Reflections on an Annual Meeting

• Brain States
• EBT
• national meeting

Wow.  What a fantastic annual meeting.  Emotional Brain Training had it Annual Meeting and Retreat over this past weekend at the beautiful Marin Headlands.  The scenery was beautiful, the weather was refreshing and the people were amazing.  I truly enjoyed being part of the retreat. 

For those of you who were not able to join us, we missed you.  I figured that I would take this week’s blog posting to give an overview of the weekend and what we all experienced.  And, extend an invitation for all of you to join us next year as we get together as a wonderful community to celebrate EBT.
 
We started out the weekend with a fabulous talk on neuroscience by the Scientific Director, Dr. Igor Mitrovic.  He reviewed many of the concepts on how the brain changes and why the work of EBT is so important to make that change possible.  Many of his key points can be found in several of my previous blog postings during the last seven months.  Following his presentation, Dr. Lynda Frassetto from UCSF presented her research on Paleolithic-type diets, the foundation of which is a diet based around fruits and vegetables.  She returned on Sunday to answer further questions about how to implement this type of diet in regular life.
 
In the afternoon, Laurel Mellin, founder of EBT, reviewed the five point brain state system.  After explaining many of the characteristics of each brain state, we worked in small groups to practice the tools for each brain state – sanctuary time, feelings check, emotional housecleaning and damage control.  Following that, we enjoyed some experiential time in brain state 1 by enjoying the senses and practicing eudonic yoga.
 
On Sunday, we worked through and reviewed the power of the cycle tool, the workhorse of EBT.  We discussed the importance between a brain state 4 cycle and a brain state 5 cycle.  A brain state 4 cycle usually has a core emotional expectation that is an inappropriate generalization such as “I am bad.” or “I am not worthy.”  A brain state 5 cycle has a survival expectation that is an inappropriate association such as “I get my love from food.” Or “I get my safety from depression.”  We watched Laurel facilitate a cycle with such grace and skill we were greatly moved by the power of this work.
 
The meeting ended with an overview of the method, where we have been, where we are going and the challenges of doing this work.  I gave this presentation.  So, to all of my readers, I challenge you to the same challenge of those who attended the meeting.  Take a moment to look at yourself honestly and with integrity.  Ask yourself what brain state you are wired at.  If it is not brain state 1, why are you not there?  Push yourself to do this work.  Push yourself and those around you into the discomfort of change with the goal of getting your brain wired at 1.  Brain state 2 is not good enough.  Brain state 1 is there for you, if you do the work – focused, intensely and with purpose.  Just do it!!  And, we hope to see you next year.