Introduction

1. A theoretical foundation such as the text provides is necessary as a framework to make the exercises in this workbook meaningful. Yet it is doing the exercises that will make the goal of the course possible. An untrained mind can accomplish nothing. It is the purpose of this workbook to train your mind to think along the lines the text sets forth.

2. The exercises are very simple. They do not require a great deal of time, and it does not matter where you do them. They need no preparation. The training period is one year. The exercises are numbered from 1 to 365. Do not undertake to do more than one set of exercises a day.

3. The workbook is divided into two main sections, the first dealing with undoing of the way you see now, and the second with the acquisition of true perception. With the exception of the review periods, each days exercises are planned around one central idea, which is stated first. This is followed by a description of the specific procedures by which the idea for the day is to be applied.

4. The purpose of the workbook is to train your mind in a systematic way to a different perception of everyone and everything in the world. The exercises are planned to help you generalize the lessons, so that you will understand that each of them is equally applicable to everyone and everything you see.

5. Transfer of training in true perception does not proceed as does transfer of the training of the world. If true perception has been achieved in connection with any person, situation or event, total transfer to everyone and everything is certain. On the other hand, one exception held apart from true perception makes its accomplishments anywhere impossible.

6. The only general rules to be observed throughout,then, are: First, that the exercises be practiced with great specificity, as will be indicated. This will help you generalize the ideas involved to every situation in which you find yourself, and to everyone and everything in it. Second, be sure that you do not decide for yourself that there are some people, situations or things to which the ideas are inapplicable. This will interfere with transfer of training. The very nature of true perception is that it has no limits. It is the opposite of the way you see now.

7. The overall aim of the exercises is to increase your ability to extend the ideas you will be practicing to include everything. This will require no effort on your part. The exercises themselves meet the conditions necessary for this kind of transfer.

8. Some of the ideas the workbook presents you will find hard to believe, and others may seem quite startling. This does not matter. You are merely asked to apply the ideas as you are directed to do. You are not asked to judge them at all. You are asked only to use them. It is their use that will give them meaning to you, and will show you that they are true.

9. Remember only this; you need not believe the ideas, you need not accept them, and you need not even welcome them. Some of them you may actively resist. None of this will matter, or decrease their efficacy. But do not allow yourself to make exceptions in applying the ideas the workbook contains, and whatever your reactions to the ideas may be, use them. Nothing more than that is required.

365 Stepping Stones to a New Life

I grew up in a pretty decent situation, now that I look around and see what some people were exposed to. I do have some demons in my past which, more and more, as time passes by, affect me less and less.

As a middle child, I grew up flying under the radar, getting away with more than maybe I should have. I feel bad now looking back because I really took full advantage of this. I had house parties and invited people (notice I did not say friends, who came never mattered to me as long as it was fun) to come over, drink and have the time of their lives on the weekends my Mother was out of town on business. I was a completely disrespecting, adolescent with absolutely no regard for anyone or anything that should have meant something to me at that time in my life. All I cared about was being fun. Being the funny guy. Being the guy that everyone said was a blast and that they loved hanging around me. I know now, how sad that time in my life really was.

This lifestyle followed me through to my mid twenties where I did some crazy things, and I may even qualify them as down right stupid. I'm not going to get into details but feel free to ask my little sister. She saw how out of control and ridiculous I really was.

Through those years there are thoughts that really stand out in my mind. "Man, does life get any better than this?" "I'm the funniest guy alive!" "Wow, is she ever hot! I bet she wants me!" All of which were conceived in the same moment as I was wiping away the vomit remaining on my chin after ducking under a table to remain unseen by the bouncers. I'm pretty sure that the girls I was referring to, were just staring in absolute disgust after I aided them in realizing what a half digested, 3 meat pizza pop mixed with Kokanee looks like when it is "sent back to where it came from!"

Throughout all the partying and drinking and attempted fraternizing, (yes.... attempted) I would also have, what I now believe, to be the beginning of my current consciousness. When I say consciousness, I don't mean to hint at the idea that I am "enlightened". Far from it! Although I am working towards it.

I remember vividly, on many occasions having this one thought. This one thought is now the basis I live my life on. This one thought rolls me out of bed at 4am when I couldn't sleep until midnite. This one thought tells me, "yes you can," when everyone else screams, "NO YOU CAN'T!" This one thought has taken me from the pathetic mess I was and has created amazing opportunity for me, in every single day I live.

This one thought was, "I know I am here for a reason, an important reason.... but.... What is it?"

I know... I know, everyone has had that thought at some point in their lives... right? Exactly right.... and like everyone, that's where the thought ended for me.

In the last 24 months, I would like to think I have gone through metamorphosis of sorts. I think the people close to me would agree. I was in a dead end job, unhealthy relationship and really, I either couldn't stand who I was or maybe I just didn't know who I was anymore. That guy who loved to laugh now preferred to make pointless and hurtful comments to people, just so I would feel better about how empty I had become.

Well, enough was enough! After the relationship ended and I had hit rock bottom I decided I needed to ensure Scott Weller had some substance. So, I took some training, got out of my dead end job and started a new career that was very rewarding. I renewed relationships with people around me who I care about and I now laugh regularly throughout every day! Good day or bad... I laugh!

The single most important thing I did, and really I think is the defining moment of my life to this point, was to make the decision to do whatever it would or will take, to answer "that one question"!

I spent the months ahead, studying books, researching the internet and talking with anyone who might be able to expand my way of thinking. I cam across the book, "the Secret" by Rhonda Byrne and it opened my eyes to a whole new world and that I can have whatever I desire in life.

I started implementing the principles described and things started happening immediately! Life became simplified and easy. Whatever I wanted or desired would magically appear. It was truly amazing.

I then came across a book called, "A Course in Miracles". It intrigued me immediately. The idea is to spend the next 365 days, completing one daily exercise and in doing so, it leads you towards a more "enlightened" existence. It creates a positive change within your mind so that you can see the world around you in a different light. You will see people for their inner "true" self. All this by completing a single exercise on each day for the next year of your life.

Through everything I have read to this point, through everyone I have spoken to til now, I believe this Course in Miracles will help me figure out that one question I have searched for the answer to throughout my 29 years on this earth.

So this is my invitation to you, to join me on my quest for enlightenment... or as enlightened as you or I can get. I will post the lessons daily. I would like to offer an invitation to you, to join me while you have your morning coffee and really apply yourself to completing these lessons over the next 365 days. To really look inside and discover how deep you can go within yourself. To find out the answer to YOUR ONE QUESTION.