I believe this program has changed my life. This is not something I say lightly, and, in fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever said it about anything.
 
A month ago, the negative self-talk would have been swirling around inside my head, beating me up and tearing me down. The tone and content of the conversations I have with myself are so completely different now! I feel more confident and able to deal effectively with the tough things life throws in my path. I’m so excited!! It’s so amazing to know a new way.
 
I feel unstoppable!
 
Anita Dolliver

 

I expected the program to be great. It turned out to be transformational.
 
Before I started, I felt I had a good level of self-awareness yet still experienced lots of ‘noise’ between my ears.
 
By completing the 30-day online program, I feel I have a closer relationship with myself and a better understanding of the real me vs. the voice of resistance.
 
I find myself treating myself kinder and more compassionately, and I feel generally happier! My romantic relationship has improved greatly over the last 30 days, something I didn’t expect to happen. My level of presence has increased, which is having a positive effect on my business as well as my personal life.
 
I’m excited about the future!
 
Will Aylward

 
 

 

I don’t know where to start to explain the incredible transformation that took place for me during this 30-day program. I’ve used phrases like “standing on my head” and “having my world completely turned upside down,” but these do not even come close to the real EXPERIENCE I had.
 
I came to this course driven by my fear of anxiety and knowing that I needed guidance. Months prior, I had learned about meditation and started a practice because I had run out of coping strategies to deal with my anxiety. I knew I needed a teacher to go farther and deeper into this new meditation practice. I discovered Alex on a meditation Facebook page and quickly started following him and his teachings on his own Facebook page.
 
In the “Heart to Heart: Compassionate Self-Mentoring” program, from Day 1 to Day 30, I was led down a path of discovery. This program is incredibly clever in the way it is crafted and how one day builds on the previous days. I commented to Alex in the end that he needs to provide 365 days of these teachings and that I would gladly be his test subject.
 
Each day in the program was a completely new twist on whatever path you thought you were following. Alex follows along with you and comments on your insights. There is no right or wrong answer! The course requires that you be committed to following it day by day, and I can assure you that commitment is a HUGE requirement. But wow, the benefits of your personal commitment to this course are life-changing. I mean that seriously. I went from an anxiety-ridden, sometimes paralyzed person to someone who now says: “I have the freedom to do whatever I want.” I learned effective ways to deal with the negative self-talk (Alex calls them voices) that defines anxiety and instead tap into my creative, happy, joyful, and kind self. I met my compassionate self-mentor and coach. She, by the way, is an awesome force. I could not be more satisfied.
 
And a little more about Alex, the program creator. He reaches out to you and connects with the real YOU. Not the worried you, not the anxious or depressed you, but the authentic you. From the start, in any one-on-one with him, you will be amazed at how upbeat and positive the conversation goes and, if aware of it, the clever way he finds you.
 
I will finish by telling you I had my doubts. About Alex. About the course. About my commitment. About the cost. I did as much research as I could and talked with Alex a few times directly. How could I trust “this guy?” I’m here to reassure you that Alex is the real deal. I’ve not only gained a teacher but he’s also become a friend. I affectionately refer to him as my “Zen Dude.”
 
Christina Jette

 

I wanted to find a way to identify the “voices” of resistance in my own head and learn not to let them control me.
 
Heart-to-Heart: Compassionate Self-Mentoring helped me realize that I am actually doing much better than I thought and that I am a better person than “I” (the Voices?) thought. Through one particular exercise, I discovered that I already possess many of the qualities that I admire in others, and that was very surprising to me.
 
Additionally, I learned so many techniques and strategies in this program. One very important one was to be my own mentor in any given situation.
 
In another, I learned how to be a better listener to myself and those around me. It inspired me to be a more present and attentive listener with my 4-year-old boy. And that’s been transformational to our relationship. If this one seemingly “small” thing was the only thing that came from me signing up for this program, it would have been worth 10 times the cost!
 
Bret Russell

 

Having already done a long road of self-development and healing for personal reasons, I was called to challenge myself on an even deeper journey into self-discovery. Some barriers in my life included the difficulty of giving myself credit for anything, having low self-esteem, and lacking self-compassion. Having spoken to Alex before the program, I felt compelled to try it in order to address these beliefs that I had been carrying.
 
I learned so much about myself but also gained a deeper understanding of both people and happenings in and around my life. It brought me a true sense of awareness of my own worth and my own power to guide myself through compassion and kindness.
 
As a result, I began believing in myself, in my own worth, that all my dreams and desires can be achieved, and that any voices trying to talk me out of believing in these are just companions on my path of life, but that they don’t determine my worth.
 
I truly recommend this program to anyone! The results become visible in a very invisible and subtle way, but once they are installed in your awareness, you’ll be elevated to another level of life.
 
Hanna Nyholm

 
 

 

I can’t thank you enough for the gift you provided me with this program.
 
It came at a perilous time in my life—where I was losing myself and falling apart—mentally and spiritually. Your program, weekly Zoom calls, and daily practices truly brought me back from the brink of psychological disaster. What a blessing to have discovered you!
 
I am eternally grateful that you exist—that your kindness & experience are available—and that your courses & books are there to be digested—and that you welcomed me into your orbit with open arms.
 
I feel closer to the real me than I have in many years—more confident, tranquil, secure, and happy—ready to share and “unfold” my love with the world. I am excited for the best version of me!
 
Immediately after completing your course, I jumped on a last-minute flight to visit my father—whom I had not seen in a few years. Without your course, I don’t know if I would have felt compelled to reconnect with my old man—who I love and admire greatly but who I have bumped heads with in the past. I let all of that go—and I had the most amazing time with him.
 
Thank you for reconnecting me with ME—my essence—my soul. But also opening my eyes and my heart to all the beautiful and incredible things in my life. I am a very lucky person. I will continue my daily practice of meditation, gratitude, self-mentoring, reflections, and mantras. It makes me feel great!
 
Lastly, I will enthusiastically evangelize your class to all who come my way and may need help. I hope you understand that this is my unique way of giving back to others and extending my everlasting gratitude to you. Eventually, I would like to continue taking your other programs and greatly look forward to your upcoming audiobook.
 
You are the best, Alex.
 
Thank you!
 
John Lopez

 

My two primary challenges coming into the program were 1. Not being kind to myself or actually being downright mean to myself, and 2. Feeling stuck, stagnant, and shut down in areas of life.
 
Through the program, I came to understand that the mean voice I was often hearing was not actually my own and how it was influencing a lot of my beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. At the same time, I learned to dis-identify with the voice and introduce a new voice that is kinder, more compassionate, supportive, and loving–because that is what is actually helpful in day-to-day life. In addition, I learned how to use the kinder, more loving voice to encourage the types of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that I desire and get me closer to the “true” me. The kinds of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that you can feel proud of, satisfied by, and that you don’t wake up in the morning regretting or feeling guilty for.
 
I was severely struggling with resistance to taking action on…pretty much everything in my life, and battling the resistance was overwhelming. The power of that resistance is significantly reduced, and I have started moving forward again. My situation at work has improved, my relationships have improved, and the quality of my conversations has improved (both internal and external). The way I relate to life around me in general has improved, and when the mean voices attack, I bounce back and am able to redirect very quickly. I feel more grateful, notice the beauty around me, be more present, and overall much kinder to myself, and it ripples to others. On a more tangible scale, I have generated more activity at work, I have reduced the amount of time I spend on social media/using my phone in general, increased the amount of time spent in meditation, and somehow found extra hours in my day to accomplish my tasks/goals that I didn’t realize I had before. To be clear, this hasn’t been done by getting up two hours earlier than usual (although if I needed to for some reason, I would). It has been by finding a way to navigate the internal struggle so I can get moving again in a way that feels good and is beneficial to me. I can’t tell you how good it feels to go to bed at night knowing that you accomplished what you set out to and feel prepared for tomorrow. It’s true freedom knowing that you’re consciously making the choices that are going to serve you in life.
 
I had spent a lot of time seeking external solutions (countless self-help books, coaching sessions, personality tests, meditation apps, etc.) – trying to find the “answer” that would catapult me into motion but always walked away with a “nope, that wasn’t it” feeling and quickly reverted into thinking “there’s something wrong with me, I’m beyond help. This is hopeless, I should just quit trying.” This 30-day journey in getting to know myself better was the answer I had been looking for.
 
Laura Liacos

 

What’s changed? Everything. I found me. I have joy, kindness, compassion, humor, and love of me in me. I looked to others to give me these and was always disappointed. I now know that I only have to look inside me to find out how perfect I am right now. Yes, I do have moments of doubt and anxiety. I had a tendency to procrastinate and not finish things. As scary at times as the program was, each day, I came out seeing myself more perfectly and liking what I saw.
 
I am meditating, listening to my recordings, finding three things I am grateful for, and exercising daily. Why? because I said I would. My word now means something to me.
 
For too long, I allowed the voices in my head to convince me that it was all right to do what I knew was not right. I suffered, I was anxious, I had high blood pressure, I had panic attacks, I had sleepless nights. Now I just breathe. So simple. I now know when I hear the infamous voice start off with “You…” I know it’s the resistance, and I know its objective is to make me suffer. “No, thank you.”
 
The unknown can be scary. Yet I came through meeting me and my mentor. I am different. I am perfect the way I am, and I love myself the way I am. I know my path is to take this next program, and I will find deeper beauty, love, joy, happiness, communication, kindness, and, most importantly, me around each bend.
 
Thank you, Alex, for offering me this opportunity.
 
Dick Farrell

 
 

 

I signed up for this program because I felt at the end of my rope. I was not working productively, and I felt a pervasive sense of profound dread. I started with Alex’s online Zen meditation workshop, Taming Your Inner Noise, and he was incredibly generous with his time. The course application itself gave me a great deal of insight into my struggles and my role in keeping myself trapped almost completely in the past. The idea of the voices tricking me into not living my life and, rather, escaping with mind-numbing activities was transformative to me. Because of the in-depth application, I expected the course to expect a lot of me and to help me address aspects of my life I felt completely helpless to work out myself. I believed I was a pathetic person, unworthy of the good things in my life, deserving of the bad, a failure at improving myself, and a petty squanderer of the gift of my life.
 
I learned that I am fine and welcome, just as I am. I am able to make the choice of being here, in the present, exactly where I want to be. At first, the concept of the voices seemed like a convenient construct to let me off the hook. I quickly realized they have been the driving force behind my lack of engagement with and fear of the world; they were the internalized messages imprinted on me throughout my life. Noticing and studying them, I felt “the scales fall from my eyes.” I received the gift of my life, of living my life with joy, of gaining the skills to appreciate why I do what I do. I have dreams I can fulfill in a positive, grace-filled way.
 
“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
—TS Eliot
 
My results, accomplishments, or transformations? I am my mentor, coach, and friend, and I may be with them anytime, really all of the time. I care for myself and listen deeply and clearly to myself and others. I am working productively and with passion, without self-consciousness and the worry that I am not enough. I am with family and friends in a way that nurtures me and no longer brings me to my knees. Listening clearly and deeply to the voices as well, I appreciate why I feel anxious, dread, panic, and neediness. I see my life through eyes of joy and well-being. I love learning, and I want to continue with my learning – with Alex and with me.
 
Compassionate Self-Mentoring requires self-examination and facing what feels awkward and painful. A commitment to showing up, to doing the work with courage and honesty, and to believing in yourself is the practice and the gift. The supportive and inspiring loving kindness offered by Alex is a lovely model for the support and inspiration we may offer ourselves. The hands-on engagement actualizes the things we have hoped for ourselves by shifting our perspective from lack and helplessness to abundance and independence.
 
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
—Marcel Proust
 
Diana Murray

 

I had known about Alex’s Heart to Heart: Compassionate Self-Mentoring program for a number of months before I made the decision to take the plunge. I’m glad I didn’t wait a month longer. (Or worse yet, allowed resistance to talk me out of it all together). I came out of it happier, kinder to myself (and others), and equipped with practical tools to provide myself with the wisdom and compassion I’d been seeking from the outside.
 
Alex has put together a fun, solid, and well-organized program which he leads you through with humor and compassion. It’s obvious that he loves what he is doing and is excited to share his wisdom and insights with others. Alex truly cares about you as an individual and it shows in the personal responses he gives each participant. It’s a life changer!
 
Rick Graham

 

I was stuck. After decades of trying every avenue towards happiness…education, therapy, and spiritual teachers, I was still unhappy. I was listening to the negative voices in my head, stuck in patterns, anxious and unfocused. Reading Alex’s Zen Life teachings online, in his books, and about the program, I saw a totally new approach to life. I thought, I don’t know where to turn anymore, I don’t know what to do. I have to try this!
 
The lessons and storytelling Alex used were so unusual, gripping, and challenging that I was hooked from the first day of the program. Truly an experience of growth, pain, and happy endings. Oftentimes, the negative voices were very loud. They were shouting down all the new discoveries I was making about who I was, about freedom to live my true life. Some days, it was beyond challenging. But I felt so supported through regular feedback and the feeling that if I needed help, it was there I felt TRUST surprisingly fast! Alex’s input was so insightful it cut right through to the heart of the matter. It’s like he already knew who I was and what I needed and showed me paths I’d never ever thought of before. To say it was illuminating doesn’t even begin to describe it.
 
It seems that every area of my life was touched: relationships, lifelong patterns, self-care (lack of!), and a skewed worldview. I feel like I’m being set free. To let go…of controlling voices, dependency, my victim story, and holding myself in check. To let go of a boatload of distorted thinking about who I was. Discovering that my view of the past, myself, and people’s perception of me is cloudy or just plain untrue. I’ve been putting my attention in the wrong place. Now, I’m learning to mentor myself, set guidelines, commit, and make choices that come from my heart instead of my head. The epiphanies just keep coming. It’s exciting and shocking, sometimes, it makes me laugh out loud. I just finished the 30-day program, and I feel so much lighter like there’s all this extra space in my head. Awareness! Some days, I feel like I hit every green light, everything comes to me. I’m reaching out, opening up, saying YES to opportunities, and taking risks. Most importantly, I’m getting to know myself, like myself, and I’m learning to take gentle, compassionate care of myself. I am so, so grateful for this experience.
 
So what else do I have to say? Just do it!!! It is so worth it! I’ve finished the program feeling that I have endless resources to draw on to guide me forward. This is an incredible journey. Full of light.
 
Julie Botterini

 
 

 

Before the program, my problem was overcoming resistance and listening to negative self-talk — just enough to take me out of action.
 
I learned, and soon understood, just how active the voice in my head actually is. The commentary literally rarely stops. I also noticed that this commentary is rarely compassionate or helpful. It is usually judgemental and negative. It is full of shoulds, can’ts, and commentary on others.
 
I realized early on in the course how to overcome and even laugh at resistance and that the negative self-talk. To notice the voice and watch it, but not allow it to consume my whole mind or act on those impulses. To allow the thoughts and voice to just be, however not allow it to create emotions that affect my actions. I also believe this helps me live more from deliberate choices and less from habit.
 
Many of the exercises made me a bit uncomfortable! Gently pushing the edges of my comfort zone day by day. This continuous expansion of my comfort zone and day-by-day triumph over resistance has made running my business much more enjoyable, and I feel much less resistance throughout the day. Another huge benefit I have found is an increased feeling of the spaciousness of time—no need to rush.
 
David Rattai

 

I signed up for the retreat after reading Alex’s book, A Shift to Love. I was at a point in my life where I felt I needed to grow in certain areas and decided to sign up for the retreat to facilitate that endeavor.
 
The retreat was more than I could have imagined. It gave me a base from which to work so I could become more confident in my decisions, love myself, appreciate my good qualities, and be open to the possibilities that lie ahead.
 
The result of the retreat was that I became more capable of making really good decisions for myself. I could use the love I had for myself to not beat myself up for anything I was struggling with. I had myself as the support I needed to get through any tough times.
 
If you feel that there must be something more out there, that you are missing something in your life, that you need help with getting through difficulties, or that you have patterns you want to change, I believe this month-long would be of great help! I am so grateful I took the plunge. It was fun, challenging, enlightening, caring, and kind. Also completely unexpected. Alex does an amazing job of building the month-long in a systematic way so that each day builds upon the next. He is there every step of the way to support you so that you have a successful program. I am forever grateful.
 
Marion Shippey

 

I expected a deeper analysis of becoming mindful and learning more about my present self and how to continue down the path of becoming a better “me.”
 
Among many other things, I learned so much about self-compassion, mindfulness, and how to view the world in a more patient, present, and compassionate way. It has helped with my personal and business relationships and given me a platform and energy behind further study and growth.
 
I know that I have a long way to go, but I am so grateful for this practice. It has helped me become a better business owner, friend, father, and husband. It has opened my eyes to what is possible, particularly by reminding me of the best of who I am from my childhood.
 
This practice is amazing and transformational. Like anything important in life, it isn’t easy. It takes commitment, humility, and deep inner striving. But I have enjoyed every day of it. I wish there were 31 days in this month!! 😊
 
Incredible gratitude goes out to the patient, compassionate, and so-wise Master Alex (my appellation, surely not his. 😊).
 
Richard Harris

 
 

 

I wasn’t sure what to expect before the program started, but I knew I wanted a change. I wanted to live differently and feel differently.
 
And I gained so much! I really understand how important it is to be your own coach, mentor, and supporter.
 
I feel like I transformed tremendously. I am so much more aware of the voices in my head. I’m more aware of how I talk to myself and about myself. I am my own best supporter, and I don’t think I would have said that before this program.
 
It’s worth every penny, if you are on the fence, go for it! You’re worth the investment, and you will be thrilled with the outcome if you put in an honest effort (ten to 20 minutes a day with an open mind).
 
Becky Ziegenfuss Lyons

 

Before starting the program, I was plagued with self-doubt and negative voices in my head telling me all sorts of things I couldn’t do or at least could never do right. I ate poorly even though I knew it was making me sick and overweight. I lived between moments of happiness and self-loathing.
 
I really can’t put into words how much this program has changed my life! This is well worth any amount of money! I feel much more confident and capable of making decisions. I haven’t beat myself up over anything in weeks! I’m much less stressed and eating better. I feel less sick and worn down because of it. I feel more connected with other people. Being more compassionate with myself has allowed me to be more compassionate with others!
 
I can’t recommend this program enough! It is truly a Life-Transforming experience! Thanks, Alex!
 
Greg Suchy

 

Before signing up for the program, I thought I didn’t have the time to really engage in it as I was going through a month full of exams. However, it turned out to help me with my studying habits and with my performance in the exams.
 
I was also going through a period of confusion, and I believed that there were too many things in the spiritual realm that I had to figure out. I felt that this program would simply not help me with that. I was reading everything I could get my hands on and making the snowball bigger by overthinking it all.
 
From doing the course, I’ve experienced deeply profound insights into understanding what-is-what and who-is-who in this life game.
 
I’ve learned that it is not books that really teach, but your life experience, and that REALLY, there is an amazing treasure inside of me and of us all.
 
I have learned that I really do care and want the very best for myself and that I don’t have to work very hard to obtain or gain self-love. Self-love is already here, and it is always waiting for me to come back home.
 
I have learned that what the mind THINKS is the wisest thing to say or to do is oftentimes not in alignment with what the heart KNOWS is needed.
 
Reading and reading and theorising about who you are is very different from knowing who you really are.
 
I have also learned from this retreat that the mind will do everything to avoid experiencing pain and that you simply want the best for you, and that means very compassionately calling and opening to your pain to be experienced, without fear and with such trust and warmth that it is astonishing how sweet it can be.
 
My biggest transformation (even though it is still tiny) has been, in brief, to switch my attention to a compassionate voice inside of me that I never believed I myself could have. I always thought that this “compassion thing” was only for a few people, but I am learning that if I focus on it, it is always there, AND that truly is the answer to everything.
 
I have learned how desperately I need my own compassion because I have always been very hard on myself. Just a glimpse of it is healing.
 
Also, I would like to highlight Alex’s guidance throughout this process. In my experience, all participants in the retreat show up with our most frightening vulnerabilities, and Alex shows up with such joy and compassion, absolutely zero judging and appreciation for you and the work you are doing. He makes you feel like you are loved and very welcome. His love for life glows even through a screen!! He gives such potent insights that just that is worth experiencing.
 
Belén Blanco

 
 

 

I am usually skeptical about self-help programs because I have tried so many things in the past that just didn’t work. I am amazed at how much I have changed — both personally and in the way I handle my business. I feel so free and empowered! I learned so many helpful techniques that were easy (and worked!) that I can use anytime I need to push through whatever I feel is holding me back.
 
This course really changed my life for the better. I was in a pretty low and difficult place with a lot of “stuff” on my plate and many “voices” in my head—none of which I was obligated to entertain because this course helped me sort it all out and get me on MY path to happiness!
 
I will definitely do this program again and tell others about what Alex offers. His guidance and encouragement throughout the 30 days is amazing! Thank you for offering such an awesome program!
 
Kelvin Arthur

 
From Kelvin, three months later:
 
A crazy thing happened. As I started clearing out all those voices, I started moving ahead in my business, and things are really taking off. It is amazing how the voices are giving up! I have so much energy, excitement, and drive; I am just going after whatever I want and just keep moving forward! I keep your book in my studio to share with others when the conversation develops and always recommend people visit your site! It is just such an incredible transformation in myself! I still have “those days” from time to time, but I honor them and move ahead!