The human mind is capable of astounding accomplishments, when at peace and uncluttered.  Unfortunately, a very small percentage of us reach our full potential, primarily because the mind is engaged in trivial, demoralizing, ego-centric thinking. Concentration and well being can’t be attained when the mind is preoccupied with living either in the future, or in the past. Fear, guilt, worry, and revenge are born from a distorted perception of reality and result in needless suffering. This class provides tools and insight into how to control and focus your thoughts to identify when you are engaged in non-productive thoughts. In addition, you will learn how to achieve a calm, self-confident state. Read lessons, participate in exercises, hold discussions with fellow students, plus receive personal coaching from the instructor. Runs for 6 weeks and is self-paced. Complete the lessons on your timetable. For more information visit www.gsinet.org. Be sure to include your email with registration.

Course Outline

Friday, Lesson 2
How the Mind Creates Thought and Emotion ~ For most of us, thinking is pervasive. Most of the time, it feels like our thoughts think us, rather than the other way around. Before we can make any progress toward ending suffering, we need a fundamental understanding of how these processes work. 

Week Two
Tuesday, Lesson 3
What is Reality? ~ From sensory input the brain creates its own version of what it perceives as reality. It will often interpret a frown as, "She thinks I'm stupid", when in fact she was looking into the sun.

Friday, Lesson 4
We Should be Very Happy ~ 21st Century Americans live in almost unbelievable vast prosperity, have incredible longevity, are fed to the point of obesity, and have plenty of loving relationships all around us. Yet, discontent, depression and stress are at epidemic proportions. What's up with that?

Week Three
Tuesday, Lesson 5
Tweaking Paradise ~ Most people are so busy trying to get someplace other than they are that they don’t notice they’ve stepped out of joyful bliss. Wherever we are, something or someone could always be better.

Friday, Lesson 6
Derailing the Freight Train ~ Allowed to run without supervision the mind can quickly become like a train speeding along without an engineer, nothing good is going to occur. Thought replacement is a simple cognitive therapy technique which can be used throughout the day to put the engineer back in control, so you can get some peace and quiet.

Week Four  
Tuesday, Lesson 7
Letting Go ~ We've spent six lessons identifying our thoughts of discontentment and how they originate, but that is not enough to end suffering. Now, we are going to show elegant techniques to simply let all negative thoughts dissipate by their own volition.

Friday, Lesson 8
Creating Emotional Balance ~ Learn techniques that lead to self-acceptance, your thoughts and stress, changing your habitual thinking, concentration and dealing with mental clutter.

Week Five  
Tuesday, Lesson 9
Quit Giving Away Your Power ~ Learn the tricks to identifying the environmental circumstances that affect you thoughts and emotions in a negative way.

Friday, Lesson 10
Quieting the Mind ~ Self-talk, guilt and exaggeration have you running around doing things that are not only unnecessary, but taking you in exactly the opposite direction of where you want to go. It takes a quiet mind to know what is truly important.

Week Six  
Tuesday, Lesson 11
Non Resistance Part I ~ Letting go of: making mountains out of molehills, control, being right, seeking approval of others, and materialism.

Friday, Lesson 12
Non Resistance Part II ~ Letting go of: blame, complaining, perfectionism, materialism, competition and the mainstream media.