Cjaryo

Yes and no. Also, with emotions coming from thoughts, they can and it is often helpful to reframe a situation such that you can act on it, but they also come extremely quickly at times, in a reaction. I recommend that you think things out and take everything with a grain of salt. It's okay if you change your mind multiple times.

It seems like you already intuit that option 1 is a rabbit hole you no longer need to explore and dig into. Thus, I'd recommend you try to move on to the next thing. Invest in some other, higher interests or simply save the money and work on other essentials.

Be honest with yourself, and hold that integrity with others. Changes in the ambient environment exhibit changes in the state of one's psyche, and switching campus can thus help, but do not do it simply to run away from your problems. I also see what you mean with a college feeling like a prison; I personally go to a college in a quite secluded and cold area, but I see that as an opportunity to focus on my studies and other passions, because we are paying for this education and we ought to make it worth it and then some. In terms of social relationships, they are a good way of showing how you have acted, and I find it is good to operate thinking that others really can tell you where your faults are. Thus, I hear those complaints and respond with word and action, for some may be meritless, but at the same time do not expect an immediate change in results.

I don't mean to assume anything, but I'll speak a little from personal experience. Analyzing an idea or process or anything can be intriguing and productive, but I would caution that you not use it as a way to blow smoke at yourself with an illusion of actualization; do not let yourself get distracted from these habits in simply thinking about them. Again, I don't want to assume that you're distracting yourself, and what you do gains merit in how passionate it makes you feel (idea of optimizing the path to instead be your path). Thus, best of luck, and I think a program does have a lot of potential in sharing concepts.

Today's post from Leo's blog, https://www.actualized.org/insights/how-to-spot-a-sociopath, got me wondering, how do I know if I'm a sociopath. I don't feel much guilt (previously credited this to not caring what others think of me, and philosophical development of stoicism/cynicism), I enjoy seeing how far I can take a string of lies, I can get obsessed with winning, I have a high IQ, speak poetically (as though all is philosophy), and I resist apologizing. I just don't know how I can tell, maybe it's just time, or there's some way to really know.

So I'm at the point of the journey where I'm getting monkeys (addictions) off my back, and I'm wondering what types of hobbies are good for filling the time with a good source of pleasure. What are your recommendations?

You need to develop your life past video games, as it's an addiction that takes up mass amounts of time. So go develop friendships and hobbies, cultivate your personality.

I agree with Michael569, if you're on this journey, family and friends will resist your development, and most likely pull you back, even just subconsciously. Leo does have a video about dealing with loneliness, and I think it's just a part of growth.

So, I've got a PMO addiction, and I've found that one of the root problems is my neurosis, in that a part of me (the primitive) wants sex to a compulsive extent, and another part of me (the higher-self) wants to resist the addiction and actualize. So how do I go about unifying my two selves to want the same thing?

@Faceless I mean two selves as in two parts of my being. Each having different levels of needs. I'm not sure if there really are "two selves", but I think it's a good metaphor or way of seeing oneself. Thanks to everyone for their advice. I know that I have all that I need to beat this, I just need to take action.

Done in order of my priorities, relative to my state in life. Breaking addictions (Video games, PMO, television) Meditation Fitness (track, jumping rope, weights) Diet (veganism personally) Education, eventually career Relaxation Emotional connection These 7 facets are my areas of focus because, I believe, that after maximizing my fulfillment from each of these areas, my quality of life will significantly be improved.

@Thanatos13 I'm confused. Are you now depressed, do you want help, or just what is it that you are looking for here?

Leo has a video on karma, basically saying that karma is internal, it affects your authentic morality balance. So, do what you feel rights your wrong. That may be 1) being upfront about it and telling the clerk what you did and paying for it, the emotionally difficult thing to do, and thus best thing to do, 2) letting go, and 3) doing nothing. The other route though to ridding yourself of this karma is to contemplate it, understand it, and accept it, then let go, otherwise, you are avoiding the imbalance that you have created.

Realize how arrogant you're being. We all live in this world with so much power, beauty, and potential. All you need do is develop your awareness of this beauty, and maybe yes, your life is meaningless, so develop some hobbies and passions, design your personality and grow your friendly and familial relationships.

I think we are similar in this sense. I think both of us have a lot to say, but don't know how to bring it up in conversation. What I'm doing to get more comfortable with this is just speaking in public more, and "wearing my heart on my sleeve" (being upfront with my beliefs). If it's also the case that you just don't know what your interests are, then cultivate them.

Hey there, I recently have been using this journaling/thought method to contemplate how well the new year is going for me. It works like this: There are 12 months in a year, and 24 half-months in a year (about 15 days). Think of these half-months as hours, and that there are 24 hours in a year (like a day). At the end and beginning of each of these "hours", review how the past ~15 days have gone, and think of how you'd like the next few to go. I do this mostly in relation to my new year's resolutions, and the goals I have set (meditation, NoFap, exercising, reading, journaling, school, and practicing the guitar), so you could use this method for anything of the like.

I highly recommend that you study philosophy, but as a hobby, it will genuinely improve the systems of your mind. Right now though, you need to start producing results. It sounds like you need something to commit to, so find out what that is soon, and then find out exactly how to work on it and get the financial security you need.

@blazed I've made mistakes and assumptions in the past and felt humiliated when I've realized that I'm wrong, so exploiting those beliefs in others gets me to feel above them in a sense, that I am the manipulator rather than the ignorant manipulee. @Leo Gura Well then, I didn't even consider that a possibility, that my ego was to that extent in power of my life and mind (though to a degree I know the mind is the ego). I've really got to do some work there.

This is all just an ego backlash, which will happen a lot on your journey. Just keep getting back up, and eventually, your lower-self will adapt to a new homeostatic level. You want to take away and replace one by one. So, I say that you take away the video games, and replace it with meditation and maybe another (healthy) hobby that you enjoy.

I think you just need to get better friends and roomies. If you're going to develop yourself you have got to get in the right environment for it.

@Leo Gura Yeah, but I feel like I've been trying to be more focused on myself and dismissing what other people think and feel, just so I can worry about myself and not get caught up in other people's lives. I do this mostly because of semi-traumatic experiences in my childhood, rejection, punishment, etc., I guess as a way to repress emotion.

I think that you would only need more time to talk to your girlfriend about this type of thing, as there are many different scenarios to take into account, and perspectives as well.

Got to agree with Leo. I think this could be more interesting though focused on very similar topics, like psychological evolution diagrams, and contradictory but applicable theories and concepts for the same problem.

I very much like the idea of an Actualized.org workshop/seminar, thought the only concern would be its frequency, price, and attendance.

Other people may be having fun, and thus happy, but they are not fulfilled. You may be comparing yourself to others too much, or caring about what others think of you. Also, with what the feeling better than everyone else, it's likely your ego corrupting personal development into a competition.