Eelco1981

I once read that the process of Enlightenment goes likes this: like people who believe the moon is being eaten by some monster every month. But once you learn how the moon really appears and disappears, you can never make yourself believe the story of the monster again.

@-nbolt- As I understand, Enlightenment is realizing that you ARE awareness... (AKA being, consciousness, nothingness, presence, God)

@PetarKa If Leo would have paid me a dollar every time I recommend people on this forum to do the life purpose course, I'd be a millionaire by now. YES. It is worth it. There is even a money back-warranty. The course has opened my eyes so many times that one of my life purposes now is to open the eyes of others. Even if you don't find your life purpose through the course, you will do so much self improvement through self discovery, that even that is worthwhile.

@Orange Here is your answer: Rupert Spira - The True Goals of Life

@Christian I see affirmations as vitamins and supplements. There's so much written about it; that is works and that it doesn't work. I take vitamins and supplements because it doesn't harm me and it might even make me more healthy. But I also realize I might be only making very expensive urine... So I also do affirmations. It is very hard to tell if I am healthy and successful because of the vitamins and affirmations, or through other things I also do.

@SaynotoKlaus "Never quit is a spectacularly bad advice" says Seth Godin in his tiny book "The Dip". Smart quitting prevents failing. You have to know when you have to quit. If you see no progress, you might be in a dead end street. Don't quit if you are just in a dip. Don't quit if you are just panicking. Getting through the dip separates the mediocres from the winners. At the same time, being persistent in a dead-end street is the most stupid thing you can do. I recommend you read the book.

@electroBeam I only have maybe one evening a week that I really get together wirh friends and socialize. I think it is useful because I get to pitch my new ideas, and the other way around. It helps networking also, which is helpful on this island where I live. Apart from that, I socialize a bit at the gym and other activities, but at those times socializing is not the main purpose. But interacting with people and improve my social skills is very helpful in my job. So in my case, I don't think it is a waste of time. (It is important though how you socialize, do you socialize gossiping and complaining about other people, just get drunk etc.? or is is more high conscious socializing?)

@spicy_pickles You might also want to do some digging in the past and in your mind. See if there is a "Rule of thumb" that you oblige yourself. Like maybe someone in your past was very mean to you (father, teacher, classmate) and that from that moment on, you made this vow to yourself: "I promise that I will never ever be mean to someone like that person was to me". So now you are stuck with this vow and every time you want to cut someone loose, you are reminded of this useless vow that you should never be mean to anyone....

@PetarKa meditation, shadow work, journalling, watch the weekly video's of Leo to keep yourself on track. Watching TV, internet browsing, Social Media (See the rest in Leo's video "The Happiness Spectrum" (Who is 'us'? Or are you speaking in Royal Plural?) See one and two. (Still on Facebook though) Read more books, socialize (network) more

@Beam I sure recognize that. I think many people are raised with the notion: "if you don't worry about something, then you don't care". So people tend to worry a lot to show themselves and other that they care. Of course this is of no use.

@Harvey I am currently doing the fast reading course. See the book on the book list you can purchase at Actualized.org I started at 170 words per minute and now as 300 and some books of certain topics at 500 WPM. I sometimes read more books at once. One book is a how-to book In the weeks I practice the exercises in book A, i start with book B about a complete other topic.

@Hardik jain There is a voice in my head that says: "you have to do something, don't sit still, the work is never done, don't waste your time, doing nothing is a waste of time, clean the house, watch the news, finish the television series, you have to see the latest movie, send him a whatsapp, check your facebook". Whenever I don't do anything i start to do something. Be it watching TV. I have been meditating for 2 years now and finally a few weeks ago the voice is getting less and less. It is a persistent fathermocker! Now I find that doing absolutely nothing brings forth the most creative ideas. (I also sold my television, that helps)

@Kimasxi Whatever works for you. I am just telling you what works for me. I do not start to talk about the weather with someone in order to discuss the complete meteorological history of the past month. I use it to test if someone wants to have a conversation. The more you practice that, the better you feel the other person and you will learn when to go to deeper topics. In my experience, people open up slowly, starting about the weather, than their work, and after that the problems in their lives. If you think that the majority of the people on the street will be happy to start the conversation with questions about enlightenment and lucid dreaming, then I encourage you to test it as much as you can. I might change my point of view. I might even move to the place you live. On the other hand, sometimes I also want to skip small talk, and make a joke instead. Or start open up myself to see if the other person want to open up their book a little also.

@Nicolas I stumbled upon Leo two years ago when I was looking for a second opinion on the Law of attraction. This video is the first one I watched: https://www.actualized.org/articles/law-of-attraction After that, I have watched every video that came out weekly, plus some extra from the past. Fun to watch.. the first video's of Leo.. What a difference! So over 100 video's, not counting the 99 Life Purpose Course videos...

First Mastery challenge: reading a book . hahahha.

@Lorcan Hi Lorcan. I am 35 years old and one thing I regret the most is doing what others (and society) told me what is good for me. I am not saying that good advice does not exist, I am saying you should listen to yourself more. Do the inner work. If you play videogames you don't listen to yourself. Meditating is a good start. You are 14 years old, way ahead of what I was doing at your age. So some practical advice: Keep on meditating. Don't miss a day. Practice the process of Mastery (see the book by George Leonard). You should find a hobby or sport you like to practice Mastery. See if you like, running, fitness, tennis, soccer, baseball, karate, boxing, etc. Or maybe playing an instrument: piano, violin, drums, guitar? Maybe singing, painting, carving stones... but really seriously getting good at it. Give every activity a fair shot of at least 3 months. It either brings you closer to your life purpose or gives you answers of what is definitely NOT you calling. AND also do some stupid shit a 14 year old should be doing: masturbate, try to get a girl friend, get drunk, make 1000 mistakes, get angry, get sad. Observe every life experience, learn from it, become more and more conscious. Learning that these things do not give you happiness is also learning. Making mistakes and learn from them: grow up. Because if you 'should' yourself too much, your 'should nots' will eventually backfire on you. See Leo's video "how to stop moralizing". Success!

@Uncover Have a notepad besides your bed. Before you go to sleep; Get your to-do-list out of your head and on paper. To avoid mulling over and over your to-do-list worrying you will forget something.

@NERDSTEAK It really depends on what you want to achieve. If you are insecure, you might use the affirmation "I am self assured and self confident". Just repeat this short sentence for 5 to 10 minutes long. I do not recommend different sentences like in the video you posted. Try to address one issue at the time. Use it for a few months and then address a new issue. Success! Edit: Take a look at Leo's video "How To Motivate Yourself" also.

@Uncover Nothing lasts forever in this life. Especially enjoyment, pleasures, excitements. They come and go. The only thing that is permanent is your inner being; inner peace you can find through enlightenment, which is discussed to a great extent on this forum. But you might not be ready for the enlightenment path. Take care of the practical things first. So try to look in the past and do some inner exploration: what are the things that make you happy? What events and activities make you happy, or even get you in a state of flow? Try to work towards those activities every day. Use your strengths. What are you good at. If you get involved in your favorite activities you will become more happy and be a much more sympathetic person towards others. But remember, that state of happiness and flow will never last. It comes and goes. Accept that. (If you think YOU just ARE a pessimistic person and you just can't do any of the above, you are just getting in your own way and you get stuck in the past)

@Orange interesting question. People should be taking a very deep honest look inside their motivations here... I do think wanting to have a baby is selfish. If I look at my own (conscious and subconscious) reasons for which I had a baby I wanted someone who loves me unconditionally, at least until they become teenage monsters. I wanted companionship, someone to play with, someone to give love, to cuddle, to laugh about. I wanted my bloodline to be continued I wanted to have someone to take care of me when I get old. I wanted someone that might have a better life than me, so sort of correcting the faults in my life. I wanted to complete the picture society prescribes: job, house, partner, kid, dog. Other than that I cannot come up with a logical explanation to have kids. Instinct? Oh lord my instinct works fine. Almost every night instinct calls me. But there are condoms to prevent my instinct multiplying the world population times 3.

@Leo Gura I recently started to 'coach' two friends of mine. Basically sharing the knowledge from my path, that is the Life Purpose Course and the books on the recommended reading list of this course, which I all read. Now I want to take this to the next level getting certified. I am on a Caribbean island so it has to be online (teleclass), and preferably in the States because of the time zone. Do you have any suggestions for institutions? When I google only 1 in the USA appears. Which one do you recommend?

@Ross Listen very closely to the advice of @FindingPeace. Meanwhile, if you still want friends... What works for me is just doing things I like. Going to the gym or any other sports club. Then after a few days or weeks you will encounter the same people that have the same interests and the same schedule. So you talk to them and a friendships grows which you take outside the gym. You may discover that you have more interest in common. Just do the things in life you enjoy and the right people will cross your path. Don't be desperate for friends. Be comfortable of walking the path alone also. Why you say you need friends to do amazing stuff is a riddle to me... You can do al kinds of amazing stuff without friends, although doing amazing things with friends, sharing the moment, makes it more pleasant I admit.

@art I am sorry for the delay, I had to look up where my technique came from. It comes from the small but powerful book "Mastery" by George Leonard. Pages 153-160. To long to cite here... "The important point to bear in mind here is that to be psychologically balanced and centered means depends to a great extent on being physically balanced and centered." The exercise where it boils down to is when you feel top heavy, uncentered, tap yourself a few times an inch or two below your navel and take your awareness to that point. That should make you feel more centered. For the extended explication please purchase the book. Success!

I am also still confused about what personality is. I always thought it was shaped by society and experiences. It would be helpful if someone explains more about what character, temperament and personality is. What is the difference? What is formed by experiences? How is a personality shaped? Or are we born with a personality?

@Frogfucius David Deida dedicated a whole chapter on a process of enjoying the beauty of women spiritually without acting on it and using this energy positively. I recommend you read the book The Way of the Superior Man.