Epiphany_Inspired

@Life Coach Oh no, numbing myself from tears does not sound good!..i have cried extensively for every other pet ..I guess I am potentially doing something wrong with my personal work, or I've developed a harsh coping mechanism for some reason. I did stay up with her the night before, taking care of her, saying goodbye...I felt sort of twinges of sadness...but they were so easily replaced with positive memories of her long happy life, or acceptance that she was reuniting with the phenomenal field, or just that death was the right choice, she was old/ and I didn't want her to suffer. i'm not in denial at least, I fully accept the loss. What can I do to become more sad in this situation?

So my dog died...and I am so oddly at peace with it...I just kept assuming I would cry eventually...even trying to force myself...but nothing...no real sadness She was 15 years old. The day she began to suffer, she was put to sleep. She had such a long amazing life, it was the right choice, to end it then...plus, I am once again connected to the universal energy source, so it's not a loss on that level either. So have I become Cold or Zen? To be honest, if I had to guess, I'd say it's a combination. The same way personal development can help keep anger from becoming full blown rage, it seems to have reigned in my sadness in the same way! Is this a good thing? I really don't know right now...will I feel this way when my next human friend dies too?

I've gone through the yucky coercive version of this. Yes, the logistics of $ etc are stressful...you have my total support! My best advice is what I learned the hard way, to put the logistics on the back-burner and put your self-care, your/ children's feelings and needs above all...and to trust in the universe, while really working on your optimism and positive evolution goals too....

@Martin123 I've had some bouts with the milder form of codependence since childhood...my more recent, extended-severe codependence still causes me concern - a year and a half of PD out....part of me believes I would see the red flags and never fall back in....but I also don't know if i've really, *properly* worked through anything....just the idea of getting sucked back into to something like that again is so disturbing...especially how it "snuck up on me" after I had previously avoided all relationships like that...could it sneak up again? How would I know if I'm brutally honest *enough* with myself? Is every monogamous relationship at least slightly codependent from your perspective? Would I need to know specifically what this abandonment equated to for me, back then? (if I had to guess at abandonment by mother, maybe that she wasn't strong enough, or always home to physically protect me from violent father)...I have forgiveness for everyone involved...is that enough?

this is also really good...like vision board, but you draw now...black and white, and desired future in full colour! ► 10:35 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zESeeaFDVSw

I briefly scrolled through, and I think you've already uncovered so much and done so much work. Your awareness of your roles and how they impact you is really good. I doubt this is a quick process, and I think you've begun nicely. I just responded to another similar thread, and I feel just as lost as you with this task (I have a ridiculous number of roles personally *too many*, and am in the fucked up childhood category too!!! so, I am unable to get to the beginning so far, or even pinpoint the worst roles). When Leo used to have us do the work, during, or just after the video (with the questions in the video), I did all the work. I hadn't figured out how to view the worksheets until now (a decade ago I used to work 16 hour days on the computer, but now I am about as tech savvy as your average 100 year old...lol). Please let me know what you discover. The only advice I can offer based on what you wrote is to take each role, and view it as best you can as though you are looking through the eyes of your higher-self (your roles might eventually look as silly and ape like as Leo's goth example)....then think of the "you" that you desire to evolve into...and try to plan a map from the roles into the that you....keep in touch...

@J To answer your question, I don't know for certain, but it likely has to do with untangling your identity in stages. For example, the goth kid Leo mentioned, could simply stop dressing that way, wearing the make-up etc...BUT, then finding ways to make new friends, or adjust to relating with old friends as "new-no-longer-goth-kid" = would be more difficult...how many goth ideals did they believe in? ..like incredible darkness of souls and the world, etc...(P.S. Leo, if you see this: "hopefully not" (goth), from my perspective, at least they are stepping out of the jeans n' t's mindless mainstream robot box...but I wasn't goth...lol...) Part way through the roles video, I thought I had the exact day I began playing roles (12 years old, Jr. High, seriously just because of an incredible shirt from San Fran that changed my friends, my social life, etc)...Then shortly after that, Leo mentioned the part about those of us with fucked up childhoods....and I could instantly see, the roles started way before that! ...and yes, I can't find the beginning...i'm in the "harder -time" crew for sure...The most fucked up thing for me is; that I am aware of playing (maybe/ guess) 20-30% of those roles...just when I thought I was starting to become slightly less neurotic, thanks Leo...lol....Anyway, would I write the long list down, then try to find the "top" ones?...or, is it really unusual to have so many and best to work from that knowledge?

@Saarah Thanks so much for that. Sometimes I felt that I "should" remember these specific memories in order to evolve...and if I can't it's really frustrating... but I've realized you are right, we often only need the emotion. I've also just discovered that it can be the same with beliefs. You don't have to actually track down every limiting belief in order to bust it, as long as your focus is well above and beyond, you can still transcend them...thanks again...

I have quite a few bipolar friends. I believe in mega-dose natural vitamins and supplements as treatment (in addition to PD work). People say that Jesus, Einstein, etc would have been be diagnosed with bipolar - if alive today. I also agree that medicating bipolar people often destroys the amazing gifts these immensely talented people can bring to the world. (Please do not suddenly go off medication suddenly though, see a good Dr., like in orthomolecular medicine). I agree bipolar is an imbalance in the brain due to an inability to properly absorb some nutrients (why extra vitamins are needed). This imbalance needs assistance to stabilize, at the same time, I feel bipolar can be an almost mystical doorway to accelerated personal growth too. Alcohol is something to avoid, and psychedelics should be used with a trained therapist see MAPS with John Hopkins. Here's a video about how to see this from that perspective:

Not sure...but i feel it may be more of a desire of the SOUL

lol...totally thought of this....would be hillarious to do a re-make with human ego instead of waffles...lol

@Tronds World I totally agree....at the same time in western culture, there is a lot of selfishness and lack of community spirit as well...I feel we should also take that into consideration...When do we really "feel like" helping our friend move that cumbersome couch, etc...maybe some of us like helping sometimes....but many of us are out of touch with the joy of compassionate assistance...many people would need to be bribed with "beer and pizza" in this culture to move that couch....I am often in the opposite category where I give too much...still, it is easy for us to go in the selfish direction and say "no" too often, out of laziness etc...Saying "no" to all of that intoxication, crappy culture, and shitty club music, you mentioned, fair enough....as long as we remember to say "yes" to actually leaving our little sanctuaries for a different type of fun-night-out sometimes too....saying "no" to friends that want too much from us, good idea....as long as we say "yes" often enough to truly help others in need as well....

Iceland? Luxembourg? Rotterdam? I live on the west coast of BC...to me this is paradise....but home is where the heart is, anything is what you make of it, it's all about perception: is the cup half empty/ doomed, or is the cup half full/ ready for radical positive transformation?

@STC lol...It's totally OK to laugh at me (my level of hair vanity is ridiculous!)...I actually, seriously, literally, *jumped back in my seat...my hands flew up and everything at the idea of needing personal development haircut!...lol...I have had short hair a couple of times...but I really, really, disliked it (cried myself to sleep until it grew back..lol...I think because I cut my own hair at age 3 and my grandma said i looked like a boy, no offense boys...lol)!...so funny, the justifications that come up...my resistant brain immediately thought of this photo a friend of mine took when she went to India of a beautiful man who had dreads that grew in what appeared to be endless rivers flowing from his body...I can't remember the exact reason for his hair...if he was simply in constant meditation, or something...but for now, i want to hold onto whatever he has...if I cut my hair, it may be later, closer to the pinnacle of my journey..i polar bear swim, etc..isn't that enough for now, to show I have the courage to evolve....I can practically sit on my current rosy, locks...I can keep my lovely "autumn faerie" hair...lol..

@Posho totally, what @Phil said....I'm totally the same, it is rare for me to exercise with no music (I even make up songs when I ride my bike...lol)....and I usually want to make meditation musical and more "fun" too...have you tried binaural beats....they saved my meditation practice after I had backlash....also using Mala beads makes meditation a little easier for me....mixing things up with some visualization & gratitude = more creative ways to add "fun"...and good practices regardless.....

@Martin123 I think it's awesome, but I don't fully grasp it yet either. Yes, it's kind of strange. I seem to fluctuate between Permitting and Inspiring at my best...always bypassing that stage in between....but I also dip way down to fear still occasionally, without ever really being at craving or vengeful in the middle....Spiral Dynamics is a little simpler that way....

Totally on the same page about "allowing" emotion. I often assumed I was "allowing", when I was only experiencing a little of it (beyond what I could suppress). I have a feeling that simply denying that our past emotions have any relevance in the present may cause issues. The same way our perceptions are like looking through layers of lenses coloured by past experiences, our emotions seem to be the same. It's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't remember exactly how Leo describes it..but I can give you an example with Teal Swan. She teaches us, when we go into our present emotion, to follow it back through time, eventually to the first time we felt it (usually in childhood). She uses this method to transform the past, thus transforming the present (all connected). For me, one of my most important recent understandings has been about the correlation between emotion and intuition. We can learn to use our emotions like barometers for our intuition....when things are, or are not in alignment for us....

@Gabriel David This is poetic and lovely, I'm in total agreement about not resisting emotion....so important! ....I'm a little confused though...can you tell me how you define "intellect" specifically for these *fear* based situations? Where my thoughts seem to differ, is on all of this planning...and precise decisions... I am starting to embrace Leo's idea that fear is never useful. So, planning, for safety reasons is sometimes logical (like bringing special equipment when climbing a mountain)....for the most part, I feel that too much planning can actually perpetuate fearful thought spirals....as it leads to "what if's" for me.....I am learning to have more trust in my capabilities without planning, and in the universe to help.....what do you think?

@Martin123 @MochaSlap, I totally agree with above. Arman recently introduced me to David Hawkins, if you look at his Map of Consciousness (attached) you can see the happiness level derived from the base emotion/ life view.

@Loreena Looks like you have a bunch to read already. You can PM me for more if you run out.....for some reason, despite the seeming cheezy-ness with it being such a best seller...and having this tittle.....I'm going to put this one first....because I feel it's the most personally-revolutionary for me: The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle

People, including myself, often say how the timing of Leo's expressions seem quite serendipitous (with what's going on in our own lives). Just before this announcement, I had purchased a new 2017 calendar that gives daily "Insights from the Dali Lama" (maybe Leo got this too, lol). Anyway, I had been really enjoying the little calendar quotes, especially ones that really resonated with me that morning, but it was only today that I noticed the correlation with the blog. Having these more in depth insights to look forward to as well is awesome!

Quick little mini-podcasts are an idea too....somewhere in the middle between videos and blogs. There is beauty in the written word for sure. That said, sometimes, I really appreciate tone of voice, inflection, etc....as it helps me to better understand the intended meaning....I just feel misinterpretation often occurs much more easily with text....still, we are often more focused when reading; less able to "zone out".... So who knows...Stoked for this regardless!

I started one about diminishing fear...and I've replied to similar threads....so keep checking, there is more wisdom within the forum for you...try different key words....anyway here are three things that are helping me: 1. Shift the focus to what you DO want, beyond fear (visualize the amazing future outcomes you desire) 2. Trust in the universe, challenges are lessons, the universe is conspiring to help you....believe 3. Actually feel the emotion, truly, not just sort of feeling it while wishing it would go away....actually fully sink into the immersion of it....comfort and support the part of you feeling it....and eventually transcend it.....

Hey, Re: Leo's new video on big picture thinking. How does one go about the exact process of evolving beyond debating? As a young child, debating was in our top favorite things to do...me, and my best friend...so it's pretty intricately wired in my brain after many decades of doing it! It's crazy how my brain can usually, quite instantly, think of an insane amount of information to support my perspective...and super creepy that it actually seems "fun" to occasionally "argue" a point, especially ones that I may only agree with as a joke.... I want to keep diversity intact. I hope to be able to: radically-open-mindedly consider the other person's perspective.... sometimes I'd like to respectfully offer my perspective too, (to spread potential open-mindedness to others with the best intentions).....but then I want to stop, before it turns into all of that stuff Leo mentioned with defending points etc. How does one accomplish this. I doubt Leo meant that we should never offer up our own unique views...So, at what point does a difference of opinion go wrong? What are the specific things to watch for and avoid?

In the spirit of our Sage/Mystic research on numerous faiths, I noticed there does not seem to be any threads on *Huna* (same belief in non-duality/ universal oneness). I've just discovered it in a 1950's book by Max Freedom Long (growing into light...I think, it's upstairs). Anyway, here are some descriptions from random websites (I like the sort of Atlantis reference) * but do your own research, it's rad: "Huna comes from ancient times, it is one of the original arts and sciences of healing and spiritual development. We believe that it may be as old as 35,000 years and is a part of the original teachings of the peoples of the earth which were centered here in Hawaii on a continent which now, no longer exists. All that remains physically of that land are the mountain peaks of the island chain called Hawaii. Huna was originally called Ho’omana. Ho’o means to make. Mana means life force, equivalent to Ki (as in Aikido), Chi (as in Tai Chi) or Shakti in the Sanskrit language. Taken together the word Ho’omana means empowerment or to empower. Huna is about empowerment, about increasing your spirituality, energy, and metaphysical healing powers." "The people, called Kahuna, who practiced these techniques and teachings knew that all power and all force emanated from the One, the source of All -- all life, all energy, which in Hawai'i was called I'o. In those times, the same knowledge was taught everywhere else on the planet, too. The balanced system was an equally Male / Female system, where men and women were honored equally, where there were both male and female Kahuna. There are only remnants of this system around the Earth, because starting in 325 A.D, a wave began to sweep around the planet in an attempt to destroy the balanced systems -- the original teachings of the peoples of the Earth. The wave hit Hawai'i sometime between 750 and 1250 A.D. Hawai'i was very lucky to be so isolated. In other areas of the world the original teaching was wiped out earlier than that. There was a real concerted effort in western Europe to wipe out the original teachings which has persisted for thousands of years. These destructive pressures continue today in the world. One purpose of the original teaching was the study of the ways of increasing life force energy, to give every single human the power in his own hands, ultimate means to create what they totally want in their life. The notion of Life Force is a very important notion. What's also important in the process is also to learn how to make connections with the sources of Mana both inside and outside yourself. The scope of Huna is quite broad -- if you think of it this way, there is one teaching and it has many different names."