Why this, why now?
For nineteen years I've been a willing and active participant in the behavior change game. Five years as an enthusiast and fourteen years as a professional with multiple certifications. The last sixteen years I've been exploring, practicing and encouraging meditation and mindfulness. It's been an amazing journey.
I've had, and continue to have, the honor of supporting hundreds and hundreds of people on their quest for improved physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
For the last three years, I've been studying the latest research on behavior change with psychedelic assisted therapy. To me, the benefits are undeniable. Many experts in the field would say it's currently the most effective treatment for anxiety, depression, grief, PTSD, OCD, addiction that we have. Benefits go even beyond this into neuromuscular connections and more. The body of research is expanding every minute.
This is not about "tripping" or escapist behavior but rather taking a deliberate deep dive into the rewiring of the neural connections in the brain and metabolizing undigested negative energy.
Our habit patterns have their roots in our neural networks. When we repeat a certain behavior, positive or negative, we strengthen or thicken the neural connections and paths in our brain. We create a groove. We deepen the groove the more we do a thing. It becomes easier and easier to follow the groove or repeat the given behavior with less and less effort. These habits become automatic or unconscious. It becomes very hard to rewire our brain / get out of the groove after years or decades of repeated behavior or after experiencing a trauma inducing event (stuck negative energy).
It is possible with consistent effort and support to change behavior. Some would say it's the hardest thing for humans to do. Most people give up before they are successful, especially if they go it alone. They don't set up the right conditions to assist themselves in creating the new habit / new neural pathways / new grooves
What neuroscience is proving is that psychedelics help to create new neurological pathways or connections. Creating new neural pathways helps us break the conditioned habit patterns of the mind. This gives us a clean neurological slate with which we can more consciously choose the habits and behaviors we want to reinforce in our lives.
Meditation has been proven to do the same. After sixteen year of personal practice, I strongly encourage all to develop a relationship with meditation. A few minutes a day can transform lives.
Here is what interests and excites me about the psychedelic research - I can see and feel the potential for incorporating psychedelics into behavior change coaching to assist people in building new neurological pathways which results in the adoption of healthier behavior more quickly, efficiently and effectively than via the traditional models.
As a trainer and coach, I have clients that struggle with a variety of negative behaviors that keep them unhealthy. These negative habits (being sedentary, excess alcohol, excess sugar, over-eating, under-eating, not sleeping, etc…) have been practiced and reinforced over and over for years and sometimes decades. Some would say these have even become addictions. They come to me to receive structure and support for learning and reinforcing healthy behaviors. Some clients do amazing and adopt the behaviors very easily… others struggle with various aspects of behavior change.
I am excited to see a psychedelic renaissance focused on mental health and behavior change. My own experiences with psychedelices began in the early 2000's. I am starting to see the role they have played in the development of my own consciousness and behavior. I’ll be sharing more about this at later dates.
After my last psychedelic experience in 2003, I shifted to the path of mindfulness and meditation in 2004 with my introduction to yoga. Nearly two decades later, I am more committed than even to helping people live more healthy and rewarding lives. Metabolic and cardiovascular disease are no longer the greatest threat to our health as they were when I began my career in 2008. Those are still bad and getting worse. However, what is outpacing those is a deterioration in mental health. I see it as all connected.
Today I am rediscovering psychedelics as a mindfulness and behavior change tool. Another tool to help people achieve sustainable success and quit quitting on the behaviors that fortify themselves against metabolic, cardiovascular and mental health problems.
I recently graduated from a psychedelic therapy course in November of last year led by a veteran of the field Jonathan Robinson - psychotherapist and best-selling author of 12 books. He complete his PhD work at U.C Santa Barbara in 1984 on the effects of MDMA on PTSD.
I am committed to exploring more research and psychedelics training programs to compliment my exercise, nutrition, life coaching certifications. I am excited to see this work expand in my life and in the world.
I am interested to hear about any of your personal experiences pertaining to meditation, psychedelics, behavior change or sustained shifts in perception.
Here is the kind of community I am interested in creating.
I want to create and engage with community that's focused on personal growth, mental health, innovative approaches to behavior change, cutting-edge research and alternative therapies.
It is my intention to attract friends and clients who are open to exploring unconventional methods of personal development and healing, particularly through the lens of psychedelic-assisted therapy. This community values holistic approaches to wellness, integrating practices like meditation and mindfulness with emerging therapeutic modalities.
Community Virtues Expressed and Honored.
Open-minded: Interested in exploring non-traditional therapies and alternative paths to personal growth and healing.
Curious about Neuroscience and Psychology: Drawn to understanding the scientific underpinnings of behavior change and mental health.
Passionate about Self-Development: Committed to exploring new tools and techniques for enhancing well-being and achieving personal goals.
Supportive of Mind-Body Practices: Embracing mindfulness, meditation, and holistic wellness as integral parts of self-care.
Seeking Community and Connection: Interested in sharing experiences, insights, and challenges in a supportive environment.
Innovative and Forward-thinking: Open to exploring the intersection of spirituality, consciousness, and therapeutic modalities like psychedelic-assisted therapy.
I intend to experience this community thrive on discussions that blend personal experiences with scientific inquiry, focusing on practical applications of cutting-edge research in behavior change. It's a space that values authenticity, personal growth, and the potential for transformative healing through intentional exploration.
What to expect
In my commitment to this community, I plan to contribute a new post a few times per month. My initial writings will delve into my personal journey and the profound roles that psychedelics and other modalities have played. Additionally, I aim to share insights from client journeys and integration processes. I'm excited to bring forward meaningful research and discoveries, sparking relevant conversations within these interconnected fields.
Explore Psychedelic Assisted Behavior Change
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