The Beauty of Experimenting

We’ve plunged headlong into ice baths. We’ve practised free form improvisation with our children. And I’ve been invited and challenged by Colombian shaman through the spiritual realms of ayahuasca.

Those experiments started off as simple behavioural tune-ups and our favourites were captured in the Upping Your Elvis book. But overtime I’ve been attracted to the more extreme and challenging ways to get my energy right. The beauty of experimenting is that you try something out and see what it does for you.
 
It is not academic. It is not intellectual. It's visceral. It either works or it doesn't. And the big stuff really fits well with me.

A few years ago, a South African wizard teacher friend of mine who is helping me develop my energy suggested that I should try NAD+. He seemed to think it would have a positive impact on my energetic setup. NAD+ is a molecule that is found in living cells and is particularly important for the functioning of our mitochondria. They help turn food and oxygen into energy. The problem is that as we get older, NAD+ levels start to decline quite sharply.

The theory is that if we put it back into our system, we can get many benefits including increased memory, enhanced strength and endurance, longevity, improved cognition, not to mention better skin and hair.

What's not to like? So, I started course of treatment.

It involved having an IV (pills just don’t cut it!).  I felt an immediate benefit especially in my positivity and my focus - two elements that are vital for my work. So, I started having regular treatments.

There were a few problems, however.

I am lucky as I take on the liquid fast and can tolerate the pain of it, but I introduced some of my friends and family to the joys of it and because it's rather uncomfortable taking on the fluid, some of them found that they spent up to four hours lying down with a needle in their arm feeling cramps in their chests and stomachs. It took forever and didn't feel like fun. It also gave you a mega dose that then trailed off afterwards and therefore was hard to keep a consistent level within the system. And I have to say, it's not cheap.

But I did so love the benefits, so I kept doping it as I love the pain for gain equation. And when I came across a new innovation by Vaion, I was pretty excited. They’ve developed an NAD+ pen you use to self-administer a very tiny shot, every other day. It uses a disposable micro needle that you don't feel.  It's super-fast and easy and fits into my life. One month in and I’m smitten.

My energy levels are way more consistent. I can focus for longer and tire less easily. My thinking is incredibly clear and easy. I am less reactive and more conscious for more of the day. I am less stressed as I can see the bigger picture.

It's still not cheap but it's way more affordable per dose and because you have a little bit every other day you don't get the drop off that you get from an IV, or the discomfort of taking such a large quantity into your system once a month.

It isn't for everyone. And I can't guarantee that you will have the same benefits that I have but if you're like myself and always exploring how you can make every day count that little bit more, and how you can get your system and your energy more tuned for what's important for you; I recommend giving it a go.

If after a month it doesn’t work, it's no big shakes. But if it does work the way it has for me, your life will never quite be the same.

If you fancy giving it a go, the lovely folk at Vaion are offering a 10% discount with the code “chrisb10”. For me it's been a great energy experiment and now my NAD+ levels are up; every day is peachy.

‍