Staples

There is nothing smart about wanting to be a billionaire.

People can disregard their hatred. It's the whole lesson Jesus taught. They just don't want to, because they enjoy being hateful in some way. I'm here to tell you that instinct of enjoying hatred is wrong. Give up hate. Don't make excuses for unhealthy behaviours and worldviews. Just because you can logically understand it doesn't mean it's justified.

@SQAAD How does it feel to carry that hate around with you? What's the point of hating? You can just stop doing it if you wanted to.

Let's not be mean about it. Charlie is not a dubious character. I met him once long ago when I applied to work as his video editor and he's a very genuine guy. He was simply naive and a victim of a manipulator.

A lesson in gaslighting and manipulation. I really resonate with Charlie's experience here. I must admit I can be easy to gaslight as I try to take 100% responsibility for everything in my life, or give people the benefit of the doubt. But sometimes people take advantage of that habit. Luckily he got most of the money back. Be careful who you do business with, and trust your gut if you sense something wrong with them. Evil people can look and sound the same as good people. Judge people based on their actions, not just their character.

“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” ― Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

Master writing short stories before doing novels. Publishers will do a lot to promote the hot new author on the block - so don't let that first break be a pile of shit.

Stephen King: On Writing Chuck Palahniuk: Consider This Best two books on creative writing I have ever read. Palahniuk in particular is amazing.

Thanks for the comprehensive answer. @Leo Gura

Interesting. Sounds like a paradigm of logic transcending consciousness. "Logic transcends thought." I am curious - do you make a distinction between imaginary and non-imaginary? Is logic non-imaginary? Are logic and distinctions the same thing? I ask because I cannot make sense of this next to my own insights of distinctions being absolutely fundamental and beyond mind. Distinctions run infinite - and the mind sensemakes those distinctions into reality. How can absolute unity exist in a reality where distinctions are required?

How do you reconcile these two points? @Leo Gura If we define logic as something like a system that formalizes distinctions... Then how can we say there is no difference between anything? In order for logic to be reality, then we must assume that some set of distinctions is fundamental to reality, or else there is nothing to use logic on. Logic can't work as a singularity, it's dualistic by nature.

@Clarence Respect. Very well said.

There's nothing to reconnect to. You're already it. It sounds more like you're suffering a lot and need to find everyday joy. Am I right? Psychedelics and meditation retreats aren't the solution if you're struggling. Those things are destabilizing and are not appropriate if you're on the back foot in life. Daily appreciation or gratitude journaling is a great step. Or if you want to access creativity block out a chunk on time to focus on your craft. Personally, I would take doing something I'm excited about every day over god-bothering.

We're all scoundrels.

Feelings are the raw input. However you decide to label them is up to you. Survival is a concept. A very powerful one. But it is not tied to feelings existentially.