Thanks for sending this out, Brian. Took me a bit to sit down and actually express some thoughts.

Definitely good to check in.

Body - Mostly really good except for when I have a little too much holiday cheer and then feel foggy the next day (like n-o-w). This vessel/space ship called a body continues to age, but with exercise and yoga it serves me pretty well. When I am out of balance or ungrounded I can very quickly sense it - especially in a lower chakra

Intellect - Similar to above, if I remain grounded my intellect functions from a greater sense of awareness and its logical input and counsel has an effective and equal contribution to my existence in the present, in the now. When I am not grounded it spills and focuses me on efforting, spending energy on trying to make/force things to happen.  

Emotion - This is something that over the time, especially since the failure of my marriage has significantly calmed down. It remains a center of vulnerability, weakness and challenge. On average it has an equivalent seat at the table and remains in check, so long as I am grounded and feel in a 'balanced' state. 90% of the time, if I a practice my mindfulness techniques throughout the day it feels even-keel. Being completely honest, I've mastered nothing, but my awareness has significantly improved and my ability to check in and reground has significantly improved.

Spirit - I have a greatly deepened sense of and connection to my spirit. What has allowed this is my commitment to daily meditation and connection with a community of people on a weekly basis that have a similar mindset. I imagine/contemplate my spirit as a set of colors and I 'try' to think about it often throughout the day to help me maintain a heightened sense of awareness. 

Summing up....I have mastered absolutely nothing!😌 .....but, I have deepened my commitment to my spiritual path. I still get upset and things still bother, bug and /or upset me, specially my X. I acknowledge that I AM a spirit, but I am experiencing it a human body with human emotions and reactivity. My focus is trying to live the rest of this life as what I will refer to as 'at cause' vs 'at effect' or reaction. I still react and I still drop in awareness, but I have gotten better at more quickly becoming conscious of when I drop/react and I use tools to help me reset, ground, etc. I do not really do any of Hoffman practices, at least as they were conveyed to us, but what I do practice incorporates a number of facets from Hoffman that I am and will be forever grateful. At this time of the season (and always) I am forever grateful for my connection to each of you, irrespective of whether I ever hear or read anything from or about you. We all have our paths, but we are all ONE. That connection will always be there. In reality, it was always there, we just needed Hoffman to become aware of it.

Wishing all of you peace, love, healing, grace and light this holiday season. 🙏💜

Paul     




From: 1015caa@hoffmangroups.org <1015caa@hoffmangroups.org> on behalf of Deanna Stolberg <dstolberg3@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2017 9:13 PM
To: Scott Kohler
Cc: Brian Mendelsohn; 1015CAA@hoffmangroups.org
Subject: Re: Flock Check-In
 
Hi my dear Flock,
So so glad we have these random moments of connection still going!  I was thinking of the Flock recently, most likely after receiving a Paul thought that just never lets us fully disconnect.
First, I too would love a zoom if it gets put together.  I would do my best to be there!!!  Not much I can’t move around or do before or later to have that time with you.
Now to do as Brian wanted to start…

Quadrinity 
Body - is my best friend   Recovered so wonderfully from my accident that was a year ago on 1/28, hard to believe close to 1 year ago.  I had some minor out patient surgery on my leg veins for both efficiency and vanity reasons this past 2 weeks.  I got through all of it well.  I truly believe living a healthy life style with good nutrition and exercise is the reason I am doing so well.  I cycled the weekend, both days, after the first leg was done.  This weekend too chilly for me.  I have a nice computrainer but unlike Brian getting on his Peleton I haven’t ridden it much.  I just got a new gravel bike.  Went a little nuts putting an Open frame together with lots of great components (including DISC BRAKES lol).  Body pleased with my decision.

Intellect - roaring at times and needing to be calmed down.  New wonderful man in my life whose so much fun, fun loving, easy going, not an intellect and my intellect ocd anal organized self sometimes gets snotty and looks past all the amazing qualities and forgets to focus on what’s important like kindness, compassion, wisdom that isn’t from a book!!  I too went back to my meditation practice just today!

Emotional - at this moment reveling in my new wonderful relationship, we met in a crazy Deanna fashion at my favorite place to stop on a ride so unexpectedly over 3 months ago.  Joyful and grateful that my friends and family all are doing well and then hearing from some of my Flock.  Staying grateful for countless things, one example having dinner with Ethan and Ben recently here in Boulder.

Spirit - telling me don’t get too busy to forget me, take time for quiet reflective time to appreciate both your spiritual self that guides you and bringing each of the other parts of me together 

The holidays can be tough.  I know having been through so many tough ones.  For those having a tough time we are here!!

Love to each of you
Deanna




On Dec 17, 2017, at 8:07 PM, Scott Kohler <scottkohler@gmail.com> wrote:

Brian,
Such a great idea for a check in. It's been too long since I've heard how everyone is doing.
For me it's been an interesting few months with a few very large bumps in the road. But I feel like I've hit a new level of well being with the lessons I've learned from our time together. 
I still struggle with compassion fatigue (a side effect of my profession) but I am able to break the cycle now when I wasn't able to before Hoffman.
The best thing is that I am much quicker to live in the present moment and in gratitude.
My goals for the new year are to break out my binder and give myself a little tune up, attend my local Hoffman groups more frequently and to old school bash some sticky patterns.
I hope this finds you all well and able to enjoy the season!
I miss my flock... 
Scott

p.s. I'd be down for a zoom call too. 👍

On Dec 17, 2017 11:59 AM, "Brian Mendelsohn" <brianmendelsohn@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Flockers,

With the holidays amongst us, thinking about how this can be an interesting (i.e. - amazing, special, fun, difficult) time.

What about a quick flock check-in so we can connect?  How are you doing, really?  Maybe not too long but an update for those of us not on facebook :)

I will start (vulnerability) and break it down with the good old quadrinitiy...

Body - pulled my calf about 6-7 weeks ago and still paying the price. No fun for someone who is pretty addicted to exercise.  Has required me to slow down a little bit.  And I’ve noticed a lot of stress.  Did get a Peloton so back in the saddle, literally :) moving towards the right road. Breath...

Intellect - pretty loud this holiday season. too much time trying to figure out life.  Would like to quiet this part.  More meditation and practices are in order...

Emotional - in this moment, very happy as my daughter is back from her first semester of college.  She's doing really well and it's been nice to spend time with her.  She will be home for a full month :)  Also, very grateful for my family and friends...

Spirit - sometimes very connected to something so much bigger and deeper and sometimes stuck in getting by.  Often see the mystery, the adventure, the joy, but not as often as my spirit would like.

With a lot of gratitude and love and light,

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