3 Free Self Development Courses You Can Do Today

Are you ready to change your life for the better? Have you been looking for a self development course that you can start today? With self development being so popular, it’s tough to figure out what could help you become a better you. Well here are three FREE courses you can start today.

When you’re ready to jump into a course, especially a self development one, the last thing you want are any obstacles. Also, it’s nice when they’re totally free!

As someone who is obsessed with reaching their highest potential and has many times found themselves to be in a total funk, I really credit these courses for lifting me up.

Also, with repetition, these courses have entirely altered my perception of life. Like seriously I’ve never cared so much about bringing value to this world and pushing my limits. To some, this might seem like a bit much but as they say in Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility” and I hope you are here for it too.

This post is all about 3 (Out of this World) Self Development courses that you can do today for free.

3 Free Self Development Courses

1) The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

Once upon a time, I was scrolling through youtube and I saw this title, “The Strangest Secret” and as a conspiracy enthusiast, I knew this would be right up my alley. Little did I know that this audio clip would change my life forever.

Earl Nightingale is this man from a long time ago, who was one of the first, “self-help gurus” to ever exist. I didn’t know this at the time, but I was taught from a young age to always listen to and respect my elders, so I gave Earl my heart at the moment that I clicked play.

Later I find out that this audio clip is one of the top self development courses of all time. And now I’ll tell you why.

Actually, before I go there, you must be thinking that an audio clip is not a course. Well, a course is something that you need to consistently pursue, over time, to reach a goal. And Earl says listen to him for 30 days (yes the same audio clip) and then you complete the course. That is if you don’t break his rule.

And his rule is – if you have a negative thought then you have to start again. BOOM! Now isn’t that the most difficult thing in the world? He’s #Brilliant

So here’s a play-by-play of what my dearest love Earl says in this recording:

• Success equals having a goal and working towards it
• Settling is the worst thing in the world
• There’s no competition just focus on creating
• We become what we think about
• Anything that’s really worthwhile in life is free (e.g., hopes, dreams, love, and family)
• Look for the circumstances you want and if you can’t find them, make them
• Force yourself to think positively
• Save at least 10% of every dollar you earn
• Ideas are worthless unless you act on them
• Your returns in life are in direct proportion to what you give

Here’s the recording. There are a few available versions on YouTube but I dig the scratchy vintage sounding one:

2) The Science of Well-Being brought to you by Yale

When the pandemic first hit, I was pretty down like most people. And Yale came out with this course that went totally viral. Now when I say viral I mean everyone I knew was talking about it and that’s my way of measuring what’s viral.

So Yale comes out with this course and I had a ton of free time, so I enrolled and went through the whole course. And this course was not what I expected at all.

Now when I hear there’s a happiness course I think – Yippee now I’ll have a few things I can do and then I’ll feel fabulous… Nope.

This course had videos and assignments to complete. Laurie, the teacher, presents different ideas that we have about happiness and pulls them apart in a way that knocks your visions of happiness off a pedestal.

It’s like learning that the tooth fairy isn’t real and that you don’t have to pull your teeth out for some change. Sure you lose a little bit of the magic but you’re no longer waiting for something outside of yourself to bring you joy. So it’s empowering in an adult way.

Spoiler alert – Here are some of the revealing facts you learn during this course:

• An increase in salary only makes you happy up to $75,000 a year and then it levels off
• Knowing something is not enough to change your behavior
• Gratitude is the bomb
• We predict we’ll be more upset about not getting something (e.g., a job) than we actually experience
• Purchases only make us happy for a moment and then we get jaded and tired of it
• Nonmaterialist people are happier
• Your level of happiness is 50% genetics, 40% your thoughts, and 10% life happens

Here’s the playlist on YouTube. If you have the time I suggest you try it out:

3) The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Now, this last course is a book. There are a few recordings of it on YouTube but I suggest you go to a library and borrow the book. It’s a super cool and vintage thing to do.

So this book was technically made for people who are trying to get over writer’s block. But I’d like to argue that it could help with any form of blockage you may be experiencing.

Unlike the other two self development courses, this book asks you to do very specific things in order to get your spark back and get you moving.

These activities include:

• Morning Pages – Every morning you need to dedicate time to writing
• Artist Dates – You need to take yourself out on a date
• New – You have to try new things
• Ask – You have to ask and answer super deep questions about yourself and your desires

This book was the first time I ever tried a self development course and what I liked about that experience is how it encourages you to start developing a very intimate relationship with yourself. You have to look in a mirror and figure out why you feel like a failure, what is the one thing you love in your life, and you’re left having to decide where you want to go next. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart but for those that are hungry to feel alive.

Funny enough a long time ago, when I first finished this book I recorded a reaction/review video on YouTube. I’m only publishing it now in hopes that my messy specifics may help someone else figure out their journey. Or at least feel a bit more confident in taking their next step.  Or decide whether or not this is the self development course for you. Also apologies for the quality. This video is at least 7 years old and was recorded on some rebel camera 🙂

This post was all about the best FREE Self Development Courses ever…like in the world.