Hi Guys,
Greetings from Jackson Hole! This week was powerful. I did a few things for the first time in a long time. It was glorious.
First, I recognized that I was spending WAY too much time on-screens. I was averaging 3.5 hours a day with some days up to 6 (1/4 of the day on screens— geesh). And if I am reading Twitter correctly a few friends I really respect and admire are having similar realizations. So I decided to back to the basics. I primed my digital environment for deep learning and real-life interactions (nature, conversations, etc) versus dopamine inducing, grasping for the oh so sweet notification counter on our favorite apps. It dawned on me that I was having FOMO that drove a real need to share every day— As such, for the first time in a long time, I am pausing for a moment or two to reevaluate my relationship with screens, consumption, and FOMO.
Secondly, I spent a day alone… with myself. Due to COVID having one of these days has been really rare— I fully understand that there are people out there who are truly grappling with loneliness and isolation (if you are one of them reply to this email and we can get on a call). On my day alone I decided to do something for the first time in a long time, well actually two things:
Gave me permission to have fun.
Go Skiing.
Holy molly did the combination of those 3 first create an abundance of joy. Since Jackson has some of the best snow and mountains for ski/snowboarding naturally I went to JHMR. At first, I was nervous and excited about the whole thing. I had this idea that I was going to get hurt since my roommate Sam broke his collar bone a month ago on the same mountain.
On Friday, I rented skis. On Saturday I got my pass (after a bit of drama which made me more nervous than I’d like to admit— if you want to hear about it reply to the email and I’ll share the story).
Then I got on the lift. As I ascended the mountain, I told myself, “There is only one way down.”
As soon as I got off the lift, I realized that this perceived fear was all in my head.
I started skiing down the mountain remembering “Pizza, French fries.” After a few runs, my muscle memory from skiing in Aspen and Stowe kicked in.
Giving myself the permission to have fun wiped away all of my hesitation, fear, needs, and desires. The mountain invited me to lose myself in the moment, in her energy. As I carved the mountain I became fully present.
I had pushed beyond the perceived fear and even went beyond my limit and did a blue in one of the most challenging mountains in the world. I was beaming with joy.
Losing myself in the moment reenergized me.
Third, after a failed attempt of hosting cohort #2 for my mushroom course, I got up on the horse again and hosted an improved version of the course for Cohort #3 and WOW! It was an amazing success. We had some great folks show up to learn all about mycology, psychedelics, and microdosing. What I learned here is that had I not put myself out there sharing my failure publicly I would have not received the amazing feedback and guidance from amazing folks that made cohort #3 possible. In all honesty, had I not done Cohort #3 I would have probably shelved the idea altogether. But that is far from the truth, today I am working on Cohort #4 slated for sometime in March.
Things I Discovered
A Reflection:
I’ve befriended momentum and I intend to continue to nurture the relationship. I have extended my palace of divinity; where trust, love, and abundance are always the norm— I am reminded that my truth is within me. To develop it, to access it, to harness it is the greatest gift I leverage every day.
By waking up, I have seen that all is truly possible that I am building my dreams and everything I ever needed is already within and around me.Playing the feel, trusting my intuition, and taking action with faith.
A Question:
Where do you emotionally live?A Phrase:
Time moves slowly until it moves way too fast.A Lesson:
Your biggest problem is that you think shouldn’t have a problem.A Conviction:
It’s always bigger in our minds.A Quote:
The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.- Japanese Proverb
A Framework:
PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION.A Truth:
The most difficult thing in the world is to listen, to see.A Recommendation:
Ask for it.An Article:
This week’s article is a book, “Awareness” by Anthony De Mello.
This book is now one of the most important books I’ve read in my life, I have the intention to re-read it once a year. Here is an excerpt that made an impact on me:Life is a banquet. And the tragedy is that most people are starving
to death. That’s what I’m really talking about. There’s a nice story
about some people who were on a raft off the coast of Brazil
perishing from thirst. They had no idea that the water they were
floating on was fresh water. The river was coming out into the sea
with such force that it went out for a couple of miles, so they had
fresh water right there where they were. But they had no idea. In
the same way, we’re surrounded with joy, with happiness, with
love. Most people have no idea of this whatsoever. The reason:
They’re brainwashed. The reason: They’re hypnotized; they’re
asleep.
If you’d like a copy of the book in PDF form, email me and I’ll send it to you.
A Picture:
On Saturday 1/23/2021 Lindsey and I were informed that the newest furry member of our family was born. Hilma, our Weimaraner pup, was born. She is one of nine puppies. We are beyond ourselves with excitement to welcome her in 8 weeks to the House of Navia.
Live in Practice,
Alejandro