Life Inspiration
I wrote a 3000-word letter-to-my-new-self about my experience in solitary darkness. This is how I like to integrate. Write to remember.
New Perspective
I sat down with Marco Beneteau, author of The Circling Guide. He shared his definition of vulnerability. We talk about celebrating life.
Personal Invitation
I launched a monthly workshop called: Facilitate Vitalizing & Fun Virtual Meetings - Learn to Apply The Science of Human Connection.
Thursday, February 24th at 10AM PST. Reply for invitation.
Paradigm Shift
"The answers are within. [...] We're told to find fulfillment, but we already have what we seek. This is what darkness teaches us."
- Severin, Founder of the Hermitage Darkness Retreat Center
Groups—Practice non-interference.
Get out of the way. Create space for your participants to figure out their problems. Allow your participants to guide the session. Stop controlling where it goes.
Tool: Assign small groups and direct your participants to come up with their own way to accomplish their objective.
Relationships—Write love letters.
In my darkness retreat, I cried. Because I realized how few love letters I had written for my dad, mom, family, and best friends. Jacques 2.0 writes more tender letters to his loved ones.
Tool: Spend ten minutes reflecting on acts of love and generosity toward you. There, you have your list of people to love on!
Mind—Filter your thoughts for gold.
I spent 8 hours each day for 8 days practicing open-awareness meditation. This is when you watch your thoughts and filter them for inspiration. Gold will alchemize eventually!
Tool: Spend 10 minutes doing nothing. Don't move. Don't multitask. Watch your thoughts with a notepad nearby.
Body—Do nothing but enjoy your food when you eat.
At the retreat center, I have been eating in a new way. Mindfully. I chew my food more. I soak in the flavors. I enjoy it more.
Tool: Put down your utensils after every bite. Slow down. Salivate.
What is one extreme self-development experience you’ve had? Mine was the darkness retreat.
Share this secret link to gift your friends a complimentary subscription to the practical podcast for bio-hacking joy facilitators.
Thank you for believing in my mental health mission. You’re funding my public, free, & sober parties across the world.
May you evoke oxytocin for others 💞
— Jacques
PS: As an insider, you get by-donation consultations for facilitation and event-design. Book a time with me and let’s talk about your event!
🎈 Love Letters & Darkness Retreats 🔬 JOY LAB #13