My friend from work shared with me about the three and a half day Landmark Forum course that he attended and invited me to attend a free introduction. It sounded interesting and when something is free, rest assured I’ll attend. I decided to go to an introduction, but did not make it until about a year later due to excuses and time constraints.

I honestly had no idea what I was about to attend or why, but I decided to be open minded. This all happened over five years ago. I’ll never forget watching the leader command the space in the room and thinking how incredible it would be if I was able to have that level of charisma and leadership. Whatever that course leader guy had, I wanted.

Mary Eckman,

Chicago, IL

Sounds Good But…

He spoke of enrollment, breakthroughs, possibilities and distinctions.

It felt like I was listening to a language I had never heard before and I felt confused and annoyed. This was my experience when I attended an introduction to the Landmark Forum for the first time. I kept thinking why is everyone here so happy, smiley and personable and why are they pretending like they care about me and my life? The Forum leader’s energy and words were inspiring and captivating. I felt so charged up in that room and remember having the feeling that I actually could have the things I wanted in life. My mind was opened up to possibility for the first time in my short 25 years. I had had a burning desire to make a significant change in my life at that point.

Their about us statement: “The Landmark Forum, the foundation of all Landmark Education’s programs, is designed to bring about a fundamental shift or transformation in what is possible in people’s lives” sounded great, so I decided to see for myself if this was true.

I Agreed to Take It On

That introduction was my first experience of me actually creating my experience. Many people in the room did not have the same experience as me because they had come in closed-minded and skeptical. The way they experienced the introduction was the way they created it for themselves. Likewise, the way I experienced it was as a result of how I created it. Needless to say, I registered for the $485 course with only $60 in my bank account. My friend agreed to pay half for me so that made it seem even more appealing. I was kind of turned off by the pressure to register in the room, and how at least ten people came up to me to talk to me about what is stopping me from registering. It was strange because I wanted to do it, but then once people started asking me I played devil’s advocate. So regardless of my annoyance and frustration, I registered. In my world, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Not What I thought

I arrived to the course on Friday morning and in true Mary fashion I was about twenty minutes late. I went in the room and sat at the end of the row with a hoodie over my head. They were still in the process of answering questions about what the weekend was going to be like. I kept wondering when this thing was going to start. It didn’t take long for me to realize that it had already started. People would go to the microphone and share about their lives and what stops them from having the things they want. They talked in detail about events that had happened in the past. I was shocked at the openness of the group. I felt like I was in a room with 120 people who had all taken their masks off before they got here.

The Transformation Began

Over the next 3 ½ days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday evening) I went on the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime. I cried, I laughed, I saw myself in every single person, I challenged my conditioned beliefs and eventually on the third day had my entire view of reality shifted.

Seems like a lot to accomplish in such a short period of time, however it did happen and my life has never been the same since. All the fear, the drama, the lies, the falsities and fakeness that had been stuck inside of me my whole life had melted away on that third day. My first thought was OK this is amazing, but is this really going to last?

The Freedom I Never Thought Possible

On that third day I realized why all those people at the introduction had asked me to register twenty times. I was moved by their commitment to having a planet that works for everybody. Those people knew the power of the course and what it makes available for your life and wanted me to have that. If you are ready to become serious about your life and face yourself and your fears, I highly recommend doing the Landmark Forum. It really is a life changing course that will be the beginning of new life and freedom you never thought possible.

Life Changing and Permanent Results

Well, it is now five years later and it has definitely lasted. I have taken other courses inside of the curriculum; however, the tools I use on a day to day basis are as a result of the Landmark Forum. This course has given me an abstract arsenal to effectively deal with any person and situation I will ever encounter. I feel and know that I can handle anything life throws at me. I’m not saying that it’s easy to do this kind of personal development. However, the tools you learn to use really give you an advantage in life. I have been able to have conversations with people I would never have even considered having.

I’ve been able to become friends with people I never thought I’d be able to. I’ve been able to get jobs that weren’t available. My biggest fear of being in a healthy, loving soul mate relationship has been accomplished. The worldwide and personal success of Landmark’s programs are based on a form of transformative learning rather than informative learning. This course enabled me to face my biggest fears and see that anything I want for myself and my life is available to me if I choose it.