence present relationships.
- Are ready to reflect on your own patterns with honesty and compassion.
- Want practical communication and conflict-repair skills.
- Wish to include prayer and spiritual reflection in personal growth.
You are welcome whether you attend on your own or with your partner.
Your partner does not need to attend for you to begin working on your own patterns and choices.
People of all faiths, spiritual paths, and backgrounds are welcome.
Participation in Mass, prayer, meditation, and all workshop programs is optional.
You may choose the activities that feel right for you and take part at your own pace.
WHERE WE WILL GATHER
Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre
Twenty-one acres of open fields, gardens and forest in Pickering, Ontario — a quiet place set apart to pause, reflect, and rest.
These photos show Manresa in other seasons. In January, the grounds are likely to be cold and snowy.
Fleming Hall
The main retreat house, with accommodation, meeting spaces, a lounge and the chapel.
The Manor House
Over 100 years old, home to the dining room and meeting space.
The Grounds
Open fields, cultivated gardens and forest areas that foster reflection and renewal. In January, please dress warmly for snow and ice.
Photos from Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Everything you need to know.
The weekend
Dates: January 13–15, 2027
Location: Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre
Address: 2325 Liverpool Road, Pickering, Ontario L1X 1V4
Price: $280 suggested offering, per person
Dinner is not provided on Wednesday, January 13.
Includes:
- Two nights of single-room accommodation
- Meals from breakfast on January 14 through lunch on January 15
- Four workshop sessions
- Guided healing meditation
- Opportunities for reflection, prayer, and personal integration
- Practical relationship and conflict-repair skills
Payment and charitable tax receipts
Payment can be made by cash or card on Thursday, January 14.
The suggested offering is treated as a charitable donation, and tax receipts will be mailed to participants, subject to the applicable charitable donation and receipt requirements.
THE SCHEDULE
Workshop timetable.
An overview of the planned sessions and activities. Mass, prayer, and all workshop programs are optional.
Wednesday, January 13 — Arrival and Looking Within
From 6:00 PM — Arrival and check-in
By 7:00 PM — Please aim to arrive by this time
8:00–9:30 PM — Session 1: Looking Within — Getting to Know Ourselves
Dinner is not provided.
If you arrive early before registration opens, feel free to relax in the lobby and enjoy a tea or coffee from the beverage vending area.
Thursday, January 14 — Understanding, Healing and Responding Differently
8:00 AM — Morning prayer, optional
8:30 AM — Breakfast
9:15–11:15 AM — Session 2: The Dance of Relationships
11:45 AM — Mass, optional
12:30 PM — Lunch
2:00–4:00 PM — Guided Healing Meditation & Quiet Reflection
5:30 PM — Dinner
6:45–8:45 PM — Session 3: Why We React — Understanding Emotional Triggers
Friday, January 15 — Choosing Love Over Fear
8:00 AM — Morning prayer, optional
8:30 AM — Breakfast
9:15–11:15 AM — Session 4: Choosing Love Over Fear
11:45 AM — Mass, optional
12:30 PM — Lunch
1:30 PM — Departure
You are welcome to participate at your own pace. If you need to step away, rest, or sit out an activity, please honour your needs.
QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need to attend with my partner?
No. You are welcome whether you attend on your own or with your partner. Your partner does not need to attend for you to begin working on your own patterns and choices.
Is this workshop only for Christians or Catholics?
No. People of all faiths, spiritual paths, and backgrounds are welcome.
Do I have to attend Mass or participate in every activity?
No. Participation in Mass, prayer, meditation, and all workshop programs is optional. You may choose the activities that feel right for you and take part at your own pace.
What time should I arrive on January 13?
Arrival and check-in begin from 6:00 PM. Please aim to arrive by 7:00 PM. Session 1 begins at 8:00 PM.
Is dinner provided on the first evening?
No. Dinner is not provided on Wednesday, January 13.
What kind of accommodation is provided?
Two nights of single-room accommodation are included.
What if I have food allergies or sensitivities?
If you have any food allergies or sensitivities, such as gluten, dairy or nuts, that need to be accommodated, please email your dietary requirements to gardenoflifecoaching@gmail.com at the time of registration
How do I pay?
Payment can be made by cash or card on Thursday, January 14.
Will I receive a tax receipt?
The suggested offering is treated as a charitable donation, and tax receipts will be mailed to participants, subject to the applicable charitable donation and receipt requirements.
Is parking available?
Yes, parking is available at the facility.
Can I spend time outdoors?
Yes. Manresa has open fields, cultivated gardens and forest areas. In January, please dress warmly for snow and ice.
What if I need to rest or miss a session?
You are welcome to participate at your own pace. If you need to step away, rest, or sit out an activity, please honour your needs.
Is this workshop therapy or counselling?
No. Love Over Fear is an educational and experiential workshop. It is not psychotherapy or crisis intervention.
What should I bring?
Please bring your personal essentials for the duration of your stay, along with a journal and pen for reflection and workshop activities.
Bedding, towels, and utensils will be provided.
If you plan to spend time outdoors, please dress warmly and bring appropriate footwear for snowy or icy winter conditions.
What if I am unsure whether this workshop is right for me?
If you’re unsure whether this workshop is right for you, please email Aleena at gardenoflifecoaching@gmail.com. She’ll be happy to answer your questions and help you decide whether the workshop is a good fit for you.
Save your spot for Love Over Fear.
Begin a different way of relating.
You may not be able to change another person’s choices.
But you can begin to understand the patterns you carry, meet yourself with compassion, and learn new ways of responding.
You can discover how to speak honestly without attacking, hold boundaries without losing compassion, and repair after conflict rather than remaining trapped in resentment.
And you can explore how God’s love might accompany you as you make space for healing and growth.
You do not have to become perfect.
You do not have to have all the answers.
You simply need a willingness to pause, look within, and consider what might become possible if you approached yourself and your relationships differently.
Join us for Love Over Fear: Transforming the Way We Relate.
Three days to deepen your understanding of yourself, explore the patterns that shape your relationships, and begin practising a different way of relating — to yourself, to the people you love, and to God.
With love and hope,
Aleena Sunny
Founder, Garden of Life Coaching & Healing
Trauma- Informed Relational Healing Practitioner