HMD

@rd5555 This may help you ^

@integral By any means possible? Even at the expense of not focusing on your life purpose?

@HMD Update on this. It is highly toxic. Needed a rude awakening and disillusionment to figure this out. Don't let anyone mess with your worldview, especially if the person is orange/blue/greenish.

It is really difficult to choose one video out of all the classics. But I think, for me, This one stands out as the most transformative: The way Leo elaborated each of the principles resonates with me deeply. It's like I already intuitively knew what he was saying. But the way he was able to articulate them helped me make everything I had in my mind explicit. So, whenever I start losing track of what truly matters to me I come back to this video and realign myself. Also, all of the The laws of human nature Oh yes. I thought I was the only one hahah. But then I went through some of the comment sections and explored the internet and found there were plenty of these types lmao. But yeah, It lasted about two months or so.

@Lilia That's a great Idea ...

Fuck.

@CARDOZZO Very wise, sir. Very wise indeed.

I'll answer that with a beautiful quote I read recently, somewhere on this forum. "Nobody on this forum is AWAKE!" ~ Leo Gura

@Something Funny @Israfil I did't have any systematic approach to the process, it was more intuitive for me. with that being said here are a few things that will help: This is a good video to start and understand the gist. Additionally, you can read Jordan Peterson's book "12 Rules for Life," which will help you a lot. Robert Greene also has some great material on this topic, including Laws 9, 12, 14, 16, and 18 of his book "Laws of Human Nature." Additionally, his book "48 Laws of Power" is essentially an exploration of the shadow. The key thing here is that we have not fully integrated Stage Red (and Orange to a degree as well). Although integrating Stage Red may sound cute and simple as I write this, it is actually quite difficult and painful if you have not integrated it. According to Jordan, this is what shatters people who suffer from PTSD. They are living relatively peaceful lives in a Stage Orange-Green world, but when they go to war, they are confronted by someone barbaric, psychopathic, or malevolent who does something awful to them or to someone around them, and boom! Now they have to make sense of it and integrate it, which many of them fail (or refuse) to do, and they suffer for the rest of their lives. Therefore, you should not wait for something like that to happen, but rather become proactive about it and read the most cruel stuff across history. Read books like "Man's Search for Meaning" and "Gulag Archipelago," which discuss all the cruel things that people can do. Other things you can study are school shootings, Outrageous science experiments (Unit 731), and war crimes (invasion of China in 1937). Place yourself in the position of the perpetrator and recognize that you could be doing all of that, and that those people were also humans, just like you. Make this exercise as real and visceral as you can. These were the people who had resentment in their hearts. When you are not able to say no to someone or do something you want to do, you become resentful and vengeful (which you conveniently hide from yourself, developing a shadow out of it). So, another practice is to contemplate deeply about your resentments and vengeful fantasies. Face them and see the monster that you are with eyes wide open. Finally, the last thing is to contemplate your own mortality daily. Robert Greene talks about this in the last chapter of "Laws of Human Nature" (highly recommended), and Leo also recommended this in one of his videos. Think about how fragile you are and make it real and visceral. Historically, people had to confront death on a daily basis. As Robert Greene points out, death is now limited to hospitals, away from the hustle and bustle of life. So we have definitely created a shadow out of that and need to come face to face with it. When you see your own death and fragility, you develop the ability to see mortality in others, and that levels the playing field for you. I also went out of my way and socialized (also had relationships) with narcissists and sociopaths, or at least people who exhibited such traits. However, I do not recommend that you do this because it brought me a lot of pain, trauma, and hurt as well (which took me some time to heal). Nevertheless, I learned how to deal with such monsters by getting my hands dirty and forcing myself to develop the monster within and then learned how to control it. All of this is a lot to take in and do. You should go slow and not freak yourself out. I had many panic attacks and existential crises while going through all of this, but it was all worth it. I used to be very socially awkward and shy, now I am assertive and fearless (most of the times).

@whatishappeningtome I agree 100%. Moreover, as you start writing it become more elaborate. And after a few edits (separating the wheat from chaff) you have something robust and concrete.

Stop turning those insights into beliefs, theories, or models. Because that's the only way in which insights can make you less open-minded. Yes, you can have an insight that being less open-minded is good, but if you have that insight, then being less open minded might be better for you in that scenario. Also, You can't always be open-minded right? There are phases for everyone and a balance must be struck between open-mindedness and close mindedness.

@Something Funny From my personal experience of observing people and overcoming this problem myself, I'd recommend exploring your shadow deeply and then integrating it in your conscious life. Sounds simple, but it is among the bravest things you can do. After facing your internal demons, nothing external will phase you, because ultimately it's all just you. It seems you are simply afraid of yourself. And I mean that literally. Jordan peterson has a good take on this. He phrases it as "Become a monster, and then learn how to control it". The idea is that once you explore all the terrible aspects of yourself that you have been hiding because they don't fit your self-image, you develop self-respect. And once you have self-respect, you will become more decisive, assertive, and courageous. It's like having a loaded gun. When holding it comfortably, like you own it, you feel the power, confidence, and a sense of invincibility. But if you have never held a loaded gun, you might be scared to pick it up at first. Loading the gun is like becoming a monster, and then making it your own is like learning how to control the monster, which also involves developing a degree of respect for it because it can potentially kill others and yourself. The same is true for the shadow, there is potential in there to kill others and yourself. While exploring the shadow, remember the wise words of Carl Jung: "That which we need the most will be found where we least want to look.” and "No tree can grow to Heaven unless it's roots reach down to Hell."

@Danioover9000 You are right, the content and details are what make the behaviour stick. For instance, smokers are addicted to the nicotine, mainly. However, it's not just the nicotine. Nicotine is part of the larger context of being a smoker, which they are addicted to, including the specific internal images they see during smoking, beliefs about smoking (smoking makes me look cool or smoking helps me deal with stress), the specific feelings it creates, and so on ... And all of this sums up and creates the overarching context in their direct experience. But your response got me to think about people who think more analytically than holistically or intuitively ( I am an ENFJ, so a lot of intuition there). They may not be able to see the larger context and go on to associate the positive feelings with specific elements instead the context, like I said in the post. This makes thing harder for them as they would first have to see the broader context and then break it down from there. Exactly. Perhaps, this model works best for the Holistic and Intuitive types to work with context, something I do daily. And this method is great for the Analytical types. Yeah, that's the seductive lure of materialism. Many of these people have replaced one belief system for another and are masterbating each other for their heroic achievement. Anyways, I appreciate your thoughtful answer. Also, what is your MBTI type?

Here is something I have observed directly: our minds get accustomed to (and even dependent on) contexts. Give it some time, and you can get used to any context. For example, someone who grew up in a chaotic or unstable home environment may become addicted to this particular context, which they can become aware of in their direct experience and change. On the surface, it may look like they are addicted to the drama and excitement. Here are some other examples to reinforce this concept: Someone who grew up in a highly competitive environment may seem addicted to the pressure and adrenaline of constantly striving for success, even at the expense of their health and well-being. But that's just a portion of the broader context, which is more elaborate and experiential. Someone who has experienced trauma or abuse may seem addicted to the rush of adrenaline that comes with danger or risky situations, even if it puts them in harm's way. But that's just a portion of the broader context, which is more elaborate and experiential. Someone who has always been in a position of authority or power may seem addicted to the control and influence they have over others, even if it leads to abusive or manipulative behaviors. But that's just a portion of the broader context, which is more elaborate and experiential. Someone who has always been surrounded by people who reinforce their beliefs and opinions may seem addicted to the validation and affirmation of their worldview, even if it is narrow-minded or exclusionary. But that's just a portion of the broader context, which is more elaborate and experiential. Someone who has always been in a position of privilege or advantage may seem addicted to the perks and benefits that come with their status, even if it blinds them to the struggles and injustices faced by others. But that's just a portion of the broader context, which is more elaborate and experiential. Here is the key insight: it's not the particular environment or feeling that we remember. Rather, we subconsciously remember the context and associate the positive feelings we are experiencing with that context. Why is this important? Because you can become aware of the context and realize that it is illusory, allowing you to be more present in the moment, which will bring you more joy because you will be closer to the Truth. You will also be able to drop your addictions and become more productive and flexible in your life. Let me explain this with the example of social media. When we are in the context of the social matrix through social media platforms, we feel comfortable, at home, and safe (granted that some people are instantly able to intuit the toxicity of such platforms, but remember that the majority of society is addicted to it). It feels as if you are where you belong, which gets us highly dependent on this context of being on social media. There are many factors contributing to the manifestation of this feeling. But the most pernicious one is the ability of the social media platforms to exploit our need for novelty. Jordan Peterson explains this point eloquently. Humans crave order, but too much of it can be mind-numbing, and too much chaos on the other hand can be paralyzing. So naturally, we want to be in the middle of these two. The structure of the social media platform provides the order, and the constant chaos or novelty - in the form of unlimited content - provides this feeling of being in the middle of order and chaos. You can argue from a neurophysiological perspective that if we do something that is good for survival, we get our dopamine hit, we remember the behavior we were doing as we were getting this dopamine hit, and this is how behaviors are formed. Which is not wrong. But this way of thinking is too simplistic and abstract because it is not something you can observe in your direct experience. Yes, you can use this information conceptually to understand and justify your behaviors, but you cannot directly observe it. As I mentioned earlier, our minds do not simply remember the action or behavior we engaged in when we experienced this heightened state. We become accustomed to, comfortable with, and eventually addicted to the context. So, when we decide to do other things like reading a book, the context changes. The context of reading a book has a different feel to it, generally less chaotic, stimulating, and calmer. Suddenly, you feel the need to change the context to one that is more familiar and comfortable. While you can read a book in different contexts, some more pleasing than others, they generally do not compete with the power of the social matrix (or watching porn, smoking weed, and even experiencing mystical states), which is substantially more addictive. Perhaps you are a bookworm who is more comfortable with reading books, but you get the idea. So, what can we do to improve? Simply become more mindful and start seeing the context of the major activity we spend most of our time in. From there, start noticing how each context feels, which ones are your favorite, which ones repel you or bore you. Finally, realize that all of these contexts are illusory. This way, you will start living more in the present moment. Eventually, you may also decide to drop the context of the present moment and go beyond, but that comes later. At first, all of this will be difficult because you are so accustomed to living with various contexts, and there are various internal and external incentives for you to live that way. But with practice and awareness, you will become better at it.

@Yimpa It is unbelievable

@Yimpa Yeah. It's way ahead of other usual communities But every now and then I see two people arguing over who is enlightened and who isn't. And that's an instant turn off. Like how can you be enlightened ... and argue about being enlightened ?!

@tuku747 100%. I see this place turning into a place where everyone is engaged in understanding and sharing. A community without any twisted forms of Love. I know this is a Utopian dream, but I see the potential.

@Israfil I hope you realign with your goals again soon!

@AndylizedAAY Be very patient. Try to communicate with her authentically, without being confrontational or defensive. All she needs from you is love. And you can give that to her by communicating to her and care about her. If you already communicate daily, communicate more, and more authentically. Share deeper stuff with her and encourage her to do the same. Build a trusting relationship with her. And of course, create boundaries to establish a safe space.

Thanks for the feedback! You are welcome.

So true and counter-intuitive

One aspect that could be added to make the concept of distinctions more robust and powerful is the idea of context . Distinctions are not absolute and can vary depending on the context in which they are made. For example, the distinction between hot and cold water may differ depending on the context of the temperature range being discussed. Therefore, when making distinctions, it is important to consider the context and the perspectives of others who may have different interpretations or experiences. A distinction that is relevant and meaningful in one context may not be as important or relevant in another context. For example, let's say you are learning about different types of fish. If you are studying fish for a biology class, the distinctions you make might focus on physical characteristics, such as the shape of the fish's body or the color of its scales. However, if you are studying fish for a cooking class, the distinctions you make might focus on taste and texture, such as whether the fish is oily or firm. Another example is the distinction between a predator and prey. In the context of a nature documentary, this distinction might be very important for understanding the interactions between different species. However, in the context of a petting zoo, this distinction might not matter as much because the animals are not in a natural setting. Therefore, when making distinctions, it is important to consider the context in which they are being made. Understanding the context allows us to make more meaningful and relevant distinctions and helps us to better understand and navigate the world around us. In order to make accurate and meaningful distinctions, we must consider the context in which the object, idea, or concept exists. For example, let's say we are trying to distinguish between two different species of plants. We might notice that one plant has leaves that are broader than the other, but without considering the context, we might draw an incorrect conclusion. Perhaps the plant with the broader leaves grows in a shady area, while the other plant grows in direct sunlight, which would explain the difference in leaf shape. By considering the context in which the plants grow, we can make a more accurate and meaningful distinction between the two species. Similarly, in the field of language learning, context is critical to making meaningful distinctions between words and phrases. For example, the word "set" has multiple meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Without understanding the context, we might confuse the meaning of "set" as a collection of items with "set" as a verb meaning to put in place or adjust. By understanding the context in which the word is used, we can make more precise distinctions and avoid confusion. In essence, the context in which an object or concept exists provides important information that informs the distinctions we make about it. Without considering context, our distinctions may be incomplete, inaccurate, or even misleading.

B seems like the obvious answer

@Squeekytoy It depends on the level of abstraction you're observing at. It will appear as a narrative if you are deeply immersed in the details of your personal experience, but it will appear as a pattern if you step back and view it more metaphysically. However, they are both incredibly loopy and circular. If you pay close attention to the narrative for an extended period, you will eventually notice the underlying structure, especially if you are intuitive. But if you observe the deeper underlying structure of the performance for too long, you'll start seeing its beauty and art (both of which create the illusion of a narrative). It's like the mind is intentionally designing the pattern to create a specific aesthetic effect or convey a sense of narrative, and vice versa. The perfect self-deception