EXPLORING EXCELLENCE/LOST COIN
November 7, 2006

The Retreat
	Several group members commented on the retreat that took place last weekend in Moab, speaking of the positive experience that it was for them. 
	Typically we are trained that feeling good is connected with excitement.  Yet at the retreat we could experience that the source of feeling good about your life is in a quiet place.  
	Daniel pointed out that retreats are a way to experience a taste of his monastic training.

Group Culture
	Every group and organization has its own culture.  We are conditioned to be competitive, defensive.  
	The goal in Lost Coin is to promote a culture that is warm, friendly, being kind to each other, being a family.

Relationships
	The last two weeks we have focused on relationships.  Daniel had been asking us to become more objective, to see what we do, say, express non-verbally.  To see what we cause.  
	The premise is that it is our fault, not someone elses.  Ask yourself, what do you do to make your partner/friend do what he/she does?   Examples: If we are over-passionate about things, it leads to others being under- passionate because you have owned/taken over the passion.  If the other person is domineering, what do you do to let him/her domineer?
	 We cant atone unless we see what we are doing that we want to atone for. If you are coming off to others as critical and complaining, you may be feeling critical and complaining.  
	A caution: when others tell you something about yourself, evaluate whether it fits.

Self observation/self remembering
	Observing yourself is not meant to dislike it or praise it.  Just observe. 
	Use divided attention - remember yourself at the same time as attending to what someone else is saying.  It gives you choices.

EXPLORING EXCELLENCE/LOST COIN
November 7, 2006
page 2

Daniels law 
	Most people are standing around waiting for someone else to ask them to dance.

Group exercises:
	Freeze - catch your low key anxiety along with things you are feeling.
	Two Sentences - say anything, but divide your attention while you say it.  It gives you a different energy.
	Pairs - alternate talking, keeping divided attention.

3 stages of what to do about the anxiety we feel.  
	Intellectual - see it in yourself. 
	Emotional - resent it.  It isnt going away by itself and you dont want to waste the coin of your life.  
	Moving Center - practice.  Think, feel and practice your way out of it.   Overcome the tendency to worry rather than take some action. 

New topic - Achieving.  
	Many spiritual/religious institutions have wonderful ideas but are lacking in how to apply them.  
	We arent running the ship, the ship is running itself when we are asleep.  We each have here and now everything that we need in order to do what we need to do to achieve.
	Daniel recommended the book In Search of the Miraculous 

Negativity
	The more negative we are, the less we are going to think we are negative because we dont see it.

Wishing
	Wishing is a very powerful source.  It unifies you and you are likely to accomplish what you want.  I am (head), I wish (heart), I can (gut).


EXPLORING EXCELLENCE/LOST COIN
November 7, 2006
page 3

Exercises:
	The Octave/Achievement.  Start to think about something you want to do.  Make it very concrete, not too big, because you want it to be something that you can accomplish.  Complete the octave.  Remember that two things will prevent you from accomplishing it - negative thoughts, falling asleep.  Focus on the warrior - accomplishing things.

	Divide a piece of paper in half lengthwise.  On one side list the Is that are allies to your overall I, the I that wants you to develop.  On the other side list the Is that are counter productive, the enemies of the overall I.



