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Happy Holidays!
Greetings!
Welcome back! The hiatus of "Life as Practice" was shorter than I had anticipated as new events are being planned, my coaching practice is expanding, and so much information is just bursting out of me to be shared with all of you! The holiday season is definitely upon us and with it brings challenges of interacting with relatives, managing the stress of gifting/receiving presents and preparing for hosting parties and other events; not to mention just the energetic intensity that occurs in the marketplace from the chaos of shopping malls, to the gridlock of traffic, and the constant reminders of the holiday season via decorations on lamp posts and storefronts. Its my intention that the articles and inspiration offered in this issue will support you in staying true to your self, loving to others, and as balanced as you can be as we move into what could be the biggest year of individual and collective transformation we have ever seen! In service,  Mike Brabant, Founder/CEO
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What do you REALLY Want to Give and Receive this Holiday Season?
 I will be moving into a new house soon that require some updated kitchen and house gadgets. With this in mind I reluctantly braved the Black Friday crowds to scoop up some scantily priced pyrex, pots/pans, and other good stuff. With the check out line snaking through sales and markdowns galore and the buzz of the mall ringing palpably in my ears and body, I felt into what it is that we really want to give and receive during the holidays.
Just think back to the most meaningful presents that you were given and that you gifted. Most likely they weren't designer hand bags or a DVD collection of 'Lost.' Although those things can be nice and provide temporary enjoyment, they do not fill the parts of our hearts that are longing to be seen, connected, and loved. I would imagine that the most meaningful gifts were more of the flavor of the poem someone wrote for you, the book that changed your life, the experience you were gifted to share with your loved one, the little hand-made 'coupons' you were given by your kids that said stuff like 'I will take out the trash one time without complaining' on them.
These are the kind of gifts that catered to your heart as opposed to your culturally conditioned expectation of what you think you need to be happy. My suggestion this year is to look inside to what you really long for, not just for holidays, but what you universally long for. It may be less material as it is formless like being loved exactly how you are, being appreciated for all that you do, finding a sense of peace in your constant mind stream, accepting yourself, or expressing your unique gifts to the world, to name a few.
When you are in the midst of shopping for loved ones, see if you can tap into what they deeply long for and offer something to them that speaks to their heart's longing. From my experience there is nothing sweeter in giving a gift than witnessing it touch the depth of the receiver's heart where a twinkle of happy tears graces their eyes and the thank you is packaged in the form of a longer than usual embrace filled with love and gratefulness beyond words.
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Give a Gift that Keeps Giving, Deepening, and Flowering
A generalized description of the holidays could look like an over indulgence in food, drink, and gifts justified by a year's hard work. This hypothetically is followed by the recognition that you want something different for your life in the new year encapsulated in a new year's resolution. You not just want something different, you want to feel better about yourself, have more energy, love more deeply, and find more meaning in your life.
What we need is not a new year's resolution that fades two weeks into January, but a new year's evolution. An intention to make a deep change in your being that is sustainable and that doesn't look like you are back at square one every time January 1st rolls around. To make such a change requires new behaviors, new thoughts, working with the natural immunity to change, and the accountability and support to make a lasting change in your life. This is not a static experience, rather one that continually unfolds over time as you pivot from maintaining the status quo and surviving, to dancing along your developmental edge and thriving.
Integral Wellness Solutions and the coaching that is offered is now in both Berkeley and Walnut Creek. The Walnut Creek office will be shutting down at the end of February and moving further West. If you are in the Walnut Creek/Danville/San Ramon area, I highly encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to receive the tools, insights, support and encouragement to deeply and sustainably change your life and move towards the expression of yourself you have always wanted but never thought possible while we are still in your area.
If this sounds like something you would want to give to yourself as a gift or to a loved one, we can send you a gift certificate for 3-sessions of Integral Wellness/Awakening Coaching to present to your loved one during the holidays. If you are interested in this sort of transformational coaching work, please click here for more details on what to expect and contact mike@integralwellnessmb.com to set up a free 15 min phone consultation or to purchase a 3-session coaching package. To learn more about the practice of Integral Wellness Coaching in general, please click here.
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Stay Inspired...Social Media Style!
Follow Mike on Twitter and friend him on Facebook! Mike tweets and posts inspirational thoughts, suggestions, and links to help you live a more vibrant and fulfilling life! Click on the above buttons to follow and/or friend Mike! Not signed up for twitter yet? Sign up for free here |
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Evolutionary Yoga Workshop:
An Integral Approach Healing, Wellness & Evolution
I am once again partnering with two of my brothers in the evolution of consciousness, David Beaudry and Dustin DiPerna for a day-long workshop on Saturday, February 4th in Berkeley. Our first workshop together was a huge success and we are going to be expanding and refining the format and practices to create an even more dynamic and transformational event!
Click the picture below to view the flyer.
If you register before December 31st, you will receive a $10 discount and if you are purchasing this as a gift, you will receive an attractive gift certificate to present to your loved one!
Click here to register and to learn more about this incredible event!
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"The layers are just like an onion. You go on peeling an onion-just like that, peel your being-like an onion, go on peeling. Fresher layers you will find; go on peeling, go on peeling...One day, suddenly you have peeled through and through, and nothing but emptiness is left in your hand. In that emptiness, greed has disappeared, an in that emptiness, enlightenment has happened. In that emptiness is the divine. That emptiness is godly." -OSHO
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