This evening, I was chatting with someone about Landmark Education. I heard about this program (subtitled, “Innovative programs for living an extraordinary life”) from a new friend of mine, and I am very impressed by the program. I don’t necessarily feel called to attending, although I would possibly be open to it. I think it’s some really awesome, stuff, though, and I liked reading the curriculum program partly because it confirmed for me a lot of things I’ve been discovering about life, and working on, for a while. For example, this unit: “Dealing Powerfully with Breakdowns” is something I discovered years ago (that breakdowns are just potential breakthroughs in disguise). In fact, just the other day, I was talking to a friend of mine via pm, and said:

“Holding the intention that a breakdown can instead be a breakthrough, it tends to go that direction. Then, I see the things that are falling apart as no-longer-needed energies dying, so that I can be born to an awareness of a deeper, more powerful reality or way of being…”

I think the people with Landmark Education have discovered a better WAY OF LIVING that others are also discovering as part of the Global shift in awareness that is happening, and it’s beautiful. It’s a process that works, that sustains people’s spirits while allowing for more ALIVE living.

So, I was talking about all of this with my friend. I briefly pondered taking the course so then I could then teach it at some point and share these concepts with others. Then, he said, “do you think your life is extraordinary?” in a way that implied it wasn’t, and I almost responded, “fuck you” but held that back, because although at first it seemed mean, I realized that he wasn’t trying to be mean. Instead, I ended up basically saying, “I am an extraordinary person, and I’ve done extraordinary things, so yes, my life is extraordinary” and I ended the conversation to clear my thoughts.

If this conversation had happened even a few weeks ago, I would have felt crushed. I would have started thinking about all the ways my life doesn’t appear extraordinary, and I would have felt dumb for thinking otherwise. See, lately, I have been seeing how extraordinary I am, so there has been a significant shift, enough so that I could stay apart from his opinion enough not to absorb it. That right there is years of work finally coming together for me. I have always struggled with hating myself, doubting myself, and not believing in myself.

Lately, I have been considering some intense personal risks to start really creating movies like I want to. This has been fueled by the belief that I really have something special to contribute. Every tiny thought of faith in myself has been doubled by Spirit, and I have seen my self-confidence grow like it never has. On top of that, I have been realizing how amazing I really am, because of all the very difficult things I have triumphed over. I have really lived, I have done so much healing, I have had so many adventures, and I have loved deeply and fearlessly. Yes, I am extraordinary! My life is extraordinary! The miracle of life by itself is amazing, as is the fact I can actually hold this miracle in my heart without trying to minimize it.

Instead of being mad (which isn’t helpful), I am trying to hold my friend in my heart, and simply realize he is holding a different vision of success.

I am interested in a process-oriented type of success. Many people are product-oriented. This almost goes without saying, but how this cuts down is not always so obvious. When looking only at the outward manifestations of success, it’s easy to miss a lot. The most interesting moments are nearly invisible if you don’t look right. An extraordinary life isn’t only about the external successes, things, prosperity accumulated. To me, an extraordinary life is about the adventures had, the stories to tell, the internal AND external triumphs, the distance covered in pursuit of dreams. Extraordinary means just that, beyond ordinary. Ordinariness is about living in the boxes people leave out for you, living free and living bravely. I feel that my life is pretty extraordinary. Is it everything I might want it to be? No, but the striving is

Lately, I have been seeing my future unfold before me, and I have gotten so high on the vision that I can’t help but be pretty excited about myself. Also, as I say YES to the vision that Spirit is putting in front of me, I must step into a bigger ME, a me that is extraordinary enough to take on all of these beautiful challenges and triumph. Of course, as I’ve started expanding into my fullest self, internal barriers to success have begun melting. Internal obstacles I’ve struggled with for years are finally just falling away like ice under boiling water. The other day, for example, some really great screenplay themes and ideas came to me while I was working. I have always felt like writing was in my heart, but I couldn’t get to it, and suddenly it’s volunteering to come out. I am ready, and the moment of anticipation I am living in is so rich and full that I can only expand and grow more in order to hold it. So, I am experiencing exponential expansion, and I forget that not everyone can see it. I keep thinking that everyone can see it, although perhaps it is only visible to me for now. That’s okay. That’s a part of the storyline, too. Basically, I’m at the top of the slide. I’ve climbed up the ladder, and outwardly I’m pretty still, but the potential for motion is great. In a moment, I’ll start moving and accelerating in a way other people can see, with visible kinetic energy. By the time it’s easy to see me moving, I’ll be moving pretty fast, because it was a big build-up.

Until then, you can take my word for it. I’m extraordinary! You probably are too. If you can’t see it, try on a different set of eyes! If you don’t know how to grow new eyes, this program seems like a good start! Doubt waters no seeds. Choosing to see the extraordinary all around tends to bring it out, it seems. Even if that’s not true, wonder-vision sure makes any life more interesting.

For the record… I don’t think I’m more special than anyone else. The potential that I am tapping into, everyone has it, and I can see it in every person I meet. I see so much potential everywhere I look. I think it’s good to talk about how awesome I am, but I’d also like to talk about how awesome YOU are. I am surrounded by awesomeness. : ) It’s possible to start seeing this, BEing this, living this. There is no ceiling. Only potential.