The Sacred Area

It all started when…

The Sit Spot or "sacred area" is the most important tool/skill that you will develop in your primal journey. It is your portal into the natural world and a temple which will heal and teach you in profound ways. It is also your laboratory for many exercises and experiments.

What to look for

Nature- The sit area is any "wild" space that is big enough for you to fit into and offers a view of nature. It does not need to be out in the wild or far away. Actually, the closer to your home the better.

Isolation- you will want to have a sense of privacy and isolation. Find a place that you will not be disturbed and is even hidden.

Safe & comfortable- make sure you check the area for hazards of every kind: dead trees or branches overhead, exposure to harsh weather, plant and animal hazards, human hazards etc. You will also want a dry place to sit (a backrest is nice), stand or even lay down.

Easy to access- make sure you can get to your spot within a few minutes at all times of day and all times of year.

What to do at your Sacred Area

The first thing you will be doing at your sit area is introducing yourself and getting to know the area. This is accomplished by sitting still and being quiet while mindfully observing with your senses everything that is going on around you and within you. It is a good idea to write down what you discover in a journal. It is that simple.

Exercises

1. Do a wander until you find your sit area.

2. Do a sit for at least 20 min.

3. Explore your area with your senses.

4. Write down what you notice and share.

5. Practice everyday for a week.

Primal Lab Intro

Welcome

Thank you for joining the Primal Lab. You have chosen a unique, life changing journey and this Module is designed to help you prepare so you can get the most out of your experience.

Overview

PART 1- INTRODUCTION

Session 1: Welcome! In this session we provide a course overview and invite you to tell us a bit about yourself and help us get to know you better.

Session 2: Background. We will start by introducing the program and sharing some important background stories which connect you to the sources, history, lineage, and other resources.

Session 3: How to play "the Game". This includes the structure of the course, the rules and guidelines that will make sure you have the best experience and understand any policies and procedures that make the Primal Lab work.

PART 2- PREPARATION

Session 4: What you will need. In this session we will introduce you to all the tools and resources that you will need to get the most out of your experience. We will help you set up your own Lab, give you a gear list, a book list, and links to other resources.

Session 5: The Primal Perspective. In this section there are a series of lectures that will provide the context for your journey. There will be some important definitions, descriptions, and distinctions made that will open the door to the primal journey.

Session 6: The Primal Journey. In this session we explore the journey you are taking and give you some guidance and direction that helps you expand your potential. We also look at other programs and how all the training fits together.

PART 3- THE LABS

In this section we introduce and describe each of the primal labs and show you how they all go together. We also go over memberships and you will get some special offers and discounts.

Session 7: Introducing Body Lab

Session 8: Introducing Earth Lab

Session 9: Introducing Soul Lab

Background

Session 2

Ben Sanford aka "Tarzan" is a practitioner, teacher and leader of the primal arts movement with over 30 years of experience in the life supporting skills of human-nature connection and over 15 years of guiding others in the journey of transformation. Ben lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state and offers courses, coaching, and consulting at Tribal Edge primal arts training center. See more.

In 2002 Tribal Edge primal arts training center was founded by Ben Sanford on 5 acres known simply as "the Land" located between the Jamestown S'klallam Tribe and the Buckhorn Wilderness.

Tribal Edge provides primal arts training for the everyday hero and teaches holistic life skills and practices that help you and your tribe experience your greatest potential and thrive. Training in these "primal arts" leads to an epic Journey into the science, art and philosophy of the everyday Hero.

Tribal Edge offers of a variety of classes, workshops and events such as community Sunday Gatherings. Tribal Edge provides training in primal living skills, human/nature connection, team & leadership skills through coaching, classes, programs and other events. Primal arts are the essential skills which are core to our existence as human beings. 

Tribal Edge offers primarily live events from short workshops to week long and multi-year programs. Some of he most popular are: the Monthly Gatherings, the Primal Lab, Hero Lab, Hero Academy, the Core Curriculum, and the Journey Program.

By training in the skills of fitness, awareness, tracking, survival, healing, the warrior arts, and other life supporting skills, we can remember our original instructions to be naturally balanced individuals and communities who live with the earth. These “edge” experiences balance body, mind and spirit as you connect with yourself, creation, and the great Mystery in a natural way.

About Primal Lab

Primal Lab has been evolving since Tribal Edge began in 2002. The Primal Lab was developed as a way for students to get "dirt time" or practice in the life supporting skills we teach in our classes and programs at Tribal Edge.

Primal Lab offers quality online instruction in the life supporting skills we need to thrive. Each Lab session provides a video and or written instruction each week, including directions, assignments and projects. The curriculum is a progressive journey through the primal skills over the span of a year. 

Primal Lab consists of three classes:

• Body Lab

• Earth Lab

• & Soul Lab

Each Lab offers a lifetime of study and experimentation to master the skills offered while giving you the tools to continue training and growing on your own.

Sources and Influences

The Primal Lab curriculum draws from many sources. As the primary source, I would like to give my deepest respect and gratitude to my teacher Tom Brown Jr., the Tracker School, and to Grandfather Stalking Wolf and his lineage for their dedication to the preservation of the ancient ways of walking as one with earth mother. 

Special thanks to:

Tom Brown Jr. and the Tracker School

• John Young and Wilderness Awareness School

• Malcolm Ringwalt and Eartheart

• Joe Lau & Natural Duties/Phyre Dojo

• Ken Pannell & Sikal Tactical Combatives

• Karl Direske & Wilderness Fusion

• Paul Chek & the Chek Insitute

• Ken Wilber & the Integral Institute

• Frank & Karen Sherwood & Earthwalk Northwest

• Sajah Popham & Evolutionary Herbalism

• Victoria Jazwic-Sanford & Sacred Soul Vision

• Christopher Harley & Useful Being

• William Marple & Earth Voices llc

• Michael Lazzari & Heart Warrior

• Randy Russell & Soulore

• Dr. Robert Humphrey

• Dr. John Vervaeke

• Dr. Jordan Peterson

• Dr. Matt James

• Dr. Don Beck

• Dr. Barbara Benzinger

• Systems Innovation

• Tribal Edge students of past and present

• Our technical support

• And you!

How to Play

Session 3

Step 1- Review Terms and Conditions

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• I have read the Terms and Conditions

  • Yes

  • No

Step 2- Review the course material

This introduction is designed to help you understand how the Primal Lab courses work so you can get the most out of your experience. First of all, there is the system, so here is what you need to know...

The Primal Lab is made up of 3 Labs: Body Lab, Earth Lab, and Soul Lab. Each Lab stands alone and is whole and complete as an experience however it is also part of a greater whole. You can take one, two or all three Labs together if you have the time and energy.

The Primal Lab has a 3 year curriculum with three levels of instruction: Basic, intermediate, and advanced. After your first year, if you wish you can continue with the intermediate courses, and finally take the advanced version of the program in your third year.

So after completing this introductory course, if you would like to continue, you may select from the course options and continue your journey. The Curriculum is designed to progressively lead you through your personal human-nature connection in a comprehensive and holistic way. 

There are several ways to do the program.

1. Take one individual lab course at a time.

2. Do a combination of courses for ex. Body Lab and Earth Lab, or Earth Lab and Soul Lab etc.

3. Or do the Primal Academy and do all three.

4. You can also alternate seasons and pick and choose, mix and match.

Although the curriculum is a cycle and you can start anywhere in the training, it is also a progression and it is recommended that you start with Session 1 of each class, and work your way through the program.

With any course you enroll in, make sure to read the instructions, listen/watch any audio/video, and read any documents. Then do the exercises and finally offer your debrief to the group. If you have any questions you can begin a group chat or make a relevant post any time. When you are ready, go on to the next session. 

Step 3- Choose to play the Game

The best way to approach this training is to allow it to be like a game, not a competitive game, but rather a game of discovery and insight. Allow it to be fun, challenging and to work its way into your life as part of who you are.

The "game" you are participating in has been carefully crafted to lead you on a journey of transformation through training in the life supporting skills. Everything you encounter is much more than it seems and you will find that teaching and the lessons unfolds like a puzzle and a treasure hunt combined as a whole other experience emerges that is hard to describe. 

Make it an adventure and pour yourself into the exercises and assignments with nothing to loose because the only way you can loose this game is if you don't play.

Step 4- Review the Rules of the Game

1. Start somewhere. You may jump in wherever you wish, however starting at the beginning with be the most beneficial. Ultimately, the most important training is the training you will do.

2. Take small steps. Be patient with your training and allow the process to unfold. Do only what you feel inspired to do and avoid skipping steps to finish or win the game. The game is the journey itself.

3. Do the activities. This is an experiential training and you cannot get the results without following through with the exercises. Review all of the materials for each lesson and then take action. You are responsible for your results.

4. Offer feedback & review the feedback of others. When you are participating in an activity, offer your experience, results, questions, feedback etc. in the debrief section for that exercise. You are helping everyone gain more with your perspective.

5. Have fun! Each training group also has access to the general Humanimal group for more community collaboration. You may wish to schedule training times with your group members that can train together in the real world which will add tons of value to your experience.

*Please do not download or share the content of your training. You will have access to this training as long as you are respectful of these terms and conditions.

Step 5- Join the Group

Tribal Edge uses Zoom group calls and Facebook groups as community platforms for training. When you register for a training and are added to a Facebook group where you will want to introduce and familiarize yourself. 

 Participants will be joining at various times and everyone is having their own unique experience. If you want to have more shared experiences, you may get some friends to join with you, or reach out to current members and invite them to review a session with you. 

Join the open Facebook Group for Primal Lab here

Preparation

What you will need

Part 2: Session 4

Setting up your Lab

To get the most out of your experience, you will benefit from having a training space or "Lab" for your work. This does not mean it needs to have a big space full of fancy or expressive equipment and tools. This is just a personal space that can be a corner of a room, garage or back porch that you can work on projects and store your materials and tools.

Personally, I have several training spaces. Each one pulls me into a specific state of mind that is conducive for practice or learning in that field. I have an indoor movement space, an indoor lab/workshop space, and several outdoor movement and workshop spaces.

Each of the Primal Lab classes will have their own requirements.

• Body Lab- You will need a movement space large enough to lie down and stand up and move around a little bit. You will also need an outdoor space that has some natural landscape such as a back yard, park or wilderness area.

• Earth Lab- You will need a place to safely build a small fire, a water source (bucket of water will do) and some space to work on projects and do your experiments. You will also need a wild space that you can access such as backyard, park or wilderness area.

• Soul Lab- You will need a comfortable place to lie down and an outdoor space for a small fire and room to wander in a backyard, park or wilderness area.

Gear and Equipment

Your basic list

• Note book and pens and pencils. I suggest at least one full size notepad or sketch pad for writing and drawing.

• Water bottle

• Towel or blanket

• Camera or phone for pictures and video

• Tripod (for coaching memberships)

• Knife- preferably a fixed blade
  
  

Body Lab

• Comfortable clothes for all weather that you can get dirty.

• Towel or blanket

• Rocks, dumbbells or kettle-bells

• Something to hang on- tree branch, bar, door jam etc.

Earth Lab

• Knife- preferably a fixed blade (non-folding)

• Eye protection

• Ear protection

• Gloves

• Cord- 550, and small twine

• Wash tub or bucket for water

• Files

• Sandpaper

• Small tool kit

• Handsaw

• Small axe or hatchet

• Tarp- 8x10

• Shovel

• First aid kit

• Tom Brown's field guide to nature observation and tracking

• Tom Brown's field guide to wilderness survival

Soul Lab

• Blanket

• Towel

• Knife

• Hand saw

• Hand pruners

• Several small jars with lids

• Field guides to plants in your area

• Tom Brown's field guide to edible and medicinal plants

Other Resources

You will be given resources such as videos, articles and links along with many bonuses along the way.

The Primal Perspective

Session 5

What is a Perspective

We are all familiar with the idea of perspective but what is really going on here? 

A perspective is a mental framework we use to reduce all of the information or noise around us in order to distinguishing a specific aspect of reality that is relevant to our present needs and circumstances. 

To take a primal perspective means to find the most fundamental perspectives available from which all others are build upon.

In order to learn we must face the unknown. What emerges into our awareness from the unknown is what we call a "problem". Not like something is wrong, but rather that there is something to be understood.

To understand something we must collect information about it in as many ways as possible and cross reference and compare our findings. The more perspectives we can take through different channels of exploration the better, and when we have multiple sources of data confirming our observations, we can be more confident that we are detecting a truth about reality. 

One of the greatest tools we have to direct our focus and thus change our perspective and increase our awareness, knowledge and understanding is the use of questions. A question is a possibility filter which places a boundary around a portion of the unknown and reduces it to a problem to be solved.

There are many ways we have tried to answer our questions and probe into the unknown to solve our problems throughout time, from more recent scientific method to the poetic language of the ancient stories and myths. 

Primal Lab uses an integrative process of study which includes many perspectives and many levels of depth. The result is a comprehensive point of view from which to look. 

According to Ken Wilber's Integral theory, some of the most primal perspectives we can take are:

The "I" perspective which can be described as the subjective or internal experiential perspective.
The "We" perspective which can be described as the collective internal or inter subjective space of culture perspective.
The "It/It's" perspective which can be described as the external objective or scientific empirical perspective.

Together, these perspectives give us the common sense intuitive perspective from your own experience, in addition to the ancestral or traditional perspectives of our collective cultural wisdom, as well as the objective and empirical scientific perspective. These perspectives are always available in every situation as a minimal set of perspectives and can allow us to looked at or look through them to perceive more of reality.

The layers or levels of perspective are from part to whole- on a scale of complexity for example:

-Body, Mind and Spirit.

or

-Self, Earth and Mystery.

From a Primal Perspective we tend to describe reality in terms a few essential attributes:

• Principles

• Processes

• & Patterns

We will be coming back to these perspectives and attributes throughout your training and our goal with taking multiple perspectives from many levels is to find a fusion of understanding that emerges and reveals a greater level of truth.

The Primal Journey

Session 6

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These classes are a holistic approach to the primal living skills that we as human beings have always needed to thrive. This training template provides a journey through many perspectives and layers of what it means to live with the earth and each other in a healthy life supporting way.

The Primal Journey is an experience that takes place in the practice of nature connection over time. In all of nature there is a developmental cycle of birth, growth and death where everything is in the process of becoming something else. 

This training journey follows the seasons and phases of life with a series of introductory classes over the period of the year. These classes are the focus or themes for each month and give a hidden structure to the Primal Labs which are "dirt time" opportunities to grow the seeds planted in the Core classes.

What is the Tribal Edge Core Curriculum?

The Core Classes are a holistic exploration of the skills, practices, and process of primal living. These introductory classes represent the distillation of over 30 years of study and practice of the primal arts. Using ancient teaching methods and a unique synthesis of knowledge, the Core Curriculum has something for everyone. The classes plant seeds that are designed to be reviewed and nurtured by retaking classes as often as you wish with more to learn each time.

This journey leads from whole, to part, to whole again as one discovers that each element is intimately interconnected and can only be fully understood in reference to the whole. Like the warp and weft of a basket, these classes come together to create a container for primal living that is greater than the sum of its parts. To learn, train and teach the primal* living skills in a holistic* way means to include as many perspectives as possible, while also including as many levels as possible.

*Holistic: comprehensive, integrative, universal*Primal: core, essential, original, fundamental

How does it work?

Each month, the Core Curriculum offers one of twelve unique, day long classes. These experiential group classes are based on four directions or paths of study, and three levels of depth:

The Skills Series:

These are the “hard skills” of Tracking, Survival, Healing, and Combat. Together these classes study the principles or “Science” of primal living.

The Training Series:

These classes are based upon the practice and process of self-development that naturally occurs in the study of the primal skills. The Path, The Tools, The Way and The Zone describe the “Art” or journey of primal living.

The Tribe Series:

These classes, Know Thyself, Team Dynamics, Creating Community, and Mentoring Leadership focus upon you and your relations. Together these classes study the “Philosophy” or ethics of primal living.

Where to start

The Core Classes can be experienced in different ways depending on your time and interest.

The Core Class series:This series of 12 classes is a primal living journey through the year with themes and layers of discovery each season. Although you can start anytime, the beginning of the Journey is the Tracking class.

Single classes:Although each core class is part of a greater whole, they stand alone as individual classes which can be taken by themselves as your time and interest allow.

The Deep series:Each season has a theme with three classes which dive deeper into the Science, Art and Philosophy of each direction.

The Wide series:With this option, you can take all four classes in one or more of the layers through out the year.

If you are interested in the Core Curriculum, learn more here.

Part 3: the Labs

BODY Lab

Session 7

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Become a force of nature!

Learn the way of the human animal through awareness, conditioning and movement.

BODY LAB Training Includes

• One session per week with video and or written instruction, projects and assignments.

• Learn how to develop the skills, tools and practices of the wild human animal.

• Step by step instruction in awareness, conditioning and movement.

• Complementary integration with the other Primal Labs.

• Private group for discussion, sharing and Q&A.

• Live group coaching call every month.

• Other bonuses and discounts.

COST 

• $10 Drop in (one class)

• $30 month to month (one class per week) - Register.

• $75 per season (automatic payments of $25 per month).

• $280 one time payment for the year.

• Check out our memberships for our year long Primal Academy.

• Included in the Primal Pass and the Journey Prime program.

• Go to your dashboard to register or REGISTER TODAY on our website.
  
  

INSTRUCTOR

Ben Sanford (and guests)

EARTH LAB

Session 8

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It's like going home

“Dirt Time” in the science, art, and philosophy of awareness, tracking, and survival.

EARTH LAB Training Includes:

• One session per week with video and or written instruction, projects and assignments.

• Learn how to develop the skills, tools and practices of living with the earth.

• Step by step instruction in the primal arts of tracking and survival.

• Complementary integration with the other Primal Labs.

• Private group for discussion, sharing and Q&A.

• Live group coaching call every month.

• Other bonuses and discounts.

COST

$10 Drop in (one class) 

• $30 month to month (one class per week) - Register

• $75 per season (automatic payments of $25 per month).

• $280 one time payment for the year.

• Check out our memberships for our year long Primal Academy.

• Included in the Primal Pass and the Journey Prime program.

• Go to your dashboard to register or REGISTER TODAY on our website.

INSTRUCTOR

Ben Sanford (and guests)

Get a free sample class here!

• Get a free sample session

  $0

Choose extra addons!

Free recording for more info

Here is a recording of a live introduction to Earth Lab from 2015 (when it was called Dirt Time.)

SOUL Lab

Session 9

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Embrace the mystery of life.

Learn the way of healer through the skills of awareness, healing, and stewardship.

SOUL LAB Training Includes

• One session per week with video and or written instruction, projects and assignments.

• Learn how to develop the skills, tools and practices of living with the mystery of life.

• Step by step instruction in the primal arts of awareness, healing and stewardship.

• Complementary integration with the other Primal Lab Private group for discussion, sharing and Q&A Live group coaching call every month.

• Other bonuses and discounts.

COST

• $10 Drop in (one class)

• $30 month to month (one class per week) - Register

• $75 per season (automatic payments of $25 per month).

• $280 one time payment for the year.

• Check out our memberships for our year long Primal Academy.

• Included in the Primal Pass and the Journey Prime program.

• Go to your dashboard to register or REGISTER TODAY on our website.
  
  
  

INSTRUCTOR

Ben Sanford (and guests)

Where to go from here

Session 10

Thank you for participating in this introduction. I hope you have found it useful and are inspired to join the Primal Lab. If you know what course you want to start with, go to your dashboard to register and dive into the training and I will see you there. 

If you would like some more information, you can schedule a free consultation with Ben here. Be sure to book your discounted session and check out your free sample session below.

I look forward to training with you soon!

Keep going,

Ben Sanford

primalsouljourneys@gmail.com

www.tribaledge.life

Other training opportunities

Are you interested in other training at Tribal Edge to support your journey in the Primal Lab?

• The Core Curriculum -a monthly introduction the primal arts.

• The Journey Prime -a year long journey that weaves it all together.

• Hero Lab -training for the everyday hero.

• Live Training events - day classes, weekend and week long programs.

• Coaching -private training and coaching with Ben Sanford.

• Consulting -take the next step on your vision.

Your bonus opportunities

• Get 50% OFF one Private Coaching Session just for completing the class.

  $50

• Get a free sample session

  $0

Choose extra addons!

The Path

The Path

Welcome

We are at a powerful choice point in our lives and as a planet, and actually, that is always true. What are you choosing? What are you creating? 

In “the Path” we take a look at the nature of journey from a primal perspective and explore the principles, processes, and patterns in our lives that make up our path at any moment in time. 

Thank you for joining us for a life-changing and path altering experience that is designed to give you more freedom and power in your life.

Who are you? Why are you here?

These fundamental questions are constantly being asked of everyone on the planet at all times. For some they are a driving force, for others they are something to avoid and ignore, and for many they are a source of frustration, conflict, and pain. 

For those who are searching for the answers, life simply requests that a journey be taken. This journey is infinitely patient, and is always ready and waiting for us to make a choice.

Part of our core curriculum, The Path is an opportunity for you to look at the nature of your journey and to live more intentionally and skillfully as you journey through training or life in general. 

This class helps you find direction by providing an internal framework that will help you move towards clarity and power in your life as your path unfolds. 

By connecting with your natural passions, gifts, and learning to flow with nature, this training class will assist you in your search for excellence at any level in all areas of life.

As Lao Tzu said, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Where ever you are on your journey, The Path is designed to help you find that next foothold, to guide you back to your path when wandering, or to empower the path you are on while using nature’s universal blueprint as a guide.

How to play

1. Read the Terms and Conditions

2. Start with session 1 and watch the video.

3. Make sure to take notes!

4. Do the exercises at the bottom of the page.

5. Share your results and discoveries in the response boxes.

6. Leave any questions or comments in the comment section.

7. Mark session as complete and go on to your next session when you are ready.

8. Get your bonus offer upon completion of the course.

9. Join us on Facebook or a group call and tell us about your experience and share with your friends!

10. Look for our next class and keep going on your training journey.

What you will need

• Notebook and pen

• A sit spot

• A place to wander in nature (optional)

Meet your guide

Ben Sanford aka "Tarzan" is a practitioner, teacher and leader of the primal arts movement with over 30 years of experience in the life supporting skills of human-nature connection and over 15 years of guiding others in the journey of transformation. Ben lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state and offers courses, coaching, and consulting at Tribal Edge primal arts training center. See more.

Session 1: The Primal Journey

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In this session I introduce you to the Tribal Edge Core Curriculum.

The Core Classes are a holistic journey into primal living with four directions of focus and three layers of depth.

You are here

You are in the Path Class which is our second class of the year (we begin in spring). The Path is in the Tracking direction (or perspective) and part of the Training series (or art layer).

Nerd alert: Learn more about the Core curriculum here.

These classes are a holistic approach to the primal living skills that we as human beings have always needed to thrive. This training template provides a journey through many perspectives and layers of what it means to live with the earth and each other in a healthy life supporting way.

The Primal Journey is an experience that takes place in the practice of nature connection over time. In all of nature there is a developmental cycle of birth, growth and death where everything is in the process of becoming something else.

Your Exercise

What is your relationship to the Primal Journey?

• Have you taken classes with Tribal Edge before?

• What area of the primal journey are you most drawn to?

• Where has your path taken you on the primal journey already?

Session 2: What is a Vision?

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Core Concepts

• Intro to the Vision and the Quest

• The Journey is the Vision
  

• Everything is Mystery

• Wheel of knowledge

• The learning journey

Your Exercise

Do a little writing about the following questions:

• Who are you?

• Why are you here?

• What is your vision?

• What do you know you don't know?

Session 3: What is a Path?

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Core Concepts

• A path is an emergent pattern that connects.

• The power of questions.

• A path is a choice and a way of being.

Your Exercise

Create a life timeline and look at your choice points.

• What were the major choice points in your life?

• What are some choices you made that are working for you?

• What are some limiting choices that you made?

Session 4: The Power of Constraints

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Core Concepts

• Freedom and power through constraints.

• Constraints provide a context for your life.

• Commitment is a choice that you keep choosing.

Your Exercise

Go for a sit and sketch out a life map that defines the worlds that you live in?

• What are the different worlds that you are part of?

• What kind of roles do your identity with in your life?

Session 5: Maps & Models

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Core Concepts

• Review

• Maps & models as representations

• Personal Maps

• Traditional Maps

• Universal maps

• Principles & Process

• Fractals

Your Exercise

Go for a wander outside and notice some of the fractal patterns and processes in nature.

• What are some of your personal maps?

• What are some traditional maps you use?

• What fractals or universal maps did you notice on your wander?

Session 6: Guidance

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Core Concepts

• Sources of guidance

• Principle, process & pattern

• Entropy

• Causal patterns

• The Primal map

Your Exercise

Create a "psychograph" of your life categories in a balanced way and map your current state on a scale of 1-10 in each area. Then connect the dots intuitively and notice the shape that emerges.

• How does the pattern make you feel?

• What is the pattern teaching you?

• What do you want to change?

Session 7: Goals & Obstacles

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Core Concepts

• Your path creates obstacles.

• Obstacles as opportunities.

• Goals are steps to achieve a vision.

• Standards

• Rituals

Your Exercise

1. Create a short list of actionable goals in each area of change.

2. Create a list of standards that will make each goal possible.

3. Create a list of rituals (consistent behaviors) that will support your new standards.

• What are your 3-5 goals?

• What is your first actionable goal?

• What standards are you creating?

• What rituals do you need to support those standards?

Session 8: Conclusion

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Core Concepts

• Review and empower your vision

• Choose your constraints.

• There is no failure, only feedback.

• Course correction.
  

Where to go from here

Remember, you are nature.

Whether you have been walking your path with awareness, or have been searching, wandering or lost, you have always been on your path. If you feel you have no vision or are not on a path, just pick a path and stay on it and the journey will unfold. 

You can make a new choice at any time, however there are points in time on your journey that are easier to make new changes than others. These choice points are the natural transitions in cycles that we can learn to predict and prepare for as we become more attuned to the wisdom of nature, and you are nature.

"The Journey is the Vision."

Grandfather Stalking Wolf

Other Resources

If you are interested in the material of this course and are looking for the next step on your path, you may want to find out more about the Vision Quest. 

Contact Tribal Edge for more information at www.tribaledge.life/contact or find us on FaceBook and join a group.

If you are interested in more training with Ben and Tribal Edge please check out our upcoming online and live events.

The next class in our Core Curriculum is "Know Thyself", a deep personal exploration using the tools of tracking to understand our inner nature.

The next class in the Training series is "the Tools" where we explore some of the primal tools and practices of human-nature transformation.

Other Training 

• Check out our online Primal Lab classes for consistent training in the the Primal Arts with Body Lab, Earth Lab and Soul Lab.

• For an even deeper immersive experience, check out the Journey Program for a year long adventure that ties it all together.

• Finally, Private coaching with Ben is available to help you integrate what you are learning into your life.

Keep going!

I look forward to seeing you in our next class Know Thyself. 

Thank you for playing and keep going!

A special bonus for completing this course.

Get 50% off a private coaching. session. Contact me or book your session here and mention this discount code: PATH2020

One more bonus!

Check out this  video on the Path.

• 50% off Private Coaching session

  $50

21 Days of Change

Welcome!

Start here

Welcome, I am excited you are joining us on a 21 day adventure which will not only change but transform your life- as long as you play. 

These short lessons take hardly any time out of your life but have the potential to change everything, so give it all you've got!

Ben Sanford

(Please read our Terms and Conditions before you begin.)

How to play

Thank you for taking the time to check out the free 21 day program on how to make a change in your life. 

This course is released sequentially, day by day from beginning to end so that you can take the time to try on each exercise. Each day I will touch on an element or perspective on how to make and maintain a change in your life. The list is by no means exhaustive or complete, but rather an inspirational introduction to the many facets of change and habit formation.

Exercises will be released based upon the time of day you register so if you want to do your course in the morning, you may need to wait an extra day for it to load. When you complete the program you can keep it as a resource to reference and explore however you wish. 

Each section will include two types of exercises labeled A & B.

• Exercise A: is a perspective or concept to try out as a tool for creating change in your life.

• Exercise B: a corresponding health & wellness exercise to do for the day and the rest of the training if you are able*.

If you would like some accountability and interaction you can write in the exercise response boxes and I will see your responses. Also you can mark each session as complete and I will track you progress. You can also get an accountability buddy to go through the program with you or share with the group so we can all learn and grow together. 

Make sure to join the Facebook group and contact me with any questions in the comments below each session or email me at primalsouljourneys@gmail.com.

For the best experience, simply listen to the video and try on the perspective offered for a day, and do the exercises. Don't worry about big sudden results, this should be easy and subtle at first. Then simply choose to practice it again while adding another each day.

Each section is a stand alone tool or can be compounded one upon another for a powerful approach to creating change. I encourage you to try to keep each exercise alive and stack them up as you go along for the 21 days to find out how it impacts your life. 

Try it out and have fun. Remember, if it becomes too challenging, hang on to the things that most benefit you, and keep going.

Good luck and have fun,

Ben

Please read, just in case.

*This course and all information in it is for educational purposes only. Use common sense, do what is right for you and consult your physician before participating in any transformational program. 

Tribal Edge releases all responsibility for participants actions

Read

Terms & Conditions

• I have read the disclaimer and agree to the terms and conditions.

  • Yes

  • No

Day 1

Theme: Preparation

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Preparation

Are You ready to make lasting changes in your life? What is important to you? What do you really want? Are you ready to get good at making changes? 

Every journey requires preparation, and actually every step is preparation for the next. Rather than trying to change a habit, think about change as your freedom to choose in every moment, and a choice made consistently over time is a change.

Notice where you are now and how you got there. What are the choices that led to your current situation and what would you like to change?When you have the information you need, it is easy to make a choice and now is the time to gather the information you need by imagining what new choices are possible. 

Your Exercise

• A). Explore the various areas of your life and decide what you would like to change and write it/them down.

• B). What are your health habits and what would you like to change.

Day 2

Theme: Outcome

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Outcome

Begin with the end in mind. The theme of this session is the importance of creating a clear outcome when change is desired. Without an outcome, any result will do and we find ourselves back where we started. What do you really want? What will this change give you? How will you and your world be different?

Your Exercises:

• A.) In relation to the change you wish to make, what is your outcome. How will it/you be different? Create a clear, measurable outcome that matters to you and write it down.

• B.) Frequently ask yourself, "How am I feeling?" and notice what you find.

Day 3

Theme: Purpose

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Purpose

Purpose= Need + Solution. 

Your life is expressed as a dance between moving towards what you want and away from what you don't want. Why? Why is your outcome you have created important to you?

Your Exercises:

• A.) Explore why your outcome matters to you and why you want to change. For what purpose? Write it down.

• B.) Practice choosing your exact experiences in life exactly as they are and as they are not. Exercise the muscle of choice.

Day 4

Theme: Focus

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Focus

What you focus on IS your experience! Our minds are an incredible resource. However there is a limit to our conscious awareness and we must practice choosing where we point our awareness. This causes change if we keep doing it. A powerful way to direct our focus is with the use of questions. There are 3 questions that you are asking (and answering) at all times...1.) What am I going to focus on in this situation? 2.) What am I going to make it mean? 3.) What am I going to do?

Your Exercises:

• A.) Practice noticing where you habitually point your focus.

• B.) Practice asking the 3 questions above as often as you remember in each new situation.

Day 5

Theme: Planning

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Planning

As Tim Ferris states, "Indiscriminate action is reflective of too little thinking and planning and is therefore lazy." Planning is an important step in creating change. It is a popular approach to reaching an outcome in our left brain culture and we are all very familiar with this tool. A plan outlines the strategy and steps needed to meet goals and reach our outcomes.

In using plans effectively to make changes in our lives it is important to remember a couple points that may hang us up:1.) too much or not enough structure/detail, and 2.) how much of the plan we focus on at one time (chunking)

When planning, treat it as an outline for life to flow through, and seek a good ratio of structure and flow. Resist getting too attached to the plan and look around once in a while at what is happening in the real world.

Also, be mindful of where you direct your focus within your plan. If you get lost in every detail, you will likely be overwhelmed and only stick to your plan for a day or two. On the other hand, if it is too general, it wont inspire action.

Your Exercises:

• A.) With your outcome in mind, create a plan to achieve it including any goals you have along the way.

• B). As a health exercise, plan your day so that you are in bed ready to go to sleep at 10:30. This small change can have profound benefits including weight loss. If you are already an early to bed type, take on another simple healthy action you know to do.

Day 6

Theme: Progression

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Progression

"Progression is how champions eat breakfast- one bite at a time." OK that's silly, but the point is everyone processes information in chunks- one step at a time. When we are processing something new, the chunks are less complex than when we are familiar with something. However, even when we are familiar, we still process in chunks- there is no way around it.

This is where progression comes in, progression honors the speed of change that is unique to each of us in each situation. Training in its many forms makes use of progression as an efficient tool for change.

Your Exercises:

• A.) Look at your plan and make sure it has a logical, sequential progression of actions or goals and that it does not skip steps and leave you hanging. Again, not too small and not too big- think Goldilocks- just right.

• B.) Cold training for recovery. Cold water has amazing benefits for your body and energy level. Practice taking brief cold showers and progressively increasing the length of cold time. You can start, end or sandwich your cold with hot.

Day 7

Theme: Action

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Action

There is no replacement for action in making a change in your life. At this point you have done a lot of preparation. It is now time to do!

Your Exercises:

• A.) Take 3 actions today, immediately, that you know you can do towards your change. At this point, thinking about it, writing about it or telling others about it is not considered an action. Take action NOW!

• B.) Touch nature. At some point today, take some time to make direct contact with nature with your body and your senses. Even if it is only for a few minutes. Walk barefoot, jump in a river, climb a tree, gaze at the stars. Do something.

Day 8

Theme: Inhibition

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Inhibition

Nothing replaces action, however not all actions are equal. We do not just want to be busy and in reaction to every stimulus in our lives. So how do you practice turning a reaction into a response? Inhibition. By pausing between stimulus and response, we can open a space to make a choice- and that is life-changing!

Your Exercises

• A.) Practice inhibition in small ways in your life- practice choosing to answer your phone, choose to take the next bite of food, or make a comment. Notice where you react and explore where the choice point was hiding.

• B.) Practice pausing. Create a simple ritual for pausing randomly during your day and noticing what is going on inside you and outside of you. Maybe when you walk into a different room or close a door, or sit down or stand up.

Day 9

Theme: Standards

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Standards

As Tony Robbins says, "People don't get what they want, they get what they tolerate." Standards are the private bar we set as to what is a must for us in some area of life. Standards are set and maintained by you alone. When something has moved from the "I want" category to the "I must" category because that is just how it is, or I am that kind of person, or I won't settle for less, then you know it is a standard.

We maintain and support our standards by creating rituals or routine behaviors that make the standards possible. For example, If my standard is that I am a runner, then my rituals should reflect that with a routine or regiment of running.

Your Exercises

• A.) Take a look at the standards you have and the ones you want to create. Choose a new standard in your life and create some rituals that will support it and take action.

• B.) Drink water. Install the health ritual of drinking pure water. If you are not drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day, let that be a new goal and begin progressively drinking more water. Start with 8 ounces more. Remember, water is not juice, tea, coffee or alcohol.

Day 10

Theme: Overwhelm

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Overwhelm

When taking action and making change in your life, at some point you will no doubt be visited by overwhelm and procrastination. I find they often arrive in this order and then begin a vicious cycle that makes me crazy. If I get overwhelmed than I am hesitant to take action until I see a clear direction, so I put off action until that happens, which piles up the overwhelm and...yikes!

The key to undoing overwhelm is actually chunking down to a small doable action and doing it. This will begin to pull the plug and lead to more action. The temptation is to chunk up to a bigger picture which actually can lead to more overwhelm. If your sink is overflowing you don't need a bigger sink, you need to turn off the water and clear the drain.

Procrastination is easy. Follow Tim Ferris's example and just do it later!

Your Exercises

• A.) Next time you are overwhelmed, pick any seemingly insignificant (but related) action and just do it. Let it lead to the next and the next. When you feel like procrastinating, just tell yourself you can procrastinate later.

• B.) Breakfast. What? Yes, your health challenge to start today is to have a protein rich breakfast within an hour of waking up. Try it for the rest of the program.

Day 11

Theme: Blocks

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Blocks

When we are taking action and making changes, we inevitably encounter things that seem to be in the way of our desired outcome. We call them blocks. Blocks can slow or even stop our growth and change. Blocks take many forms- from external obstacles like time, money and relationships, to internal resistance like fear, doubt, and discomfort.

The only way to not encounter blocks is to do nothing and sit on the couch watching TV in your pajamas with a bag of Cheetos (although even that path would have potential blocks too- loosing your job, running out of money & Cheetos, and ultimately the power turned off😉.)

Blocks are sometimes dead ends, but often they are just telling us we are in action and going in the right direction. They are also opportunities to grow and become the type of person who deals with problems powerfully and finds solutions.

Your Exercises

• A.) While practicing your change and moving towards your desired outcome, try on the perspective that blocks or obstacles are opportunities- gifts that are helping you grow and unfold your potential.

• B.) If you have inflammation, start your day by drinking a glass of warm lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. (1/2 Lemon in a cup of warm water.)

A Quick Program Review

We are about half way through, so lets review what we have so far:

1.) Do an inventory of you life and select areas of life you would like to make a change.

2.) Create an outcome in these changes, and practice asking yourself "How am I feeling?"

3.) Define your purpose for your change and practice choosing your circumstances in life.

4.) Notice what tends to get most of your focus in your daily life and practice asking the 3 questions.

5.) Create a plan to reach your outcome for change and get to sleep by 10:30.

6.) Practice progression and take short cold showers each day.

7.) Take 3 immediate actions towards your change, and make contact with nature.

8.) Practice inhibition, and make a trigger for pauses.

9.) Create some new standards and define the rituals you need to maintain them, drink more water up to 1/2 body weight in oz.

10.) When you get overwhelmed, chunk down and take action. Eat a protein rich breakfast within one hour of waking up.

11). See obstacles as opportunities and start your morning with lemon water.

Great Job! Keep going.

Day 12

Theme: Fear

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Fear

Fear is one of the largest blocks we encounter. Fear of the unknown, and therefore change, is natural and a predictable block. We are wired to feel comfortable with the familiar (habits) and uncomfortable with change- until it becomes familiar again.

When we face a new situation, our amazing brain goes through an automatic "what if" process searching for the worse case scenario, and looks for any similar experiences we may have had to prepare us for the unknown. All of this guessing is usually experienced as fear.

This is great when we are actually in danger, and a waste of time and energy when we are not.

Your Exercises

• A.) When you notice you are feeling fear, ask yourself if there is anything in your immediate environment that is threatening your physical safety in that moment. If not, thank your brain and just let go of the erroneous feelings and keep going.

• B.) Practice finishing all of your eating by 8 pm. Yep, no meals after 8. (Little snacks may be OK, but be careful- just a few ribs are not a snack.) *Note: for some of you, exercise B will give you an immediate chance to practice exercise A. 😉

Day 13

Theme: Resistance

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Resistance

All discomfort is caused by resisting what is happening. When we have an expectation, judgement, or any other interpretation that is different from what is really happening, it is often experienced as pain. This is really important- its not what you are resisting that causes discomfort, but the resistance itself that hurts! Get it? Real always wins.

This really shows up when we are making changes. Different= uncomfortable, and uncomfortable + resistance = pain & suffering. Once you realize that all discomfort is created by resistance to “what is”, the obvious solution is to let what is be okay and to not fight against it.

Your Exercises

• A.) When you feel discomfort, notice it. Then watch yourself. Notice how your body feels, notice your thoughts, notice your emotions, just notice with curiosity and let it be okay that whatever is happening is happening.

• B.) 4 count breathing: Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold empty for 4. Do this for at least 10 rounds. This is a great way to get yourself grounded, out of fear, or just physically recover your heartrate and breath. (It may come in handy when you are trying exercise A.)

Day 14

Theme: Feedback

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Feedback

Feedback is the breakfast of champions. We really could not function without feedback, it is how we learn and grow. When we are creating change and doing new things in our lives, sometimes the feedback we get shows up in the form of FAILURE! Failure is actually just a type of feedback- telling you- not that, try again, do different.

In fact from a NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) perspective, there is no failure, there is only feedback. That removes the negative hang-ups we have around messing up. I am not saying we can't make mistakes by the way, and yes we are totally responsible for our impact- but in the end it is feedback helping us grow, adapt and change.

Your Exercises

• A.) Try on the perspective that there is only feedback. When you feel like you have failed at something, let that become your trigger to look for the feedback- the lesson, and keep going.

• B.) Balance exercises: we could not keep our balance without the feedback that tells our nervous system that we are off balance. Try warming up for your workouts with some balance exercises such as balance beam or standing/sitting on an unstable object (careful) like a Swiss ball. Do it long enough for your body to get the hang of it and then go workout/play. You will perform better.

Day 15

Theme: Commitment

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Commitment

When we make a choice, we cut away everything else. We create a world that we live in which cuts away all of the possibilities that are not congruent with that choice. This is part of the power of choice.

A commitment is making a choice over and over again at every new choice point. To keep it simple, think of the 4C rule: "make commitments when you are clear to avoid making choices when you are confused."

This is one of the big guns for change. It helps us get some reps and practice change until it is comfortable. It also shifts the experience from feeling trapped or stuck, to the freedom and power of choosing things, exactly as they are and are not-sound familiar?

Your Exercises

• A.) Regarding your new changes, what are you committing to? Practice choosing again and use the 4C rule.

• B.) Practice the 3 shapes several times a day. 1- Superman: total extension, like you are flying through the universe. Feet hip width, flex your butt muscles tight, pull your belly in to your backbone, arms overhead shrugging shoulders to ears and hold till its tiring. 2- Hip Hang: bending at the hips, towards the ground, let your arms, neck, head, and spine dangle relaxed and breathe slowly. Relax more with each breath and curl up slowly with your head being the last. 3- Human Chair: get into a full crouch/squat or as low as you are able with your knees following your toes, and your heels on the ground resting there as long as it is comfortable. Watch a child or an aboriginal documentary for inspiration.

Day 16

Theme: Agreements

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Agreements

We all live in our own little universe,... and so does everyone else. No one gets to know what it is really like in there and everyone has a version of you that is different than yours.

I refer to this phenomenon as being agreements about who we are- especially when its more than one person who is deciding. When you have a whole group of people that define you in some way, it creates a powerful agreement that can be hard to change within. You know- "He's a nice guy" or "she's always late" etc.

Your Exercises

• A.) Search for the agreements that people have about you are especially the ones that challenge your new changes. Start teaching them who you are now.

• B.) Have that conversation. Scan your relationships and find the conversation that has been stressing you out at some level and that you have been avoiding. Just go do it the best you can.

Day 17

Theme: Conditions

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Conditions

You never have the conditions that you don't have. ...Huh?
Conditions, or your environment/lifestyle are an ever-present phenomenon in your experience. You always have them, no matter what. There is always you and your conditions and your experience- that's it.

Waiting until you have everything out there just right before you make a change will give you a reason to do it someday- and someday never comes. The most powerful way to change is to do it from the circumstances in which you find yourself now. That does not mean don't prepare and plan- it just means your conditions do not define you and your choices.

Your Exercises

• A.) Take a look at the conditions that you have turned into reasons to not change. Make a new choice knowing that you will always have the conditions that you have. 😉

• B.) Set up your sleeping conditions for health. Make sure you have some fresh air flow. Crack the window and use a fan if you need to. If it seems too cold, you will be surprised how quickly you learn to like it. If it is noisy (in town), try some earplugs or soft background sound (fan etc.) Also, black out your sleeping environment. Shades, tape over LED lights, or a light cloth over your eyes. Sweet dreams!

Day 18

Theme: Maintenance

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Maintenance

Everything requires maintenance to exist because everything is slowly falling apart thanks to the forces of entropy. If we want a car to exist, it must be maintained. If we want a skill to exist it must be practiced. Nothing is ever handled. We are simply given opportunities to choose to take action.

The key to maintenance is to deal with things while they are still small- before they become a big problem. The trick is to notice and take action before we slide down the slippery slope of distraction and complacency and find ourselves doing the same old thing.

Your Exercises

• A.) Notice where you get distracted and lulled into complacency around your new change.

• B.) As soon as you notice the distraction, do something physically powerful to interrupt the pattern. Do a quick work out, jump in cold water, play some power songs and shift your focus to take action. Then make your choice. When you find a good trigger- use it consistently and it will grow stronger.

Day 19

Theme: Responsibility

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Responsibility

You are responsible for your life. Taking responsibility for your life and your results is a source of power. It is easy to blame our circumstances (conditions) or other people for our experience which always ends up giving away our power. Being responsible for your effects in the world allow you to be congruent and free from internal conflict that can manifest as resistance.

Your Exercises

• A.) Look for areas of blaming in your life and try on taking responsibility. See how that feels.

• B.) Financial tick check. Look for any small financial drain in your world and get rid of it.

Day 20

Theme: Support

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Support

Whatever you are up to in your life, and whatever changes you are making, will likely either impact other people or require the assistance of other people (which is still impact) to be achieved.

When creating change in our lives it is also important to get the best tools, models, mentors and resources that will support your efforts. Inspiring others in your new change not only creates new agreements but helps you gain supportive allies.

• A.) Modeling- find someone who has already achieved the change you are making in a similar way. Find out how they did that. Ask them questions about their strategy or research them rather than reinvent the wheel.

• B.) Find someone who needs some help today and notice how it feels to be supportive of them.

Day 21

Theme: Gratitude

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Gratitude

Welcome to the final day! I want to thank you not only for taking the opportunity to do this course over the last 21 days, but also for being someone who is willing to do what it takes to grow and transform and better the world around you.

When you are experiencing a new life due to the changes you are making, whether big or small, it is important and powerful to pause and appreciate your breakthroughs. The state of gratitude has been scientifically determined to be the optimal state of being for humans.

This rewarding state is not only good for you but helps you get out of your own way and see more connections which allows you to continue growing and changing in an ongoing cycle.

I hope you appreciate your new changes and can use these tools to help you become more comfortable with them until they become "habits".

Your Exercises

• A.) Look back at your journey these last 21 day with gratitude for your accomplishments, and for how you will be growing next.

• B.) What is next for you? What are you going to choose next? Keep going!