Gents, I have a handful of events coming up. I would love to see all of you at all of them! 😜 TONIGHT! July 9th - Flow State Breathwork with Leo's Alkaline Water https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991465177956?aff=oddtdtcreator Tuesday July 21st - NEON Breath - A Psychedelic Breath and Sound Journey https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991910168936?aff=oddtdtcreator Sunday July 26th - The Forge - A Men's Half Day Retreat - only 3 spots left! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991861307791?aff=oddtdtcreator Thursday August 13th - BreathWORK Workshop - Learn the breath, experience the breath! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1993533939678?aff=oddtdtcreator For every event use MOS for a discount!

Brothers, This morning with @Mike Rouzer @Mark Lee and @Jacob Rauscher was incredibly powerful. We opened the circle around the discussion of Right Of Passage and what it looks like in today's capitalistic "culture." Many cultures have a ceremonial ritual as a passage into adulthood which typically involves dissolving the ego. In my American human experience I've witnessed the opposite - Sweet 16 parties which seem to boost the ego and create competition. We discussed how each of us may have unknowingly gone through a right of passage which brought up a good point about the intentionality around the ceremony. This brought to mind the dangers of unintentional ceremony without preparation and integration. Ultimately the conversation lead to parenting; how important community is when raising a child and intentions behind bringing children into this world. I am really enjoying how our circle conversations have an organic flow. Lately it's been a single prompt that just rolls from there. Thank you brothers for showing up and being fully yourselves! AHO!

Fast 48 hrs- June 30 @9pm- July 2 @ 10pm Wednesday : 21k steps; 0 cals 0 Protien 0 Carbs; 10 pages read; 2.5 min cold shower Thursday: 13,100 steps; 14 pages read; 772 cal- 153 g carbs 19g fat 11g protein; 2 min/3min plunges What did I learn about myself this week: I eat (graze) way more than I thought. The amount of times I opened my pantry or fridge on autopilot was astounding. I should probably add at least 500 calories everyday to what I thought I was eating. I also learned there is a dark place inside of me that I am terrified of reaching. I don’t know if it is fear of success or fear that I will realize my limitations and be fully seen for who I am and where I am. Again, this is around my BJJ practice. I really feel like if I can overcome giving up on myself mid fight, it will unlock a lot of hidden potential that I have. My biggest struggle: The cold plunge on Thursday. Was very surprised and disappointed in myself how I responded to the initial dip. It triggered that same fear that I get when rolling and I get in a bad position. I wanted to quit on myself because I couldn’t control my breathing and amygdala went crazy on me. I used to walk into a cryotherapy tank that was -138 degrees for 5 minutes and thought it would be similar- NOPE! I think this is going to be a key to me unlocking that part of my brain that wants to quit, it will also help me learn how to control my breathing when I get in a panicked state. What was the easiest: Steps and reading. I normally hit 10k+ steps without trying on any given day. Thursday on the last day of the fast, I struggled to move. I am upset about those numbers for Tuesday, but still hit goal. Personally, I am shooting for 20k steps or more each day. I like reading, so this is a nice reminder to do it everyday rather than act like I am treating myself by reading on a weekend or early morning. What I learned from my book (Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents): I have always struggled with this and am now understanding why. This line hit me right hard and hurt in a way: “People who lacked emotional engagement in childhood, men and women alike, often can’t believe that someone would want to have a relationship with them just because of who they are. They believe that if they want closeness, they much play a role that always puts the other person first.” I assume no one actually likes me, I am either “just a number to make things cheaper for everyone else”. “They don’t want me, they just want me to bring weed.” “ You were the last person they called to invite because they were probably afraid you would find out everyone else was invited.” Essentially, I have a fear that people are only acting like they like me to get something; they don't actually like Mike.

I’m in hour 58 of my fast 🤪 My caloric intake has been 15-30 calories per day (lemon juice and spices) Cold showers and my first plunges: one 2 minute, one 3-? Minute (Josh wandered off 🙃) My steps have been over 10k. Running and light strength training mixed in. I took a strike for starting my fast around 1am July 1st as opposed to before midnight on the 31st. What I learned about myself this week is that internal motivation for me is a mixed bag- I’ve been wanting to return to a greater caloric deficit to eliminate my remaining chub layer, and I likely would have…but every freakin day?! That required a push. I found it here 🙏🏼 I’ve also rediscovered a happy place for me- being entirely relieved of my own and others perceptions. I found this in meditation, and when my bums were high during runs. A special kind of NGAF. What has been a struggle, this week at least, has been steps- I was mostly in the office this week, 10k is easy on site. Also, my AC going out. So fun! GOOD. I can grow in my commitment, and determination, and the unit was old as hell anyway. Plus I’m getting to reconnect with my hvac guy whom I really like. What has been easiest for me thus far is keeping my mental state regulated. I have a lot of sh💩T on my plate right now, but I’m embracing the friction. I see this as a continuation of evolving perception that I’ve earned with the aid of committed meditation practice, which has gradually led me to greater live and compassion for myself and others, more truthful and insightful discernment, more attention and awareness to right thinking and thought control, gradually expanding awareness in general, all leading to better action and greater mental peace. One of my favorite things I say as part of my metta - ‘🙏🏼May we each experience a deep and meaningful mental peace thay leads us back to our strength and joy 🙏🏼’ One thing I have learned from the book I’m reading- we all have the potential to, and at times will, embody our best *and* worst self. Facing our worst self, accepting it, forgiving it, may be the only way to best overcome it, and embrace our better versions. And is up to each of us alone to recognize this- no one truly knows another’s greatness or lack thereof. It is forever obscured because it is only we who look out from within. Even if we are to be admired or exalted- all that is ultimately as much a reflection of others wants or needs as is it our own greatness. We must know these things within ourselves.

Men, this week we are meeting on Thursday morning at my place. 7-8:30 Please try to be on time. If you need to leave early just let me know before we get started. Looking forward to starting my day the most powerful way I know how! 💪🏼 1302 E St Clair St Parking is available at the school across the street.