GroovyGuru

https://youtu.be/HTj17c4N9vI Interested if anyone has any thoughts on this. I have watched dozens and dozens of Richard Wolff videos trying to understand his positions, and lately have done the same with Jordan Peterson. Professor Wolff is obviously a Marxist whose main idea and thing he advocates for are worker co-ops, while Peterson's whole thing is about how societal hierarchies are inevitable and biological in nature, so trying to eliminate them with Marxist philosophy is nonsense. I have seen many people claim that Peterson fundamentally misunderstands and misrepresents Marx, including by Wolff himself. Here, the publisher of this video clearly aligns with Peterson and makes a case for capitalism being a more effective system. I am very curious if anyone has any thoughts about the topics discussed in this video, or just about Dr. Wolff or Dr. Peterson themselves as I try to make sense of all of these worldviews.

@Dryas I can't help but feel the same lol.... I've never been into those city/community-building types of games. Some of the adventure/puzzle/exploration games mentioned on here seem a bit more interesting though.

First of all, the video was amazing and learned so much from it, so thanks Leo. I really love Spiral Dynamics and was especially looking forward to a video on Red because for whatever reason it seems to me one of the more fascinating stages. I have 2 questions that I wrote down while watching the video that I would like some clarification on: 1. How does one operating from a higher stage on the spiral DEAL with stage red individuals ex.) In my friend group, I have one individual who is deeply red. He embodies tons of the values and characteristics Leo outlined in the video (being a bully, fragile ego, gets joy from humiliating others, unhealthy version of masculinity etc). I definitely consider myself in the Green area, and of course, he can get VERY triggered by this. He often deems my personality and political views as weak and feminine. I am the only one in this friend group of maybe 7 who is green. The others are Red and Orange, so as you can imagine, I often can get picked on and deeply misunderstood because of this. How does one deal with these people? Would it be more healthy to just look for new friends? I would definitely consider my friend who is stage red and actual friend, but it's kind of a weird relationship with a lot of obvious tension. 2. Several times in the video Leo claims that "Red is not bad". I understand this, and his emphasis in this video on each stage being perfectly appropriate depending on the environment in which one operates was incredibly helpful and deepened my understanding of this model. However, what if, like in the case of Trump, an individual is deeply Red in an environment and society that is far beyond that stage (USA seems almost equally Blue, Orange, and Green). Do we have the room to cast judgement in that case? And, how is it that someone so deeply Red can even emerge in a society that has by and large evolved from that stage? Thank you for reading... P.S. I have another question about stage Green/Yellow video games, which Leo also mentioned, that I will post elsewhere.

Amazing interview of an ex-porn actress who so classically transitions from stage Red to Blue. At the time of watching I didn't make this connection, but after Leo's video on stage Red it makes perfect sense.

@Call Me Whatever I'm with you there.... It's not like racism and issues regarding race don't exist or that we should ignore them entirely, but I feel like a lot of these discussions about racism and identity politics are such a big distraction from actually getting stuff done. Instead of wasting so much time pointing fingers and throwing a fit on twitter about people being racists and bigots, how about we start advocating for actual change; investing in low-income neighborhoods and trying to provide better schools, more affordable housing, better child care or what ever the case may be. I feel like most of these issues boil down to economics, and the way in which we can solve a lot of these problems and turn some of these african-american communities around is through proper economic policies.

@Leo Gura Haha well I do here and there too. It’s just that at this point, when I’m watching political commentary my main objective is to learn rather than laugh. But, Michael Brooks sure was a funny dude and I will miss him and his jokes. Especially when they were about Dave Rubin

@Leo Gura I see. Maybe I need to start actually watching the full program. Usually I just watch certain clips here and there that they post on the channel, in which many of them are silly and fun. But I have actually streamed the show when they were live a few times and Sam definitely has very interesting guests on where they discuss in depth topics as you mentioned.

@Tanz Not sure I agree that Pakman is stage orange, I think of all progressive commentators he might be the best. Well him and Kulinski are my favorites anyway. I think Pakman is brilliant and I actually learn stuff from him all the time, unlike Sam who pretty much offers little except making fun of various people.

I want in on the fun

@Don Wei Yeah I'm not sure about AMS that dude is pretty toxic in my opinion. He's EXTREMELY selfish and cares about absolutely nothing besides getting his di*k wet.

It was maybe only a year or year and a half ago when I was mediating every day, sometimes for 2 hours a day. I was doing some practices, reading books about spirituality from the book list, and even had a friend who would watch the channel and engage in this stuff with me. I would say around the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2019 I started losing interest. I haven't meditated in a month or 2. I've become so much more interested and involved with politics, current affairs, and philosophy. If I'm not with my friends, I'm either reading/watching a video about news, politics, or philosophy. Even when it comes to Leo's videos, I am way more excited these days if its about some philosophical concept or regarding politics. I'm also about to start grad school in a month and I will be studying economics so I'm gonna be super occupied with that along with trying to find my serious real full-time job. I'm still in my very early 20s and there's so many distractions with my friends and other things going on I am just nowhere close to as determined as I once was (I was very determined for a while). I feel as I get older and busier with work I will get out of touch even more. Has anyone else experienced a period where they lost touch? What does it take to come back (I don't want it to be forced)?

@VeganAwake That's always the funniest and most amusing part about it for me. In my head, I have to devote time and work hard at spirituality, as if it's going to the gym or something. I feel it's an activity I have to DO. In a sense I suppose that's true, but of course it's also the complete opposite of that, it's simply doing nothing and letting go of everything. The truth is inescapable as you said. Truly amazing how you can have the tiniest of glimpses (which I have, tiny as they may have been) and COMPLETELY get sucked back in for months or years on end.

@The Lucid Dreamer I don't plan on it

@VeganAwake I know what you mean, which is why it felt slightly silly posting this. However I haven't really had any significant spiritual experiences or insights that have made this obvious for me, internally. Spirituality still feels like a mental category in my head.

@Leo Gura Thanks Leo, I also deeply felt that this is probably the right thing to do. Even if I don't like to admit it, it's hard to take spirituality seriously when I still have money problems, sex/dating problems etc. There are still many basic needs that I need to meet, and I am very confident and sure that when I mature and grow even more, I will return more serious and passionate than ever. That being said, I still watch your videos every week, and am eternally grateful for your teachings and advice that have helped shape the young man I am today

Although I already try my best to stay informed, I want to branch out a bit (outside of youtube) and maybe subscribe to one or two magazines/newspapers. Based on the limited research I've done so far, some of the potential subscriptions that have peaked my interest include The Economist (I'm about to start an economics masters program), Time magazine, The New York Times, The Intercept, and one or two others. Any suggestions or comments about the sources I've listed? P.S. some of the content I watch on youtube about politics and society are: The David Pakman Show, Kyle Kulinski, The Majority Report, The Intercept, The Hill, JRE, Demoracy At Work etc... If anyone has any other suggestions for similar content here too please share. Thanks.

@Hank Galaxy Brain Thanks for the Foriegn Affairs suggestion. I subscribed to the Economist but have read a couple of the unlocked essays from F.A. and have enjoyed them.

To give some context, there's maybe 6 or 7 people in my group of friends. We are all in our young 20s. There's only one of them that I feel really close with. He's mature, intelligent, and also somewhat on the spiritual journey like myself. I feel we will be friends for life. However the rest I have many issues with. Most of them are conservative, some of them deeply conservative, which already makes many things difficult for me as our values and the way we look at the world can be so radically different sometimes. All they literally ever want to do is drink. Nothing besides that. If we hang out, that means booze will be involved. Any time I decide not to drink, not to go out, or drink much less than them, I get called out and made fun of. I don't mind drinking, it's fun here and there, but only here and there. One of the dudes in the group is a massive Trump supporter. He is kind of a bully (to everyone), loves talking shit to people, behind their back, and doing really immature things. He basically acts like a wannabe Trump. Because I supported Bernie and lean towards progressive politics, he constantly calls me a Beta and gay and all that stuff. I barely enjoy hanging out with them anymore. I just don't know what I even get out of it. We drink, maybe go out, talk some shit, and that's about it. It's repetitive and boring. I still hang out with them because I still like them and don't want to just sit bored at home every night. Although, I am introverted by nature and do enjoy taking days where I just take it easy and read, exercise, and focus on myself. Should I stop forcing myself to hang out with this crowd and start looking for new friends? I've been hanging out with the same group since highschool but I'm no longer really proud or happy with the friends I have, besides the one exception I mentioned earlier.

@hyruga Yes, often I am aware of that. But does mean I still have to tolerate them? I know it sounds like I'm judging them, but it is what it is. They often engage in low conscious activities and ways of life. It's just what it is.

@Leo Gura I also saw Brett explain his idea for a new system of governance involving 1 center left individual and 1 center right individual who have the 3 characteristics he mentioned on the JRE podcast. I’m curious what you or anyone else thinks of this idea...

I agree, Mooji is incredible. I think he easily has some of the best guided meditations out there. It was only relatively recently that I started branching out and watching other spiritual teachers on YouTube, people like Mooji and Rupert Spira and Shunyamurti. These guys can provide a unique perspective or sort of explain things in their own distinct way, and I think it really helps to put everything into perspective.

Maybe more interestingly, if every single human on planet earth had realized their true nature, and the nature of the universe, how would a new-born baby be raised?

I'm a 21 year old dude. Never had a girlfriend and have absolutely no sexual experience. I'm not a model by any means but still decent looking, 6 foot tall and 170 pounds and in great shape. I honestly think I'm a pretty interesting guy to be fair to myself, I have several friends, I go out and am social, I read a lot, about to start graduate school, work out, do yoga, play tennis, eat healthy etc. I feel that I can probably attract women and I know I have in the past (a couple very attractive ones to my surprise), but for some reason I never put myself out there. Well it's not for "some reason" is it I know exactly why, I lack confidence with the other sex. I am actually quite embarrassed of my complete and utter lack of experience with women and it's even starting to bother me more now because my family and friends are starting to point it out and question it more frequently. I simply am just scared of intimacy. I fear that dating at this point, I would feel like a clueless donkey and have no clue what I'm doing and end up screwing it up and making a fool of myself. And I know that it shouldn't be a big deal, I'm young and have my entire life to figure it out but I still can't get over the hump. And trust me I know this is gonna make me sound like a little bitch, but I even fear having sex. Like just thinking about it makes me nervous. How do I get over this? If I don't figure this out soon it's only gonna get much worse for me as I get older. And I already know I need to just sack up and face my fears. I guess it's just nice typing out my thoughts for a bit. Any responses of any kind would be appreciated.

In a couple days I will be starting my final semester of college (I graduate in May). As the time approaches for me to put my degree into use and find a decent job, I've been thinking about my situation lately. I really feel that I do not know who I am. I have absolutely no interest in the field I have been studying (finance) and a result I feel no motivation or ambition to actually starting my career in this area. I feel like I have just been living my life on autopilot the last couple years, just going through the motions of schoolwork, my part-time job, working out, dicking around with friends and the sort. I just have no idea where my life is going. I've been telling myself for years now to just sort of trust the process and that in time I will discover my greatest passion/purpose in life but I just don't know. I am a pretty productive person, I do very well in school and spend a lot of time reading, educating myself in various fields, exercising, playing music here and there etc but I don't know where any of this is taking me. I know I have potential to give something to the world, or at least do something that makes me happy and proud but I have no idea what that can be. I don't want to live a mediocre life working some corporate job where I'm treated like a slave. And it doesn't help that my parents are nagging me left and right about finding a job but I simply lack the motivation, it's not because I'm lazy but the idea of corporate status and a high salary just doesn't necessarily do it for me. I envy my younger brother who also does well in school but has a clear purpose and goal about his life: his band, which he commits so much time and energy into and it's really starting to pay off for him. My life is great, I really don't have anything to complain about in the grand scheme of things but it just feels so bland. There's nothing truly exciting me about life and I don't know what to do. I'm only 21, but I want to figure this out before it is too late. Perhaps I need to take the spiritual practices more seriously than I have been as of late.

I'm a 21 year old college student, I only have 2 semesters left before graduating with a degree in finance. I don't really like my major whatsoever and it pains me to think about working in a corporate environment doing rather boring office work that I have no passion in at all. I don't think it would be wise to switch majors or stop pursuing my degree at this point because I'm already so close to finishing but I already know for certain that i want nothing to do with my field. The problem is... I really don't know what else to do. After taking a couple optimal career and personality tests, I've learned more about myself and realized some of my strength and weaknesses and some areas I may excel in. Having an INFJ personality type, some fields I could envision enjoying and doing well in are perhaps things like counseling, teaching, areas in psychology etc. But I just don't know what to do at this point because I'm already so far down the finance road. Ideally, I want to be doing my own thing (not working for others), or at least have some independence and freedom in my career where I can help others in some capacity (teaching students, counseling). Would Leo's life purpose course be of great help in my situation? It's getting to the point where I really need to stop screwing around and start figuring out my life.