Matt23

Brah... you don't even know. I'm soooo Tier-2 you can't even understand since... since... I'm just better than you since I said so and there's a theory I can use to justify my claim of superiority over you (i.e. basically any ideology/religion used by people [obviously not "everyone"]). Same shit, different color). Honestly though, there's truth to what you say. But also, I see it more so like ya... we can take this stuff too seriously. But also, it can be fun to nerd-out on this stuff and debate. Like, it's not bad unless you sense it's becoming too serious and dogmatic and like "it's the truth"...maybe we lean there sometimes. It seems like it could similar in that regard to anything really; like soccer, sports, video games, board games, books etc... anything that develops a fan-base where people get really into it and start arguing, debating, creating new things about w/e it is. Like, it's just fun (hopefully...), and I love ya'll that do it and appreciate bits of it from time to time.

Seems to me his EQ would be pretty good and high. Seems robust enough to handle lots of perspectives and situations etc. and from the obviously limited knowledge we have of who he is, from his YT clips etc., he's displayed pretty grounded, calm-cool-collected EQ and the ability to listen empathically a lot when talking with people (asking questions, and he seems like he really listens and takes in what others say). He was a counsellor/therapist I know for a bit too. Dunno how long. Also, looking at the people he interacts with/is friends with (not only interacts with, but leads and runs/co-creates big projects and organizations with), people who to me seem like very "developed" people, I don't think you just do those things and are in those circles (again, not just "in the circle" socially, but leading and doing big projects with) without having a high degree of emotional intelligence. I could be wrong though of course. I dunno what it's actually like from his/their perspectives. Obviously we're running into a problem of categorizing people based on limited video clips, anecdotes, work resumes, and any writings they've published. As well as using partial theories in which we're doing the categorizations as well. But, just my impression is the opposite. Interesting.

Word. I've noticed this a lot too. I think this kind of thinking is common here on the forum at least. I doubt anyone on the forum is actually Tier-2; at the very least not fully embodied. I've always felt that if people are on the forum, I doubt they're Tier-2. Example; I don't think you're seeing any Daniel Schmachtenbergers, Ken Wilbers, or Jordan Hall's on the forum. These guys got their own creations, organizations, and projects to run and I can't see them spending much time on an online spiritual coach's forum, especially a forum run by someone else. I think it's also worth mentioning that the whole theory of SD itself can be put under reasonable scrutiny and doubt as a "complete" system that fully captures human experience, diversity, and possibilities of being. Even the idea of linear hierarchy in human psychological development can be disputed.

Anyone else notice their creativity and productivity goes up when abstaining? ... Most effective life-hack for men = nofap...? I hope not.

I feel like Diogenes is the perfect metaphor for what Tier-2 hurdles would look like: living totally self-reliantly, independent of any social pressures, totally dissatisfied with what the "mob" thinks and does and rejects them outright.

That image deserves to be made into a work of art titled: "Leo in a Nutshell."

Too much media. Lack of coherent and stable social narratives and values. ... I dunno.

2nd tier... Hell nah. Remember, just because you "talk" like you sound 2nd Tier, doesn't mean you are (and probably aren't). One person on here thought I'm "stage yellow".... I'm pretty sure I'm just autistic lol. I think they thought this since I was "speaking the lingo" (I new all the "right" yellow concepts etc. and ways of "speaking yellow"), but if they looked at my life day-to-day, what I did (or didn't do) they would not think yellow. They might even think lower than orange, which is probably more accurate.

... or just a typical end-stage of a culture. Or, for that matter, not even "end-stage" but just a relatively common part of many cultures in history: Gladiators, that Mayan game where the winner's captain gets decapitated, Egyptian fisherman joust sounds dangerous. I assume there's more... maybe not of killing being exactly a part of the sport, but where the sport is dangerous enough that dying and serious injury were a legit possibility. Even Medieval jousting looks hella cray cray.

When I read this, my immediate interpretation was something like there was something, some part, within himself that couldn't accept the love, connection, and belonging of the family, some part that thought maybe he was unworthy of that, some part that maybe hated himself, so he tried to hurt himself instead. Perhaps as a reflection of the hate he has towards himself from how he believes himself to be.

This gives me goosebumps and hella vertigo.. sheesshh!!! @Jannes I think it's wayyyy more than just scary. Also... I think scary is part and parcel of athletic accomplishments too. Cuz, contrary to what may seem logical, athleticism is sooooo much of a mind-game as oppose to a pure body-game. Like, to have the concentration, skill, endurance, will-power to pull that off... damn. This is why some athletic feats to me are so powerful and inspiring; cuz it goes beyond the physical and you really see how deep these people are going internally, mentally, emotionally. It's a spiritual thing. Seeing a person run a marathon (or more) and nearly collapsing at the finish line, or tearing a ligament but still going for some higher purpose (like they're running for a loved one or something), is just... inspiring and tear eliciting. Nah mean? I get you too though on the other side of the spectrum where there's not much skill or internal "push" or excellence involved and what the person is doing is just "scary": like the guy who jumped into a barrel and went over Niagara falls... like, brave, sure, and it's like "dammnnn..." .. still noteworthy and could even be inspiring due to the amount of courage or w/e the person is exhibiting. But not the same type as in with athletic feats of skill, endurance, strength, concentration, etc.. Different flavors

Great way to study musculature and anatomy. For some reason this reminds of this lol...

Nice. I feel like people will differ in terms of what type of sport or athletic skill they appreciate the most. Maybe it's to do with seeing what their own particular potential could be, given their specific body-type, neurochemical makeup, etc.. Extrapolating this idea outwardly to other domains, I'm sure it could be true for things like art, intellectual pursuits, and spirituality. Meaning, if a person has some sort of inherent disposition towards, say, mathematics, they may greatly admire amazing mathematicians since they are both seeing A) the excellence of the mathematician, and B) their own "golden shadow" projected onto the mathematician, which creates a more profound inspiration than it would if the person was watching an amazing scientist to their work or something (not that they wouldn't appreciate what the scientist did, it's just they may not feel as an intense amount of love or appreciation for it as they do the mathematician).

.... bruh can lift.

I dunno about this one. I think it's possible to have an authentic purpose you're addicted to or use to avoid other issues in your life. And perhaps having an authentic and powerful life purpose or passion could actually make it easier to avoid other issues in your life, and then eventually it backfires on you and it all comes crumbling down when you realize "Shit.... I thought if I just did my life purpose everything else would be fine and I could avoid my issues. But I now see the issues are still there and I've spent 20,30 years not dealing with them." At which point hopelessness and despair may kick in. Look at Anthony Bourdain and the events that led up to his death (obviously not the whole picture, but some as stated by personal friends n such): yes, history of drug addiction and mental health struggles - then, his girlfriend broke up with him/was with another man - this is where Anthony seemed to become more volatile - then he seemed to go headlong into his work, with one of his close friends saying he had a sort of creative re-naissance - then killed himself. I just don't think that it's wise, easy, or accurate to say substance abuse and mental health issues are "unrelated" to life purposes. It's so complicated and inter-connected. Sure, they had specific personalities that were more "volatile", but they also had a purpose that they could use to hide from their issues, and probably many, many other factors that contributed to their demise (like the type of social circle they kept as well).

Here's a little gem for the consciousness folks lol Peter Ralston showing off. caveat: I'm no marshal artist so I have no idea if his skills are legit or not. Also... this is sick AF

Except maybe peace of mind and incredible joy. ... worth a lot imo. But I get your point too; tis a shame.

Anandamayi ma Teresa of Avila ... Literally just search Google/YouTube for "female/woman mystics/mysticism". Just do it. lol. little bit a research for the soul.

Ya... and it seems like those who don't understand how meaningful and deep sports and any physical art haven't really done them much at higher levels. Like, I played basketball all my life and at decently high levels; and I remember one time watching a video of Michael Jordan highlights and literally crying my eyes out. It was so beautiful and so meaningful to me since basketball was such an important part of my life and I felt so thankful for that. It does a lot, can do a lot.

This is has been my experience. Though, I get the "do it till you outgrow it thing". But you gotta realize that part of outgrowing it is not doing it... so once you realize "Oh... I feel shitty doing it so much and feel great/better abstaining (for whatever amount of time feels good/healthy to you)", then that's the point where you've realized and now all you gotta do is take action on it and go from there. It's like saying do a drug addict "Why not just keep doing drugs till you want to quit? It should come naturally." This isn't how most people's brains seem to be wired. Most people, it seems, are wired in such a way that, when speaking of more addictive things (including masturbation), the less you do it, the better you feel/less addictive urge/less unhealthy urges and behaviors come from that. Of course, I imagine there being people on the other end of the spectrum who are too closed, tight, and self-controlled that could use more freedom and letting loose. But, I think probably in the minority (and definitely in the minority when it comes to men and masturbation lol). imo My experience taking time off masturbation has lead to feeling and behaving in more constructive ways it seems. Also simply feeling nicer in my body. Not that I can't also feel good when masturbating. Case-by-case basis maybe.

Saw a video of Huberman who cited studies where they actually tested; results = yes, it does. From what I remember, no fapping and no ejaculation during sex for I think 1 week/10 days resulted in an increase in testosterone levels of like 400% or something. The bigger picture lesson from the video was "The worst thing for animals is the ability to get that dopamine hit without doing any effort to get there. Drugs being a great example, or jerking off without having to socialize, date, and have sex with a woman." I don't remember it all completely, but I also don't think he was advocating "Don't fap at all", cuz... well, he seems like a reasonable guy and absolutely no-fap all the time seems unreasonable as a hard rule. But ya, you can search it on YT ("Huberman and masturbation", etc.). Personally, I just did 7-8 days of it and felt my desire and drive to just create stuff rose. Whereas before I am usually quite unmotivated and lazy in doing work on projects and stuff.

He just kept going...

Yaaa... that shit is intense.

Word A super simple insight I got from Peter Ralston was "It's just a feeling." Somehow, whenever I'm experiencing frightful and really difficult feelings, I can think this thought and be totally ok again. It's like "Oh ya... this dread I feel is literally just a feeling. It's not necessarily true.. it's just a feeling. Just like the blue on the car outside is blue, and the sound of the wind in the trees is "rrsssttllrrrsssttll".