Roy

I saw a recurring one a few times when I was ages 3, 4, 5 as well, specifically a skeleton like figure. Either in my dreams or in a trance/half awake state. I remember once at age 4 my parents angry and yelling at me after waking me up while I was standing outside at 3 in the morning. I slept walk while being led by this figure in my dream, apparently I unlocked the door and everything and my parents must have heard the door close. The weird thing is this entity or whatever it was wasn't hostile or trying to control anything like you would assume a skeleton figure would. It was oddly playful and curious, like it wanted to show me something or lead me to something important. I'm not sure. What is most odd is I know logically it was probably just the randomness of child like imagination, yet I still have this deep feeling like it was real. Some sort of connection to another spirit that had passed the physical world. I have no idea. Maybe I'll meet him again someday.

Never "follow" anyone @Eren Eeager. Rather sample as many people as possible and cross reference all the different ideas you hear to develop your own coherent and balanced worldview. By sample I mean spend maybe a handful of hours with each figure to understand the gist of their arguments and stances, but don't stick around and become a "fan" and follow every little thing they do, waiting for the next video or interview. You have to keep in mind that this is how they make money and it's in their best interest to have built in inherent biases, because if they sway too far from what the audience they've built is used to, they will turn on them and it'll hurt them. This kind of "doubling down" is exactly the kind of thing that becomes addicting for listeners and is a huge problem right now that's causing all these divisions. What you need to do is be radically skeptical and independent here. For example if you see a video of a debate between two people, and you end up siding with one person and not liking the other, and then have all your feelings validated by scrolling through YouTube comments. That moment RIGHT THERE is when you're getting sucked into an ideology or position and you don't even know it. It's at that time you stop and reflect on what you've learned, but THEN go spend time listening to hours of the person you DIDN'T like so you can understand their perspective and temper your worldview. Of course it's ok to have preferences or political leanings, but you have to make sure they are authentic and well substantiated. Not coming from a place of toxic dogma. Radical open mindedness is key here. It's scary because it will feel like you're "vulnerable" to becoming an ideologue, but actually being able to jump between different perspective will strengthen your mind. Weak minds are ones that sit around stuck in certain modes of thought all the time without leaving.

This is all you need to know to have to call the whole thing off. See maybe you guys can "work around it" for now, but inevitably given enough time the differences will creep in and it will cause tensions. If either of you change your views or principles too rapidly to try and appease the other person, they will lose their respect for you because you aren't being authentic and are trying to people please. Just keep her as a friend because this is NOT going to work out.

Also realize that you might not to and don't have to integrate every piece of wisdom you read about or hear. Some of it might conflict with your personality and your goals in such a way that you could be compromising them and damaging yourself in the end just for the sake of "learning". Some advice isn't for everyone.

Apple is the perfect example of how much you can get away with by having superior branding and marketing. They have some great products like the iPod series and iPhones, but Windows blows them out of the water on laptops and PCs.

Yes. It will just need tighter regulation and more sensible taxation. The solutions are there, it's just difficult to get people to vote for them.

The only solution is massive reduction of standard of living (voluntary or not) for everyone across the board, as well as redistribution of wealth and MUCH higher taxes on the wealthy. The alternative? Well let's just say I hope you don't mind blood.

Think to yourself, whats the worst that could happen if I don't quit smoking? Visualize, contemplate. Think to yourself, whats the best that could happen if I quit right now? Visualize, contemplate. Which one would you rather be moving towards? Another part of the problem is you might identify with smoking, so subconsciously you feel it's normal and something you "should" be doing. So it's hard to quit because it doesn't feel like it's who you are. However identities are just imagined conditions, which means you can imagine an identity where you aren't a smoker and love taking care of your body. Which is why it's important to visualize and contemplate that "best" case scenario like I mentioned. Good luck

I reflected on my post and yes saying "anything else is pure stupidity" was too much and I regret it. The comparison can also be interpreted as callous so I'm sorry for that, it would have been better off to skip over this thread instead of making that remark. I'm not sure if you read this post I made earlier @Shir but it clarifies my position better; "I agree with you that it can be messy and people can make mistakes if they don't develop self control. I just feel that this is something that we shouldn't retreat to the trenches of conservative tradition on. I think celibacy and saving yourself can be a wise choice and can have a lot of benefits for the right person, I'm just not sure there is a modern well worked out way to approach and create that lifestyle in our current culture without going backwards. Individuals need to work it out by building an understanding from a pluralistic conversation. It's too easy for them to just go back to the default conservative norm because it's already established and it's hard to go through that work yourself."

You're being quite uncharitable but that's ok. I'm sorry you feel this way, I wish you the best.

No, you're just interpreting it that way. Like I said it goes both ways, nowhere did I imply that the analogy went only male > female. You are just assuming that because of a bias female POV. You know analogies aren't meant to be taken literally right?

I agree with you that it can be messy and people can make mistakes if they don't develop self control. I just feel that this is something that we shouldn't retreat to the trenches of conservative tradition on. I think celibacy and saving yourself can be a wise choice and can have a lot of benefits for the right person, I'm just not sure there is a modern well worked out way to approach and create that lifestyle in our current culture without going backwards. Individuals need to work it out by building an understanding from a pluralistic conversation. It's too easy for them to just go back to the default conservative norm because it's already established and it's hard to go through that work yourself.

I never said women are cars. You're projecting an assumption about the statement from a biased one gender point of view. This analogy goes BOTH WAYS. It would be equally unwise for a woman to say yes to a marriage proposal from a virgin man. If people want to save sex before marriage then absolutely go for it, I think you're naive but power to you! I just hope they're doing it for their own reasons and not from the old patriarchal suppressive culture.

When and if I have a daughter (I'd prefer one over a boy), I'll try not to occupy my time thinking about her having sex lol? However I won't be a neurotic control freak and tell her what to do with her body, or what she can and can't enjoy. She will just resent me and eventually rebel that way. I will simply educate her on what healthy sex is the best I can, on top of whatever the school system teaches. As well as provide her with the necessary street smarts so she knows what to look out for in her relationships and what kind of people to avoid. Depends if she wants to even get married or not. Not my choice either way, but I'd support whatever life style makes her happy. Her condition will only be "bad" if she goes through her youth not well adjusted or not educated enough. Two factors I can control with good parenting. If you are going to make a troll remark at least make it funny. 2/10 for an attempt. The car being tested before being bought is supposed represent a coy and silly analogy because nobody in their right mind would purchase a vehicle without having tested it to see if they like driving it or not, or if it even works. Just like how it is absurd to make as massive a commitment to someone as marriage (a lifetime commitment) without having had sex with them to see if they are compatible in that regard. Let's not be naive. Sex is an incredibly important component of any relationship. If most everyone in this day and age got married as virgins the divorce rate would be near 100%. Having that part of your life satisfied and having someone you can bond with in that regard is crucial for a long term relationship. Personally I would never commit to a LTR with someone no matter how much I loved them if the sex was terrible and had little room for improvement. It only works for people who have unfortunately been sheltered and brainwashed into an old traditional conservative view of the world, where sexual expression is repressed. An attitude that is a apart of a larger worldview which is extremely limited and backwards. A relationship with bad sex for the majority of people is simply unsustainable. If considerable effort isn't put in to improve it there are only 3 options, and all of them can and do lead to separation. Which destroys the idea of marriage; 1. Infidelity from one partner who isn't satisfied. 2. An open relationship which the majority of people cannot pull off as it goes against human nature. 3. One person divorces to find another partner because of dissatisfaction.

Gotta test drive the car before you buy it. Anything else is pure stupidity.

Indeed!

Coffee exists because despite what everyone says God is actually a great guy.

It's quite cheap and sustainable financially even without a high paying job to buy or rent a small run down cabin outside a quite rural town, and renovate it a tiny bit so it's not awful. Only head back for basic supplies and groceries every month or so. Grow your own food, fix/build things yourself, use solar and wind for power, well water, etc. It's a good option if you didn't want to work for many years at a time or permanently retire. You'd just have to save enough money or have enough passive income investments to give you a few hundred or about a thousand dollars a month, or just break even depending on your savings. Depending on how stringent you are with your budget you actually don't need THAT much money. You can probably get by on less than $5000-8000 a year. It's very possible to do that you just have to be radical with how many material things you're willing to give up. This is basically the isolated lifestyle you're seeking. You aren't ever going out to buy dinner or pay for concerts and stuff like that. This is what true solitude means. You are sitting around all day meditating, contemplating, doing chores, swimming, hiking etc. Completely free activities. If my relationship ever falls through or if I become extremely unhappy with normal life that's probably what I will do. I don't really care much or feel obligated to participate in this absolutely rotten society, or let alone bothered dealing with other people or family generally really. Most people are so broken and low consciousness anyways that it's exhausting to play into the illusion in the first place. In a way I highly regret getting into this work and learning the things I have learned. To be honest if given the chance I'd be quite tempted to trade my place and be someone else that's completely blind, oblivious, and ego driven. Ignorance is bliss as they say, they aren't lying either. If I got bored enough of that lifestyle and didn't feel enough motivation to go back to normal life I'd very likely commit suicide and leave all my things to my sister.

Keep going @Farnaby, you're almost there !

The majority vote of humanity says otherwise. Welcome to democratic morality. However. If we zoom out far enough - No life, rock, or cloud of gas is worth more than another life, rock, or cloud of gas. Things simply are what they are.

It's a trick in the deeper sense that it is possible to be happy regardless of all conditions, except it's really fucking hard and most people can't do it. So don't feel bad if you aren't one of those people. It's not a trick in the sense of the practicality of getting a regular/consistent shallower form of happiness by enjoying the thing you're doing day to day. It may be true that you don't like your job right now, but it is a means to an end so you have the resources to move onto the next thing comfortably. And not start from absolute scratch or a really difficult place. So make a concerted effort to do your best while you're still at it, and trick your mind into pretending to like it the best you can. Let's say you had to work at McDonalds the next 8 months, for X amount of $. Would you rather spend those 8 months miserable and complaining the whole time, or try to enjoy it and become the best McDonalds employee that particular branch has ever seen? Probably the later right? And it's likely this kind of attitude will reward you more, you might get more favorable shifts and time off. Possibly get a promotion in the short time you are there. A bonus. A raise. Try to foster the same kind of perspective for your current job. Come up with a financial plan, and a general exit plan with a specific time frame. Once you have that time frame in front of you, consider reflecting on what I said. Sorry I don't have much to offer in terms of the other stuff. Good luck @electroBeam

You have it backwards in my opinion. People haven't changed that radically as individuals, but it still culminates at the evolutionary/historical level where we have things like abolition of slavery, toppling of corrupt monarchies, the United Nations, etc. A better more evolved society isn't necessarily the product of everyone being more conscious/aware, but it certainly helps facilitate SOME individuals to become extremely developed. It's important to acknowledge a simple thought experiment here that people like you and me wouldn't even have the luxury to entertain such things as personal development and raising of consciousness like we're doing right now if we were planted somewhere in the jungle 3000 years ago. It literally wouldn't even be possible because we'd be so busy trying not to get bitten by venomous snakes haha.

This might just be my pessimism talking but I don't think young people will ever really vote in a high percentage. Politics are too dis-interesting for the majority of them, they would rather be partying and socializing. We won't see deep Green starting to win until those young people are adults, and start to vote more.

lol? He is about as Orange as they come. Have you seen any of his recent interviews? His whole identity, life purpose, and shtick in life is to game and leverage financial systems for personal gain. Robert Kiyosaki is not a developed person. Edit: Yea he speaks out against those things. Anyone with some sense does. It's likely a marketing ploy to make him more relatable to average joe's. Keep in mind he is still selling himself as a speaker and other products despite already being sickeningly wealthy.

It's because physical attractiveness can foster a lot of selfish and egoic behavior for someone growing up. If you're good looking life is simply easier for you. People will treat you extra sweet and do things for you because you're pleasant to look at. Especially if you're a really hot girl, it's like playing life on easy mode. If you desire it there will always be the option to use your body and looks as a survival method. Modelling, pornography, gold digging, leeching etc. You don't have to learn any skills, pretty good gig! Hard to pull off if you have self-respect or level of consciousness though. If people feed their ego and abuse their physical attractiveness as an advantage of course they're going to develop a certain worldview with a thick lens of selfishness, and Conservative/Republican attitudes and policies are attractive in that regard. That's not to say left leaning politics can't be selfish, but comparatively it's clearly and factually less selfish. Personally I'm blessed to be a high consciousness left leaning champion of the people, who is also a solid 8 with an athletically toned body, and an IQ over 120. Edit: Also have a perfect jawline that could cut diamonds.