Abeo Maria

How necessary does one find college? I'm afraid of entering for the "wrong" thing, and ending up in debt. Does anyone including @Leo Gura have an opinion on this based on experience?

I'm definitely interested! I am looking to join the program as well @Sarah_Flagg. This would be such an awesome opportunity to help you grow as a life coach and for me as well to gain insight. I work from home so my I have quite open availability. I'm in Eastern Time Zone. Morning, afternoon, nights all work well for me.

@Damien thank you so much. this does truly help. I'm 24, so I'm right in that bracket. and know that if I do go it'd be best to go with the next year or two. @vizual I can agree with this. That is what I'm up against constantly...the constant expectation of college and the fear that i will need succeed if I don't have it. What's crazy is I don't have these own fears about my life, and think it's a waste to merely invest in something for pure expectation. So it's really encouraging that you've said this thank you kindly. @ZenBlue I agree. most of what i want to do isn't relative to a specific profession and I a lot of people out or normalcy, expectation and tradition assume it's only right to attend school and get a "business" degree or something to that liking. which i cannot justify the expense and debt of college for an area of interest i am actually not interested in. Thank you for your response/feedback

@Kevin Dunlop thank you so much for responding! This was what I needed to hear. I'm not currently in a rush (I'm 24) and am well aware of the benefits of college, if it's within my life purpose. Most people encourage me to go to college with the sole purpose of making money and I can't see the complete, sole logic in thinking that way. Sure, you want your livelihood to be taken care of through education, but for me it has to be a degree i am interested in obtaining because it matches my personal development. Thank you, thank you

Does anyone have any opinions about a loved one or spouse watching excessive amounts of porn? I am currently dealing with this. I personally don't prefer it, especially when I'm in the house and it's not as my partner and I are long distance or something. I know this is Ego coming out and that I should just detach from the situation, but I just wanted to know what other people's opinion on the subject were. Sometimes if I'm searching something on the computer and he hasn't thoroughly deleted the history it'll pop up on the browser if I'm typing in something else. It affects my intimacy, knowing that he watches it. Any thoughts on this? Please... I want to try to detach from the situation while still respecting my "egoic concerncs"

@Sarah_Flagg I feel as though it's in the addiction phase. I never minded porn before, but we can be intimate the night before and in the morning he will sneak off to go watch it. So it's not as if he's not receiving intimacy or that it's been a busy week or something. He just watches a lot of porn in addition to our intimate life, which is where the intuitive uncomfortable feeling comes from. We've talked about it before, but nothing has changed.

My breakfast is either steel cut oatmeal with baked bananas, cinnamon and pomegranate seeds sprinkled on top, or scrambled curry eggs (with sauteed garilc, onion and mushroom) or a smoothie. I make a lot of stir fry's and baked sweet potatoes for lunch and dinner. Organic Spinach Organic Kale Organic Spring Mix Mushrooms Garlic Onions Organic Cauliflower Beets Zucchini Yellow Squash Sweet Potatoes Bananas Frozen Organic Cherries Frozen Organic Strawberries Grapefruit Avocados Pineapple Quinoa Organic Brown Rice Steel Cut Oatmeal Coconut Oil Organic Eggs (1 dozen) Peanut Butter (no salt, no sugar) Green Tea/Mint Tea

24!

Become a successful videographer + travel documentarian (directing, editing etc;) Video record acoustic songs in epic nature backdrop settings (mountains, valleys, rivers, beaches etc;) Road trip across the United States Road trip in New Zealand Publish a collection of short stories/become an author Perform acoustic songs live in small, quaint coffee shops Spend several months at a time, backpacking southeast Asia and part of Europe Open up a series of group homes for the mentally ill, offering healthy alternative outlets such as music, visual art, science-based education etc ; Helicopter ride above any epic viewpoint...Brazil, New York City, Grand Canyon...wouldn't matter Entrepreneur

Lately I've been meditating, and what I've observed is my demeanor is my calm and I'm simply just being. I guess my "personality" is more bubbly and more talkative when I'm not meditating. What I've noticed is that a lot of people tend to think "something's wrong with me" when I come out of this meditative state. I'm not unhappy or happy, i'm simply just in an observing state. Does anyone else have this problem? When I'm more in the moment and just observing, it seems that I'm "not myself" and my mom and husband have noticed this and think I'm upset etc; It's conflicting because they start treating me different and thinking I am lost in thoughts, when it's the furthest from the truth. I know my ego comes into play, because the ego within me, doesn't want to appear like something is wrong to the people I love Has any one else dealt with this before?

@JevinR thank you

@T1r1on I'm wondering if maybe the sitting is easier for some and more difficult for others, if our state of consciousness is triggered by various forms of awareness. My egoic self is a busy body, constantly moving, touching, walking around. I do this without thinking, as it's become like an addiction or a severely engrained habit, to just do something. When "I" feel the urge to do something, like spring my body upwards off the couch and go for a walk, I usually submit myself to that urge, but it feels like I'm watching the body of myself going through the motions. I even notice "my" desire to want to walk...and I give it what it wants, but at the same time I'm aware of the urge or sensation in my body to move around. When I'm outside walking around, I actively listen for sounds, or notice the movement of plants and seem to feel most calm/meditative in this state.

@Leo Gura the latter is how i naturally find myself meditating. the do nothing meditation is what I haven't really tried before. i suppose i'm wondering if you find it's better to start with the do nothing meditation then the latter. I typically observe myself doing the things, whether playing the guitar, walking the dog or doing the dishes. I find it easy for me. But I've yet to try the do nothing meditation for longer then a few minutes. I find it more difficult, but don't think I've given it a fair shot.

@Abeo Maria the latter is how i naturally find myself meditating. the do nothing meditation is what I haven't really tried before. i suppose i'm wondering if you find it's better to start with the do nothing meditation then the latter. I typically observe myself doing the things, whether playing the guitar, walking the dog or doing the dishes. I find it easy for me. But I've yet to try the do nothing meditation for longer then a few minutes. I find it more difficult, but don't think I've given it a fair shot.

@Leo Gura would you recommend sitting meditation or the do nothing meditation? i lately have found it easier to meditate sort of in the moment. i just watch everything as i'm in a fly on the wall. when i'm walking my dog, i just look at everything and notice things i've never seen before, but don't give it a definition in my mind. the moment my mind tries to define, it's replaced by further focus of the "object itself" but i'm not sure if this is a good starting point.

@Phrae i like that suggestion as far as not really connecting to what i'm saying and just saying. If I let my ego have it's way, sometimes i get frustrated that i can't really articulate that i'm ok. because "i am" different in the sense of i'm not trying to make sense of anything around me. i literally am watching life as if i'm sitting in a movie theatre. just observing, and not really labeling it as anything. this is a new phase i've hit after meditation where i don't feel attached to anything. i suppose that detached sense, may come across as aloof to those who don't really understand. i do a lot of in the moment meditation. i can usually find myself meditating even in a crowded room.

actualized.org eckhart tolle

Hi! I can completely relate to what you're saying, as I've experienced/am experiencing this as well. One clarification is important, it's OK to want validation and different to need it. I feel good when I get validation, because egoically, I know it's what I want. However, what runs deeper as a NEED is personal validation. They both can coexists harmoniously. I pursue a lot of things out of just natural want, without focusing too much on WHY i want it....for example, playing the guitar or being in agreeable relationships where family and friends approve of the path I'm on it...it feels good...however, it's not a need. Because there will come a time when what you do, may not be people's cup of tea...like self development work, or not attending college; etc; I think seeking approval then, ONLY becomes dangerous if we put it over our own personal validation. If the two are ever at a crossroads, as in you ignore what you really want to do in order to have others approve of an alternative route, then it becomes unhealthy. If you do what you love (for example) because first and foremost it's coming from an intrinsic place, then it's okay if secondarily it makes you feel good that others may enjoy or validate it as well. But that's just my opinion. Otherwise I'd say it's ok to enjoy what we want, as long as it doesn't effect what we need. If your priorities are in place, they both can exists harmoniously.

I know this is far easier said then done, but you're not alone, I find myself in this situation as well. It's difficult because like you said if they're friends or people you know you don't want to hurt their feelings or cause more drama to the situation. What I've been doing, is attempting to stay as neutral as possible. I pretend that the person being gossiped about is spying in on the conversation between me and the person doing the gossipping. I think what's the most icognito way I can hear this person out, without offering an opinion. This has helped me out a lot, and it's interesting to find all the ways to stay neutral. Putting the situation back on the person and having them continue to express themselves without putting your input into it. The other thing I do, is find a subtle way to show that you're not interested in gossiping, if someone talks negatively about someone, I'll say: "Oh, really? That's interesting to hear. How's your day been so far?" It's a polite way of changing the subject lol

@Ang9010 first and foremost know that you're not a lot. I deal with this on a pretty consistent basis. Understand that it's normal firstly. If you've thought or had emotions like this for a long, it's only natural that it would be difficult to move past them. I would highly recommend meditation. I know it's the last thing most people want to do, but honestly, it's important to just let the emotions run free and cry them, scream them, journal them out of your system. Let those emotions express themselves. Keeping them at bay only hides them for another day. I'd write a journal. Start off with a paragraph or two about exactly how you feel. Read it at the end of the day. As far as friendships go, know that most of the time we attract people into our lives based on our state of mind. If we really want friends because we feel partially incomplete without them, then it may be time to switch your mindset to enjoying alone time. If alone time feels weird, it's most likely due to our inability to like ourselves or the way we think when we are by ourselves. But the more time you spend in silence, or with music or making a cup of tea and reading a book, shutting off your phone etc; i've noticed a huge difference personally. It doesn't happen over night, but eventually the thoughts get clearer and more content, and naturally you will attract people to your life when you are in a more positive state of mind. I hope this helps and just know that you are not alone.

@Truth I'm about to watch it now...pen and paper in hand. Thanks!

@Truth what's the 7 day challenge you speak of?

I got ENFJ the Protagonist. Pretty interesting and spot on http://www.16personalities.com/enfj-personality

I definitely will! @Sarper and thanks same to you I'll give you a couple of good ones

I do a smoothie for breakfast. A really good one is 1 cup of cherries, 3 cups of spinach, 2 cups almond milk and 1 cup of pineapple blended. Then after about half an hour of sitting outside drinking the smoothie watching the sunrise (totally optional!) I make curry eggs, which is just sauteed garlic and mushrooms and spinach, and then i scramble 2 to 3 eggs, sprinkle black pepper and curry powder and put it a bowl and enjoy. It's a good way to introduce 3 parts veggie to two parts fruit in my smoothie and also get proteins with the eggs without any added fat or sugar.