Lessons
Lesson Info
Class Introduction
Awesome. (applause) Thank you so much. Firstly, I just want to thank you guys for participating and being here in the audience and obviously, you online, thank you for participating and being part of what we're creating here today. My name is, as you can see on this big giant sign here, my name is Gary John Bishop and this course is all about this thing called self. And I'm going to, in a moment, create for you what it's going to take for you to participate in this course, right, so. There's generally a way that you and I participate in courses themselves, right? We kind of like, we like to sit in a class like this and we observe it. So, you might be noticin' from time to time as we make our way through this that you are kind of noddin' your head in agreement. Or like, "Oh, this guy's talkin' garbage. "I don't like what he's saying right now." You might find yourself even, like, scribbling some notes or kickin' back, "You know, this is good." Right? Which is often how we do this kind o...
f stuff. It's kind of like we're saying to the person at the front of the room, "Do me. "Work your magic on this. "Let's see what you got." And then for those of you that are online, you know, you might notice you've already got a couple of browsers open right, for when you're checked out, you're like, "Well, what's happenin' in my Instagram account "while I'm doing him?" So, the reality is, we're actually not really participating. Even when it seems like you are giving it your full attention, you know like, "Oh, I'm really here. "I need to listen to this guy's wonderful Scottish accent." Try on the idea that you're in some kind of mode of agreement or disagreement. Right, like you're checkin' it out to see what fits for you and what doesn't. "This guy's full of shit. "I'm not listening to this stuff." And that's actually the most base level of thinking for human beings is this mode of agreement and disagreement. That's actually how you do your social media. If you've ever seen yourself on Facebook you're like, (mumbling) You're actually saying that to yourself as you're flickin' your way through it. Gettin' furious at people you don't even know. Already with what I said there, you might be disagreein', "I don't do that." That's what I'm talkin' about. What I'm sayin' is actually that's human life. You're in this kind of default state. And what it takes to change your life is something called participation. You need to actually participate in it instead of observin' it or waiting for somethin' to happen that's gonna change you or alter you. And in this course it takes, like a real, kind of full-blooded willingness to really question yourself. That's how you participate in here. You must be willin' to question yourself. And it's the same if you're observing this online right now and you're mostly workin' out whether this is the course for you or whether I've got anything valuable to say. Take your attention off of me and get your attention on you. Cause that's really what this thing's about. You know, it's about you. But being here will require a couple of things from you. So the first thing that it will require is a little glimmer of courage. Some of you already thinking, "Get me the heck out of here. "I didn't do the courage thing." You need to leave yourself open to the idea of dangling yourself out there and being open to scrutiny. Not my scrutiny, not the people watching this online, but your own kind of scrutiny. Might be well intekina to check yourself out. Few things in life take as much courage as taking a good old-fashioned look at ourselves, you know. And it's not somethin' we do, even those of you that say you do. Try on the idea that you don't; you mostly don't really hold yourself to somethin'. And then secondly you'll need some kind of facility for being authentic. So, you really need to put your real life at stake to be in this course. Your life's no joke. You know, there's real things happen in your life that work and don't work and they're really important to you. So, this really isn't about the course. It's really about you and your real life. And usin' the real items, like the items in your life that you say, "You know what, I want to really "take this on for myself." If you remember some of those kids from school that were always a little too cool for school? You know, you might be sitting there, "Well, this doesn't apply to me. "Not really." But deep down you knew were those kids at school that, they were pretendin'? Like there was something they were concerned about so they just kind of made out that they didn't care. Try on that's you. And that by digging into the nitty gritty of your life in here, it's gotta be pretty tough at times. But you can't sit there goin' through the motions. Right, and again, for the participants online, you know, you outta really consider here that what we're talkin' about, that everything we're saying in here really is about you. All of it. So, if you can get your mindset and your attention on something called participation rather than observation, right, like, "I like that shirt he's wearin', "wonder where he bought it." That's observation. You're kinda missin' the point of being here. It's not a fashion show. And you can bring yourself to bein' this kinda, courageous and authentic you when in engaging in this kind of conversation. You'll get the most benefit out of being here. So, there's a very famous guy who I tend to like. He's long gone, but he was really smart. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Without ambition one starts nothing. "Without work one finishes nothing. "The prize will not be sent to you. "You have to win it." It's kinda, very pointed statement there. And I'm sayin' it applies to you. So, in short, what you get out of this, is what you put into it. You know, not everybody who goes into the gym walks out the other end lookin' like a body builder. Have you ever noticed that? (audience laughs) Some of you are like, "Oh, really. "I thought it was like a car wash, "You just went through." No! Whatever you put in, you'll real reap those results and the other thing to get is, even from whatever way you participate, there's an opportunity for you to learn somethin' really important about yourself. Not only in the subject matter, but in how you participate.
Class Materials
Bonus Materials with Purchase
Ratings and Reviews
Sonya L
LOVE THIS CLASS. This is the best class I have even followed. So inspiring. A few words to describe the class transparent, sincere, fun, inspiring, and motivational. I felt like I was in the studio with everybody else. Best class ever. Thank you all of you.
Gary Manzo
I found the course helpful in identifying my own areas of concern. Accepting that I must take a stand, for the life I want, is very significant and meaningful. As an artist, I realize I want to be considered "great" and without living/acting like a great artist I will never realize the goal, or experience the journey which is as important and satisfying as some sort of finalized goal. I recall hearing the expression, "what you pretend to be you become" years ago. Not until today it the meaning "click" with me as a enjoyable "ah ha" moment.
Amy
Gary has a wonderful ability to give you a step-by-step approach to improving your life significantly. I've listened to many thought leaders and I found his assignments and grounding in amazing philosophers to be entertaining, achievable and inspiring.
Student Work
Related Classes
Self-Improvement