GTC - Lesson 1

Let's take a break from A Course in Miracles (ACIM) and post Chris Cade's lessons in regards to 'getting things changed,' or GTC.

Whether you’ve been on the path of personal development for a few weeks or a few years... you’ll probably agree that you haven’t seen the results you expected. Why? Well, one of two reasons:

1) You can’t decide which program, teacher or course to get started with or…

2) You don’t finish what you start… often finding yourself distracted by some new book, course or speaker instead.

To help liberate you from procrastination and lack of follow-through, I've created a 7-part mini-course called "Getting Things Changed." It explains the inner and outer obstacles conspiring against your efforts at changing your life for the better.

It starts today. Below is your first lesson. :)

--------------------

Lesson 1: "Boundaries Can Set You Free"

Like many people, Jane started meditating because she knew it would improve her life. When it was new and the enthusiasm was there, she found it easy.

Once the novelty wore off, however, Jane wasn't that excited about meditation anymore.

It didn't feel that great. She tired of it easily. She couldn't stop wondering what was happening on Facebook.

She quickly found her meditations went from 30 minutes a day to 30 seconds. "I'm just not in the flow, today," Jane would say as she pulled out the IPad to check her emails.

This approach of "I'll do something when it's going good but quit when it's not going so well" is destroying people's will power – whether they are trying to meditate, paint a portrait or get in shape.

That's why I teach people to time their meditations. Set an alarm. Have a goal. This forces us to say to ourselves: "It doesn't matter if my meditation is good or bad... I'm just going to finish it."

Whatever you want to do to improve your life -- set a timer.

Take it a step further by keeping a log or journal – tracking your progress.

Now, once we overcome this barrier to our willpower, then our "Inner Critic" (a subconscious villain that tries to stop us from living a fulfilling life) will use another far more cunning tactic...

Let's say Jane has committed to meditating five minutes each day whether she's in the mood or not. It's a little difficult at first, but after a few weeks she's really enjoying it.

Then one day she's experiencing a very deep meditation and doesn't want to stop when the alarm goes off. So she keeps on meditating as long as she continues to feel this deep state of peace.

Sounds good, right? Not so fast...

Now, when will she actually stop her meditation since the alarm has already gone off? When her meditation starts going bad. That's when.

So now Jane's giving up. Again.

What should you do?

I recommend that you meditate for whatever time you know you can consistently commit to every day. Then if you're having a great meditation one day and you want to meditate more, wait until the timer goes and set it again for another five minutes (or whatever time you decide).

The same goes for exercise. If you're on a runner's high after two miles then set another goal. Maybe aim for another mile. Or do the same route again. But don't just keep on running until you don't feel like it anymore.

All of us come into life with our subconscious whims, moods, thoughts and beliefs dictating most of our actions. But it doesn't have to be that way.

During this free mini-course, I'm going to help you see exactly what is causing the problems in our lives – and what to do about it. It's only 7 lessons. Commit to yourself to read every single one.

With Love,

Chris

P.S. Some people will say that setting boundaries, time limits and tangible goals for something as intangible as a personal transformation is "unnatural." They'll say that it's not "going with the flow."

In your next lesson, I'll respond to that objection. I think, once you hear my take, you'll agree that NOT setting boundaries is actually what's unnatural.