04/06/2023
At the end of January, our 1st cohort of Awakened Brotherhood came to a close. We held a 9 week container for 16 men from all over the world. We came together each week to breathe, move, meditate and connect.
Throughout this experience, we were all called to be a better version of ourselves and to embody the work we were doing. We learned a ton from our first go, and wanted to share some highlights and thoughts.
1. Many men feel they are alone in the world.
2. Men crave connection, especially with other men.
3. Many men don't have outlets to share what they're going through in life, so they hold it in, or only share pieces with their significant others (who, in many cases, are women)
4. If you create a space that feels safe enough, many men will open up emotionally and be vulnerable in a group setting.
5. There are barely any opportunities for men in mainstream society to learn how to navigate their emotional landscape, communicate intelligently and effectively in relationships with others, or set clear and healthy boundaries.
6. The above is a serious problem, as it leads to men who feel isolated, guarded and/or taken advantage of.
7. Meditation was the highest rated part of this cohort. Some of the men had little experience meditating before the program, and showed up beautifully to our weekly meditations (which were 15 to 30 minutes).
8. During the weekly zooms, the less Preston and I did, the better. Each week we realized we could step further and further back, and let the brothers and the collective energy of the group guide us deeper into connection and presence.
9. Men LOVE to FEEL. When you get men into their hearts, something shifts. A part of us that has been neglected for far too long awakens within. In his testimonial, one brother wrote: "I really felt a huge connection towards my heart for the first time in my life. Just to know and feel it was there for me, it was an extraordinary experience."
We couldn't be more grateful to each of the brothers that showed up. It was a true honor to hold space alongside these men. Below a picture of the group at the end of our container. A big Mahalo to these brothers and everyone who supported us!
