Over the last couple of months I have really been banging the whole "Personal Development" drum on my
blogs and
podcast. Mainly because so may of my clients are more concerned with their emotional well-being than their physical annoyances. Which is so important, especially when it comes to being organized. There is no way you can organize your "stuff" if your mind is so discombobulated. Thus, the reason behind all of the warm fuzzy goodness. Besides, yours truly needed some big time soul searching!
One of the solutions I have been talking about during this time is a program known as
Beyond Freedom. It's actually a tool that helps you untangle the blob of mess that was once known as your brain. Not only does it make you question yourself, but it simplifies the process so that you aren't overwhelmed with the self reflection. Even the most positive of assistance can overwhelm a completely fried brain, but with Beyond Freedom you do it at your own speed, your own pace, at your own comfortability rate. Not to say it doesn't totally challenge your psyche.
Essentially, if you connected with The Secret you will feel passionate about Beyond Freedom. Where The Secret talks to you about how the power of attraction works,
Beyond Freedom takes you by the hand, leads you down the path, shows you how to survive, and empowers you to make the necessary changes for you, your life, and your family.
It helps you to acknowledge your strengths, successes, and your individuality. It has a lot of positive anecdotes and affirmations, but there are also those sections that really make you roll your eyes and think, "Whatever".
I did talk to Marcus about some of my own personal "whatever" moments, just to see if this was just ME or if he ever thought the same thing. (Sometimes I tend to be a bit of a sceptic so I figured another point of view would be nice!) Much to my delight, he felt the same things when he went through the workbook the first time, BUT he made a conscious decision to keep an open mind, swallow his pride, eliminate the doubt and move on. Now when he goes through the exercises he doesn't have a "whatever" moment, he has a "hell ya" moment.
The concept of
Beyond Freedom really is no different from all of the other personal development programs out there, BUT what does make it unique is HOW it is laid out. HOW it syncs to all of the senses.
Obviously there is the workbook, which is great in helping you to open up to yourself. It asks questions, it helps you acknowledge who you are, what you want, etc. Of course, the hardest part is the being honest with yourself and not being afraid of YOU! Let's face it, if it isn't challenging, if it doesn't make you uncomfortable, is it really doing the job?
Accompanying the workbook, are audio CD's WITH the transcripts of what they review. Which is so cool! Sometimes it takes more than hearing the words to process it through your mind. The same can be said about HEARING the words versus skimming the pages. Essentially, they covered both bases!
Not only that, they also put together a DVD for those of you who are more visual. It's not just a "here you go, do the workbook and you'll be saving the world in no time" program. They don't just leave you hanging they also do motivational conference, phone calls, workshops and a slew of other events to help with the motivation and positive influence.
I must say that even with some of the "make Suzy roll her eyes" moments, the one thing that stands out above the other programs I have taken a look at over the last several years, this is the only one I have found that doesn't just sell you their shit and wave good bye. They don't want to NEVER hear from you again, they take pride in themselves for becoming your friend, mentor, and personal cheering squad. Shoot, I have had friends that I have known for over 20 years who don't do that!
Which is part of the success of getting your brain back to a functioning order. Positive reinforcement, someone who KNOWS what you are going through and believes in you enough to encourage you through it.
Of course, it is the PERFECT excuse to buy my Mont Blanc Boheme Jewels Amethyst fountain pen! What can I say? I'm quite the pen enthusiast and I love a great excuse to buy a new pen and you better believe that I am well worth spending more than my car payment on a pen!
Seriously though, if you are going through a tough time, if you honestly don't have a clue as to where your life is going, what direction you want to take, or if you are completely depressed
Beyond Freedom just may be what you need to get your juices flowing again. Treat yourself to something wonderful, because if you don't who will?
My Little Personal Breakthrough
We all go through those terrible depressing, not really sure what is going on in my life moments. Me included! Though 95% of the time I am completely upbeat, positive and have a smile on my face almost 24 hours a day, there comes a time when panic sets in, anxiety takes over, and I feel like I have no control over ANYTHING. I had several little stalker people, my health was less than par, and I felt like I was wound so tight that if I didn't do "something" I would completely snap. I was tired of complaining, I was tired of pretending, I was tired of being scared and I was tired of not doing anything about it.
So, I decided to take private kickboxing lessons. The guy who answered my Craig's List ad was patient, positive and totally different than what I had expected. My twice a week lesson turned out to be more than just helping me to lose weight, gain confidence and learn how to defend myself.
Marcus turned it into a haven where I could go and not HAVE to smile. I didn't HAVE to be the local organizational expert. I could swear, not wear make up, sweat, stink and just be the me that not very many people see...if any. My insecurities, my fears, everything came right through the door with me and when I left after my hour they didn't come home with me. When I smiled or laughed in the studio, it was really ME laughing. It was really ME smiling. They were genuine signs of happiness.
Kickboxing became a NEED. Not because I wanted to sweat and work out, hello! I'm lazier than anything, but because there was something else that was happening during my hour. Something I had no clue was happening. Then one day, Marcus talked to me about what he does for a living. Hmm, you mean my piddly pittance of twice week private lessons wasn't paying all of the bills? ;o) Nothing too terribly in-depth, just a here is what I do and why don't I bring a CD in and that way you have a better understanding.
Never fails, the day he brought in the CD's was a day that was totally "OFF" for me. Self doubt about myself, my decisions, my life, EVERYTHING dumped down on me in one little day. In between trying to remember to breathe and count at the same time (which I still haven't mastered), I totally dumped everything out. One thing after another, things I never knew bothered me suddenly "bothered" me. My self confidence was shot. (Ya, Miss Ego lost her ego!) All he did was hand me the CD's and made me promise to listen to them.
Begrudgingly, I listened to him and I put in the CD's that weekend. Have you ever had one of those light bulb moments when everything feels so much clearer? While I was listening to the CD's they didn't say anything that I didn't already KNOW, but it was amazing the feelings of confidence, optimism, and empowerment that washed over me when I heard them being said aloud. I felt like my old self again. Like I could go out and conquer the world. I was smiling a real live smile and I wasn't in the studio. That's when it hit me. Ya, I was losing weight and getting into shape, but what was really happening was Marcus hit a connection. He pushed a button and I was feeling better. He took the same applications he was using in his own Beyond Freedom program and was passing it along to me.
Making me be honest with myself, honest with what I wanted, honest with who I really was. He made me question myself, made me do things that I never would have thought I could do. (I even touched my frikken toes!)
For the first time in a very long time, I know who I am, what I want, where I want to go. I feel like a reinvention of my old self. Only this time, I chose what I wanted to include and what I wanted to exclude. My confidence is back and if it's even possible, I feel more sure of myself than I ever have. I feel like I have this wonderful little team in Marcus,
Beyond Freedom and myself, although the clapping can stop anytime now, Marcus!
Not only is my mental state a hell of a lot better, did I mention that I can wear my purple dress now and I look frikken hot?! ;o) Some things never change they just get better!
