Corte

This is a tricky area that really separates the ego and higher consciousness. Most of us are taught from birth the difference and good and bad, positive and negative, right and wrong. Especially when it comes to thoughts, we're scolded if a "negative thought" slips out of our mouths freely, because we didn't know the difference. The difference is that it feels easier to ignore a negative thought/feeling/emotion somewhat impulsively. Most think that covering it up or pushing it away to deal with at later date is the right way to "handle" it, or simply choosing not to think about it at all to avoid the emotional weight. The paradox is this just makes it more powerful and its negativity effects you until you can't stand it. The much better way takes patience, a more long term way of thinking, and a more opened mind. To accept the "bad", the "negative", the "wrong", remove all beliefs surrounding them, and allow yourself to experience them without judging them, at the same time not judging yourself (more importantly). You must end impulsive reactions and thinking; and really work hard to remove the entire belief you have of this subject. This allows all negativity to flow with your mind the same way pleasure or happiness does. Staying positive only means to focus on everything good, beautiful, perfect, which in turn evolves your perspective to find these in everything. This works the opposite way of course, which most people around you probably experience. This does not remove negativity. It's still there. You just experience it in such a way where it isn't a problem like you were taught. Tonight I saw somewhere the quote "either nothing is a miracle or everything is a miracle, you choose which one you see"

That's an awesome experience I'm going to try more of this. What helped you to flow the pain?

just sit with yourself for a few minutes and ask yourself why you started in the first place, where you are & where you want to be... These goals of yours are probably the best things you can be working towards right now. Its much easier to put it off, just know you only have to put a little bit of effort into starting and that will grow over time and empower you. Try to get yourself inspired, read studies/blog posts/articles about benefits of your goals. Just a few suggestions

The ego believes enlightenment is destruction and enlightenment believes the ego is destruction. The ego is quite literally building itself, it's only from the perspective of higher consciousness that the ego leads to self-destruction. Ask anyone what they're living for, the ego will respond with something like "I'm making money" "I'm waiting for the right girl" "I'm getting a degree" these things are like a feast for an ego driven being. They are physical means of an illusory happiness or pleasure, the highest state the ego can exist in. Any ego will tell you to seek a psychiatrist if you tell them more money, perfect wife, more things, will lead them to destruction.

Because subconsciously, at the core of their being they know you're doing work that they aren't/can't. Misery enjoys company.

You should focus more on gradually needing less fap and entertainment. Contemplate these two things for what they really are. What are you doing while watching Netflix? World star? What are you doing while surfing the Internet aimlessly? You're filling in a void in time, you are hard wired to constantly be doing something. To have some kind of noise or distraction going to keep those god damned thoughts at bay. To constantly keep the mind busy. These things aren't bad, but they can become bad when you let them take control and you become addicted. When you catch yourself doing these activities simply become more mindful of what's really happening. Once you see this for yourself you will care about these things less and you won't need to challenge yourself for 30 days. Come on, 5-6 failures in the first half? You're just setting yourself up for disappoint. You start off by calling it a challenge. That already makes it feel harder than it really is. Healthy eating and fasting is a much better way to challenge yourself, but you still need to make reasonable goals. Don't try to take on all of this at once. Try to achieve goals and collect good habits along the way. Self actualizing can be difficult on its own, no need to complicate it further! Simplify things. Strengthen your focus on one or two things at a time.

I was in your shoes after my first "little awakening/enlightenment". These are symptoms of becoming more aware than usual, but at this point your ego is still going full speed. It causes a negative misconception about this whole subject. It feels like you are at loss, and you wish you could do anything to go back to being ignorant and blissful. At this point, after "knowing" all, you will feel like there's nothing left to live for. What's the point? I'm nothing but a empty nothingness without a purpose! I smile as I type this because you are in for a very pleasant surprise as you continue down your path. You can't lose anything because you never had anything to lose in the first place. A "purpose" as you describe is something your ego needs to be motivated. When the ego subsides, you won't need a purpose. The very existence you are experiencing will be plenty purposeful. This journey doesn't cost anything. It will give to you more than your ego will ever be able to repay. There is simply nothing more than false beliefs to give up, which were worthless to begin with. You must ask yourself for the source of this loneliness. In what ways do you depend on others to fill emotional voids in your mind? When you have time to sit in peace and be alone, what thought comes first: I need to find someone to keep me company? Or Now that I'm one with my thoughts, what can I do to grow and improve myself? Before you delve into subjects relating to nothingness, enlightenment, purpose, and actualization, you must slow down. Take time to really learn more about yourself. Research things you are feeling in this moment. Learn how to overcome loneliness, no purpose, depression, negativity. After you overcome these hurdles, you'll have a great base foundation to really start self-actualizing. I promise you, there is nothing to lose. Logically, you have everything to gain. Don't feed into ego produced negativity. Lastly, understand that you can't understand. You're taking very deep and complex experiences capable of obliterating an ego, and asking what the ego thinks of it. What do you think it will say?

This is a great opportunity for you. It sounds like you sacrificed enough of your soul for that company! There are so many ways to make money without all of those feelings of negativity and stress. I hope you find one that you are passionate about! time to start living

Sure, that's one part. It's more about being at peace with those sounds, loving them and accepting them no matter the condition, and being thrilled to exist to observe them. Try doing it with touch, sight, smell, and taste too. Doing this more often and more deeply each time will "strengthen your mindfulness muscle"

Start with a realistic goal. If you set it at a month, you're going to "relapse" within the next week. Then you'll feel guilty about it and it will make it worse. Think about how long you can easily go without, and make your goal one or two days more than that. This works with any goal. You create an idea in your head of "I don't want to do this anymore, so I must immediately stop right this minute" which is not logical. You've been doing this how long, it will take a lot more time to change it! So first, make a goal that is reasonable, and when you reach it it should bring a little empowerment. Think about the benefits of it. Is it really something that is that amazing? You feel good for a little while and then it's gone and you do it over and over to chase that feeling? just contemplate over it for the reality of what it is. After a while you should think less of it and need it less. Finally, nofap and no sexual activity in general will not actualize you faster. Sure, less will help, but the key is to have the control & balance. Work to gain will power and control. This means when you get an urge, you don't always need to act. It's when people become obsessed and chase pleasure, that they give up control. After gaining control and balance, you can experience the pleasure for what it is and you will need it less & appreciate the moment more. See what I'm getting at? The more you chase after the pleasure, the less pleasure you get. Doing this work will help you in all pleasure-seeking areas of your life. So basically, the whole point of nofap is to gain will power, balance, and control. The goal isn't "no sex". start working to gain control over your impulses. Edit: one more tip, every time you get the urge to watch porn, instead look up a subject that interests you such as psychology or quantum mechanics and take that time to read/learn something new. that should get rid of your sexual thoughts

Another thing to keep in mind is people will automatically "like" you more and open up more easily the further you work in this area. Less pressure inside, less pressure perceived by the others, less pressure thrown back at you. Remain a peaceful true and loving person and people will be attracted to that, making much more easily flowing interactions!

It's so easy to get caught up in that daily lifestyle and it pretty much ruins any chance of self growth. The only reason you should keep this job is if it will lead to something better for you and you need the experience. If not, you should find something that works around your meditation and enlightenment work. I thought it would be impossible to find a better job than I already had, (more pay, better hours, less stress) but here I am today with all of that! You aren't being forced to stay in this situation. If it's important enough to you, all you have to do is go out and get it. Another thing to watch out for is blaming your job for prohibiting growth. I understand that it exhausts you, but it can just as easily be a way out - created by the ego, to avoid doing hard long term work. You should be 100% honest with yourself and ask why you are so frustrated. Is it because your job is sucking your soul? Or is it a blame game? If actualizing is a priority, you'll make it happen no matter what. I changed my whole life around a self-growth lifestyle, and even if I don't become enlightened and become godly, it's still a much more peaceful and enjoyable life. It's a win-win.

I'm sure Leo has a lot on this topic and I'd love to hear what he has to say too. I've only been able to do this with no more than one person at a time. It is much easier to do it in nature away from other people or crowds and noise. This is when you can feel present while interacting simultaneously. It feels like the connection between the two is all that exists in the moment, and at the same time that moment is the world. Time passes so quickly around this experience. This memory helps to bring more awareness and blissfulness of the moment when the situation involves multiple people, unconscious people, loud noises and activity. Take little five second mental pauses to realize all that is happening. The structure you're in, location, people you're with, strangers you've never seen, time of the day/year. Just a few ways to bring mindfulness outward and see it not only internally but externally.

You may have simply become more aware of your body and your surroundings. Or maybe before you began, you ignored any urges of awkwardness because you were afraid of it, and now you allow yourself to feel what was there before. It also could be you are interacting with less ego and this makes you uncomfortable because it's not what you're used to. Just a few ideas. Keep heading forward in your practice and try to connect with people through truth and love and these feelings of change and awkwardness will dissolve. you should have a nice balance of inner and external worlds.

I think it's definitely a combination, or one feeds off of the other possibly. If you already participate in neurotic behavior the drugs will encourage more and social neglect fuels the process. I have a few friends heavily addicted to hard drugs and the timeline for them goes as follows: nuerosis/ego power/depression> Drugs> fueled ego/deeper nuerosis/social encouragement/peer pressure> Heavier Drugs> (Up until this point, their behavior was empowering, free, encouraged/rewarded by peers) Addiction/social abandonment & neglect/dependency (all of sudden, the behavior they were socially rewarded for is now looked down upon and wrong. But it's too late, the body/mind is hooked) social neglect leaves them no choice but to continue their addiction stronger than ever. This lifestyle is all they know and they don't understand why it's wrong. All this is, is what I see in the young people close to me. I'm sure it's different for everyone but this is an example of how all of these low conscious behaviors and theories fuel eachother and are pieces to the whole

It's only one theory from a controversial journalist with not great evidence. Most of it makes sense and may be able to explain some people's problem but not everyone with an addiction. What do you find conflicting?

Truly gives me chills and sends tears streaming down my face, to see so many people becoming true. It is a beautiful time to be on earth. Realize all the progress we've made, imagine where we'll be in twenty years.

Hi @charlie2dogs , was I meant to be quoted?

It's not that it's not possible, just not yet. Leo's videos are probably the best out there to learn about this stuff, but this information is so easily obtained by someone who just happens to come across it. Before the Internet or self help books you could probably spend entire lifetimes without hearing of enlightenment or meeting anyone who was. The life you are building is part of your growth. Of course it doesn't make sense to throw that all away right now, and you don't have to. The more you peel back layers of consciousness to get more deeply in tune with yourself, the less important earthly activities will feel. It's like going to someone in the park and telling them they're empty nothing and everything they're working for right now doesn't matter and never will. You can learn a huge deal that will dramatically improve your life all-around beginning now. For example: how to be productive, how to have confidence, how to have better relationships, how to grow as a person. It sounds like you're having success doing this already. You can't understand the way Leo talks about enlightenment because you're not designed to do so. I think you should simplify your work load with the intention on growing yourself as a member of society and internally also. After these experiences you will have raised your consciousness and you will be looking for the next step. You have to be careful or this actualization work can really "ruin " your life ironically, like you've described. I believe you're on a wonderful path of self discovery and growth, but don't rush it. It's okay to be fully submersed in the physical world, and thus becomes so much more amazing while becoming increasingly aware. Let me know if this makes sense and if it helps at all!

I don't quite understand all of the questions you're asking. For two of them, going around being an asshole will have negative results on any growing you're trying to do. Yes, it's illogical to compare yourself to anyone, especially people much much more accomplished than you. This is nothing more than feeding your ego. Also, serial killers, jerkoffs, sex addicts, all of this is extremely negative, unconscious, unaware, animalistic products of ego. None of this can be your "true self" nor an excuse to act out in these ways. Leo sells a huge list of books he recommends, I would start there. Or just pick up any book in self help, spirituality, psychology, even science, and get started. Its great that you are interested in these topics while in high school. It's also great that you are questioning reality and seeking truth. Keep at it, it will have amazing benefits in the years to come. Most of what you are asking here is the first thing you could come up with that could be a loophole to these theories. There are no loopholes. All of this work takes many hours and strict dedication. There are no easy ways out, no shortcuts or quick fixes. All of this is true honest work from the core of your being. Try to go through the questions you have about Leo's video again and simplify what you are asking. What are the main things you are trying to understand? I will try to help as much as I can.

I want to recommend Ryan Cropper on YouTube. He is similar to Leo in the way he analyzes and delivers information. He talks mostly about alternate states of consciousness, psychology, insanely deep subconscious material, and spirituality. His goal is more investigation than enlightenment, and some of his subjects can be very "out there". Nevertheless, he fascinates me to no end!

I think your question would be more appropriate on a website like yahoo answers or something like eharmony. My advice is pretty simple: 1. End things with the girl who left (no more fucking) 2. Don't be so quick to date again (once more, no fucking) 3. Spend some time alone, put some time in on those problems you mentioned.

Try to become at peace with the idea of being happy no matter the condition. With your lover, you should be blissful when they're there, and when they aren't. Your lover shouldn't have to be your rescuer from life and provide too much, see why a breakup can be so horrible? there is so much emphasis on being with someone "forever" everyone says it. We create this reality in our heads around the forever concept when everything is changing chaos constantly. Forever doesn't make you a loyal partner it makes you delusional. Love never needs to be proven. Your partner should be there to support the growth you are creating on your own. If this is done correctly, it would be a more meaningful relationship anyway. You can appreciate the moment, thankful for the time together and that should be enough. If it does come to an end, it will be much easier to move on. Almost not a problem at all. And if it does last a lifetime, it will be the much more profound connection you're searching for.

Can you elaborate on this?

It's a paradox really, you can only desire to be what you're not. If you already had it you couldn't want it. If you were above average height you'd probably wish you were below. You're below you want to be above. Once you really contemplate this endless quest, it dissolves itself. Removing this whole system of desire can have crazy results in all areas of your development. Its a much simpler, minimal, easier way of thinking. It's actually great.