Introduction / 15

feel better about who they are, meet challenges, and resolve conflicts
in their lives. In my professional life as an educator, and particularly for
the past 20 years as a co-creator of the unique SelfDesign and Virtual
High Learning Communities, I have helped many young people come
to a higher awareness of who they are and what they can be, using
many of the ideas in this book.
Specihcally, heres the ground covered in Learn Your Way!:
Chapter 1: MEET THE NEW YOU!
Fresh Insights On Human Being
1. BRAIN GAIN: New Insights Bring Promise of
New Learning Powers
2. THINK UP!: The Things You Think About and
The Way You Think About Them
3. MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES: How You Are
Smart
4. HEAD TO TOE, IN BETWEEN, AND BEYOND
Not that long ago, there was a tendency to rely on IQ (Intelligence
Quotient) scores that tested reading, writing, and math or numeracy
skills as the sole means to determine a persons overall intelligence.
Similarly, scientists figured that the human brain was finished developing
by about age 15; the word on the street was that if a brain wasnt fully
developed by then, a person was likely facing a lifetime of mental chal-
lenge. Talk about the Dark Ages! Nowadays, whole new concepts
of brain development, intelligence, wellness, and basic (yet impor-
tant) processes are emerging from the frontiers of science that reflect a
new, broader understanding of what it means to be human. This is good
news. In this chapter, well touch on some of the new developments
and what they mean for learners and your learning future.
Chapter 2: WHATS YOUR STORY? Creating
And Living Your Dream, Now!
1. STORYTIME THROUGH THE AGES:
Our Mythological Consciousness
16 / Learn Your Way!
2. SHAPING YOUR STORY AND YOUR DESTINY:
Beginnings
3. RETRAINING YOUR DRAGONS!
4. CREATING YOUR PERSONAL STORYBOARD
AND MOVIE
In this chapter, psychology meets mythology to revisit some time-
worn stories. Ill explore some lesser-known myths from older cul-
tures, as well as modern myths served up via contemporary media,
all of which contribute to a global understanding about who we really
are. No matter what your personal or cultural background, you will
learn how you are influenced by storytelling methods through mod-
ern media and how you can develop more personal power in your life
by accessing these myths to create your own personal story. Shape
it, breathe life into it, live it.
Chapter 3: LEARNING YOUR LIVING: Engaging
New Opportunities To Selfdesign Your Life
1. EXAMINING YOUR PERSONAL PROGRAM:
Your Values, Beliefs, Habits, Self-Concept,
and Attitude; Considering Family
Dynamics
2. BUMPS ON THE WAY: Institutional Inertia
(of Governments And Conventional
Schools)
3. SELFDESIGNING YOUR WAY
4. CONCLUDING GUIDANCE: Start Simple, Think
Big, Begin Now
In this chapter, were going to build on insights from the previous chap-
ters, examining first the Personal Program that most influences your
thinking and actions and then tweaking it to help you go beyond pres-
ent limitations and blocks in your life and Your (new) Story. Second,
well consider how two of the most influential cultural institutions,
Introduction / 17
governments and schooling, often send subtle and not-so-subtle mes-
sages that may be blocking you from achieving what you really wish
to achieve in your life, and what to do about this. Third, were going
to consider ways in which you can focus all of your learning and visu-
alizing efforts on the goals that you truly wish to achieve in your life,
starting now!
Many of the strategies and insights in this book are linked to my
favorite mentors, people living and deceased. I think they have some
of the finest minds and healthiest bodies of anyone Ive encountered in
my quest to experience a rich, meaningful life. Much of the book also
represents original ideas that Ive worked up to help contribute to per-
sonal learning and wellness.
Its true, too, that several of the ideas in here are available through
personal development or self-help workshops, usually available exclu-
sively to adults who plunk down lots of money for training and counsel-
ing. That convention leaves me shaking my head.
I think its high time for these insights to be made more available
to young people, a situation I trace to a largely unspoken assumption
that only adults take this stuff seriously. I dont believe that to be
true. In my experience, young people really enjoy and value these
insights and strategies. They put them into practice in their own
lives, and achieve the same breakthroughs that adults do, sometimes
much more efficiently. My logical brain tells me that the sooner you
start on a path to greater self-empowerment, which I believe will
be the outcome of reading this book and completing the exercises,
the better learners, citizens, husbands, wives, lovers, problem-
solvers, artists, scientists (etc.) youre all going to be.
Thats the future I am working to co-create and co- inspire.
I feel a need to warn you, however, that this path of
being more self-responsible is not a walk in the park.
If you embrace it fully, you may find it full of mud
holes, self-doubts, troubling thoughts, and people
undermining your potential to live your dream. In short,
Appendices and Additional Reference Suggestions / 139
Appendices and
Additional Reference
Suggestions
1. CONJURE UP: Invoking mythological power
in your life
2. COMMERCIAL BREAK: Protecting yourself
against manipulative advertising
3. HELP YOURSELF: Two strategies to
promoce relaacion and reeourcelulneee
4. w/NNRs' L0Br A conFicc-reeolucion
strategy where everyone wins
V. SELFDESIGN LEARNING: An Overview

cra ecull
providing
valuable
insights
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About Michael Maser
(MA, BSc, BA, BEd)
Michael began working as an educator in 1987.
Frustrated as a classroom-based teacher, he
joined SelfDesign Learning (formerly Wonder-
tree) in 1992, co-founding and co-directing the
award-winning and innovative SelfDesign and
Virtual High Learning Communities. In 2006,
Michael received a Prime Ministers Award for
teaching excellence and a special recognition award from the BC Min-
istry of Education for his work in SelfDesign.
Michaels special focus as an educator has been on nurturing (and
advocating) holistic learning through Multiple Intelligences, Neuro-
biological Learning (AKA Brain-Based Learning) and deepening self-
awareness. He is keen to advance SelfDesigning methodology of
which he is a co-creator.
Presently a member of the SelfDesign Learning Council, Michael is
also a course mentor in SelfDesign High, an online Independent school
for British Columbia teens. Many of the ideas and activities of this book
were first brought forward by Michael in Virtual High and and in various
SelfDesign programs and courses he has led.
Michael lives in Gibsons, British Columbia, with his family where
he hikes, canoes, strums, shrooms and supports all forms of holistic,
sustainable living. Much of the time he muses (and advocates) about a
world in which love and courage trump lust and fear. Michael is also a
former geologist and journalist.
Contact Michael for presentations and workshops through
SelfDesign Learning (www.selfdesign.org) (email: learnyourway@
selfdesign.org).