Tell Us How You Got Into Personal Development

[Mikko]

 

Name: Mikko
Age: 38

Gender: Male
Location: Finland
Occupation: Sales engineer
Language skills: Finnish (native), English (fair)
Marital Status: Married
Kids: Girl 13, girl 11, girl 6, boy 3
Hobbies: Playing accordion, personal development, nature

First touch to personal development and self-help material happened in spring of 2014. I drove to work and listened to a radio program where they interviewed a Finnish PhD. who had wrote a book freely interpreted: 52 ways to work more efficiently.

One of the introduced in this book way was to use the time spent in car on way to work by listening to audio books. I randomly searched for interesting topics from YouTube and listened those while driving. I really do not remember how and why I found Leo's video, honestly I do not even remember what it was, but since then I have been a big fan of actualized.org.

I feel that I am still in very beginner state of this journey, but I already notice a huge improvement in life.

Personal challenges I've overcome:

• I have managed to get over stress almost perfectly
•  Big improvement on daily habits

What I'm working on now:

• Working on Life Purpose course
• Working on with weigh
• Working on with better daily routines

Edited February 8, 2016 by Mikko
- just minor changes

[YM]

Name: YML
Age: 43
Gender: ? need to check
Location: London, UK
Occupation: social art enterpreneur 
Marital Status: NYB
Kids: not that I'm aware of
Hobbies: art exhibition, gallery crawling, art doing, gym doing, business building and working on my personal life goal.

I discovered NLP, 21 years ago when my life was horrible. I dropped because I was immature and I had no energy to invest.

Then April 2015, I book a coach and bang, after a personal SWOT everything came back. Hopefully, with hindsight, I can work with the qualities I have and the areas that need to be improved.

I finally found my life purpose. After countless rejections at final interview stage, I took the decision to set up an art charity. And yes, when you do what you love and what you are good at, the job of your life can become your life without any problem. You can cruise during the journey and reach your destination with fulfillment.

Personal challenges, I've overcome in 10 months:

• rageaholic and aggressive behaviour
• revenge
• judging people | imposing my truth

What I'm working on now:

• do nothing 5-min / day
• stop over-analysing and problem fixing -> just FEEL
• Be aligned with whom I am really
• accept the integral side of people
• truly forgave and learn to let go

 

[Amplituda]

Name: Amplituda
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Location: Detroit, USA
Occupation: Project Manager and Business Owner
Marital Status: Married
Kids: Yes
Hobbies: life-balance, body and spirit rejuvenation, karma and improvements of karma, outdoor and sport, yoga, materialization of thoughts and many others

I got into personal development since the time I was born. For the past 10 years I was working on how to undo what was build into me by society. At some point I realized that books aren't helping much and was looking for teachers to share wisdom. I found a few and was able to achieve in a period of 3 months more than many people can achieve in a lifetime. I'm very grateful I was able to find them and was able to learn what not that easily visible inside the 'matrix' :).

Personal challenges I've overcome:

• ability to break the matrix and look into life and who I'm 'as-is'
• Ability to learn from divine self
• ability to live in piece with existence and each individual component
• Started and build successful family 'Yoga' business which helps local community with self-improvement

What I'm working on now:

• body Rejuvenation from my actual age 42 to 25
• karma related work
• thoughts materialization related work

[SenshiAna]

Name: Ana Carvalho

Age: 27

Gender: Female

Location: Leiria, Portugal 

Occupation: music teacher, choir master, clarinetist and musicologist.

Marital Status: Single 

Kids: No

Hobbies: singing, drawing, meditation, walking, searching and learning.

I got into personal development almost a year ago, when I reached a point in my life when I had só many unsettled things that I needed help. I thought looking for advise and therapy, but in the meantime I figures out that by searching on my own I was maneging stuff on my own. First I figured out my MBTI type, and this was the turning point. Then, i joined a community called 7cups of tea, which played a very importante role. While searching I reached some key words that eventually lead me to Leo and actualized.org, and a spiritualist called Teal Swan. I now apply personal development in all the areas of my life - more activelly since past summer. I started to see very fast results and I am very excited about it!

Personal challenges I've overcome (since finding out about personal development) :

• Dormat and down state of being similar to depression, though not diagnosed
• Not trusting in myself and in others, though this still needs work
• Physical and emotional insecurities
• Co-dependence/neediness

What I'm working on now:

• Creating fullfiling relationships
• Excelling in work
• Trying to be the best friend I can, without neediness
• Health
• Exploring my sexuality and emocional needs
• Living out from my head
• Living in my higher state
• Living a happy and light mind of life.

 

[Abeo Maria]

Name: Abeo Maria
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Location: Miami, FL
Occupation: BPO and RA Data Entry
Marital Status: Married
Kids: No
Hobbies: playing guitar, travel, exploration, reading, enlightenment, healthy eating, and nature

I've always been on the cusp of personal development, since a really young age. I used to write in journals and create short stories of both dystopia and utopia's. When I was 22, I was depressed and neurotic to the core, I remember reading Eckhart Tolle's book; A New Earth and it resonated with me in a way that made me feel both a part of something and isolated. I thought I couldn't relate to anyone about personal development and the ill's of the world. However I kept reading, I kept reflecting, I kept journaling, not quite sure where to turn.
I moved to Arizona when I was 23, and spent all of my time disconnecting from electronics,  reading personal development books, eating healthier and hiking. The combination of these opened my eyes to seeking a deeper existence so to speak. 

Personal challenges I've overcome:

• Bipolar Disorder and Depression
• Extreme shyness
• Consistent negative self talk
• Fear and Anxiety of almost any and everything
• Stripping myself of herd mentality
• Building healthy, progressive morning routines

What I'm working on now:

• continuing to expand my knowledge of the guitar
• eating a healthier diet in lieu of my father's recent diabetic diagnosis
• relaxing and enjoying where i'm at right this moment
• continuing to think outside of the box and to not be afraid of change and creating a new way of life for myself

[AlexB]

Name: Alex Baigus
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Location: Bologna Italy
Occupation: Meccanic 
Kids: No

Hobbies: personal development, fitness, love to socialize, meditation, music, love to travel learn and build social circles.

My homeland is Romania and I've been living in Italy for about 8 years when I decided to come live with my mother. I got into self development after an existencial crisis about 3 years ago. After a heart brake and living with a dysfunctional family with a victim mother and her husband who is a narcisist with drugs and alcohol problems that used to procure me mental terror and physical abuse. Back then there was a girl that has been my savior, e very big friend of mine that helped me along my journey, she is a personal development pro without even knowing it  she was born with it, the only thing she did at that time was being there for me. One night I had a nervous breakdown and the next day I found by pure luck a guided meditation to release anxiety, I never even knew the existence of meditation, when I listened to it I finally managed to let go at least for a while and after I started searching for meditations that ultimately led me to actualized on YouTube, I instantly became addicted and then my journey started, I knew I had found my call. I started taking responsibility and of course I became a rebel at home and got kicked out, with one euro in my pocket, a luggage and a strong new ego I went out into the world and been kicking ass ever since. Now I live by myself, have lots of friends, made peace with my parents and a decent paid job. Everyday I practice personal development because I know I still have a long road to make. 

Ps with the euro i bought a toothbrush that i kept as a memory

At the moment I am looking forward in learning how to obtain financial freedom so I can supercharge my personal development without loosing time and energy at work every day. 

Peace to all of you :*

 

Edited February 8, 2016 by AlexB
Forgot some points plus I made some grammar errors

[Stef]

Name: Stefan Klisarski
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Occupation: Graphic designer
Marital Status: Dating
Kids: No
Hobbies: internet, music, cinema, reading, drawing, meditation, tennis, self-improvement, hiking, deep & thoughtful conversations, introspection

It's hard for me to pinpoint an exact date on which I started this journey of self-actualization. It's ironic because I was cynical about the idea of self-help/self-improvement...basically my entire life. I had nasty eating habits, was consistently consuming junk food, never working out or playing any kind of sport. Basically I was a lazy, unmotivated slob. However, I remember that summer 2014 I met a girl which I was immediately infatuated with. Now, girls and relationships were always one of my main inspirations (I've dreamed of having sex with hot girls since I can remember). Not that I was particulary bad at it but I didn't really have a lot of experience (my views on the matter were pretty idealistic and naive) and was basically a virgin. So this girl...I wanted to become the best version of myself for her. That's when I got serious about NoFap, started adding positive habits to my life and one thing led to another. It didn't work out with the girl, however I managed to pick myself up and an year later here I am.

Personal challenges I've overcome:

• Neediness of women. I am fine and happy by myself.
• Fear of (failure in) sex and really intimate relationships.
• Unproductive porn and masturbation habits are more or less a thing of the past. 
• Was out of shape. I exercise regulary now, am more physically active and also attending yoga classes.
• Social anxiety and fear of being judged. Still struggling but getting there.
• Low self-esteem issues. Granted, I'm still working on that but I feel way more comfortable in my own skin.
• Closed-mindeness. I'm way more open to new ideas or different world views. I don't automatically dismiss something just because I disagree with it initially.
• Bad diet. I'm more aware of the food I'm consuming. Trying to be a vegetarian for short periods of time.

What I'm working on now:

• Finding my life passion
• Becoming financially independent 
• Emotional stabilty
• Getting better at dating and (especially) sex
• Being an all-rounded individual
• Reading all the books I should've read a few years ago
• Being less messy and scatterbrained. Being more focused.
• My sleep schedule

Edited February 8, 2016 by Neuroticon

[Kaslex]

Name: Kasper Lexberg
Age: 19
Gender: Male    

Location: Oslo, Norway
Occupation: Music Producer
Kids: No
Hobbies: Music, being creative, the nominus, meditation, flowstate, mastery, playing piano, nature, psychedelics.

I got into personal development in 2014 after doing mdma for the first time. From there I started reading about ego death and I thought it was too interesting to let it be. And 1 day I stumbled upon spiritual enlightenment thru Actualized.org. back was 17 I had agner problems and I was also diagnosed ADD. I had real  concentration problems at school and would get lost in thoughts. I was known as the silent kid in class so I dropped out of high school each year. During that time I did not have many friends and was really shy. I got obsessed with producing music. The only thing I felt like I mastered. Which I am still doing to day. Now I make music everyday.

Personal challenges I've overcome:

• Real Anger Problems
• Finding a Life Purpose
• Could not concentration, Was very shy, introverted.
• Learning music theory and Piano
• Drug abuse
• Quit cigarettes
• Enlightenment experience.
• Social anxiety 

What I'm working on now:

• Working on enlightenment
• Working on improving my ability to see consequences of choice.
• Dealing with my mother that has alzheimer disease and major metal problems.
• Working on Mastery 

Edited February 9, 2016 by Kaslex

[NickOleksiak]

Name: Nick Oleksiak
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Location: USA; Cincinnati for college, born and raised in Detroit
Occupation: Full Time Student studying Commercial Music Production (I write a LOT of music)
Marital Status: Single
Kids: No
Hobbies: Self-improvement, Writing Music, Voice Over Work and Singing, Working Out, Optimism, Motivating Others

I've been into self-help for 2 years, though I was leaning towards self-improvement starting in high school. I have Adult ADD of the Inattentive subtype. I've had problems with focus in school that have bogged down my grades, though I still achieved a 3.5 GPA at the end of high school. I didn't have my ADD diagnosed until 2014, so I was fraught with self-loathing about my strange brain since late elementary. I was a shy, unhappy teen honestly.

I also have moderate Misophonia, a rare disorder that causes me to have strong physiological reactions to certain sounds, such as chewing and coughing. It's caused me a lot of inner turmoil.

My Freshman year of college was very rough. I resorted to isolating myself in practice rooms (since I'm at a music college) over night so I could sleep. I missed many of my classes. I started delving into over the counter medication, particular DPH, or Benadryl. I abused Benadryl every night for a good month. I got up to 15 pills when I finally snapped out of it and sought help from a professor. He helped me to the campus Psych center, where I would eventually lead to me getting my ADD diagnosis.

Leo was the first self-help guru I stumbled upon. I found one of his videos about Negative Thoughts and their life impact. I've also delved into material by Brendon Burchard. I took Brendon's "Motivation Manifesto Online Course" and bought his book. That helped me find a few other individuals on the path of self improvement.

I'm currently a much happier individual. Despite some recent family issues, my overall mood has been optimistic. I'm one of the more outgoing people within my group of friends, a huge accomplishment for me.

About my music:

I was born with the gift of absolute (or perfect) pitch. I have a ridiculous memory for chord progressions and melodies. The gift naturally led me down the path of writing music. It's my greatest passion, and I'm pretty good at it. I also love voice over. While it's currently only a hobby, I will be incorporating it as a means for future income along with my music making. I had a first VO gig over the recent Winter holiday and received my first check!

I also love animals. I worked at a local Detroit animal shelter last summer. It was my first 9 to 5 job. It helped show me that I can conquer my ADD and keep on a regimented schedule. For some schedule may be a cage, but it's a godsend for me!

My parents are luckily fully supportive of my self-improvement and are proud of my advancements so far. My mom delved into self-help when she was a young adult and taught me many great principles when I was young. One of my goals is to surpass her in her level of personal development. I'm very young, and I know I'll have an amazing, fulfilling life!

Personal challenges I've overcome:

• Issues with self image
• Shyness, for the most part
• Weened myself off of OTC meds and alcohol
• Self-deprecation
• Eating most organic food, lost some body fat
• Learned weightlifting

What I'm working on now:

• Improving my craft of music
• Authenticity
• Voice over
• Improving my attention span

Update: Thank you, Leo-sensei, for the reputation point~

Edited February 23, 2016 by NickOleksiak

[Kyle]

Name: Kyle
Age: 21
Location: Boston, MA
Occupation: Student (Computer Science major)
Marital Status: Single
Kids: None
Hobbies: Making and listening to music, meditation, reading, journaling, basketball, weightlifting, hiking, art

I first officially got into self-development about 2.5 years ago with the aim of improving my social skills, especially with girls. I soon learned that beyond this one topic, there was a whole world of info out there for me. I started to watch videos (this is how I found Actualized.org) on pretty much every self-development subject and applied what I learned in real life. Since then, I've made major leaps in all of these areas and have gained a lot of wisdom along the way. I've made habits of meditating, reading/audiobooks, working out, and journaling daily. I'm amazed at what self-help has done for me in just the small amount of time I've been involved with it and I never plan on stopping. 

Personal Challenges I've Overcome: 

• Social skills, such as confidence, authenticity, not caring what people think of me, not seeking attention
• Lost 60 pounds and gained muscle
• Started to take on good habits and morning routine
• Ended toxic friendships and learned that you and the people in your life should bring each other up
• Learned how to produce music

What I'm working on now:

• Finding an amazing girl for a relationship
• Issues of procrastination, and indecisiveness (trying to become more of a leader)
• Cutting out bullshit food, TV, alcohol, marijuana
• Trying to figure out how to combine my computer science knowledge with my love of music
• Increasing awareness even more (trying to eventually become enlightened)

[QandC]

Name: David

Age: 19

Problems I've had:

• Extreme self-image problems

• Generalized anxiety, Social anxiety

• Being too skinny

• Narcissism, OCPD

• Anger-issues

Problems I've solved:

• No self-image problems anymore. I find myself wanting perfection though all the time, which has fed my Perfectionism, but rather that than the self-image problems tbh.

• No anxiety anymore (unless I've got a competition or something), no social anxiety, I've pushed myself beyond my comfort zone so many times so now I'm free as a bird and really social whenever I want to. (Although there's always a voice in the back of my head telling me to be nervous for some reason. But I don't listen to it)

• Cured anger-issues because of meditation. Also cured OCPD a bit, but still have some of it left, it's just in my DNA I guess.

• Not too skinny anymore, I'm athletic and lean.

–

Interests and goals:

• Meditation, Enlightenment, Self-perfection/actualization.

• Finding my life purpose

• Enjoy being alive

 

[J. M. Wigglesworth]

Name: J. M. Thomas

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Location:  Dallas, TX

Relationship Status: Single

Occupation: Full-time student and Apprentice writer.

Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Long walks at night, playing Osu!, butterfly knife tricks, deep introspection.

Summer four years ago. I was a freshman but believe me when I say I didn't feel the slightest bit fresh. My depression was better than it used to be but still lingered like slugs in a salt shortage. I didn't really talk to people about this, in fact I didn't even know where to begin. That was a lie. I knew where to begin: the Internet. First it was binaural beats. Then hypnosis and subliminal messaging. I discovered the infamous 'documentary' "The Secret". It perked me up alright, the Law of Attraction shindig but it made me neurotic. I dropped it looking for something else. I found it in the form of Owen Cook from Real Social Dynamics, Eliot Hulse. Infinite Waters. Tony Robbins. ET the hip-hop preacher. Brian Tracy. And finally... our beloved Overlord: Leo Gura! 

I watched video after video. Hours, days, weeks, months immersed in theory. Then I dipped my toe into the water, rolled it around in my mouth. Smelt it. Tasted it. Then I dove in. And then I jumped right back out. After a year or so of dithering. I solidified my convictions and started really embarking on my journey.

Challenges Overcome:

A typical, terrible western diet to eating vegan for two years sans junk and junk that pretends to be decent food.

Awkward, stumbling teen to socially aware and unhinged from societal pressures.

Took a wild child of a mind and relentlessly trained it in creativity and self-introspection and understanding complexity.

Seriously started on the journey of becoming the person who can fulfill his dreams.

Beat out a lot of pointless negativity and a mild depression from my brain.

Works in Progress:

Mastering the Writing Craft.

Shoring up my lackluster meditation routine.

Finally starting to exercise again.

Trying to master the application of yin and yang in regards to my energy levels and achieving sustained flow states. 

Becoming much more deliberate and consistent travelling my paths of mastery.

Trying to achieve higher quality sleep.

Edited February 10, 2016 by J. M. Wigglesworth
Forgot to add my story :)

[Sargon]

• Name: Adam Sargon
• Age: 39
• Gender: Male
• Location: The Hague, Netherlands
• Occupation: Working on it
• Marital Status: Married
• Kids: No
• Hobbies: enlightenment, meditation, Yoga, personal development, reading, learning, healthy eating

I stumbled upon self-actualization and enlightenment in the late 1990s. I was into defensive style martial arts at the time. I was very self conscious and had self-esteem issues. The father of my sensei (a man in his early 80s) always started the class doing crazy postures that I later discovered was Hatha Yoga. I picked up my first book and the journey started. I eventually came to realize that Yoga is not just a form of exercise, but a practical guide to enlightenment. However, it wasn’t until last year (2015) that my practice really took off. I came across an online course called Inner Engineering by Sadhguru (a proponent of the Yoga method). I also came across YouTube videos featuring Sri H. W. L. Poonja (Papaji) and Mooji, his disciple (proponents of the Self-Inquiry method), and of course Leo. This triad of thinking really put my practice into full gear. I am incredibly grateful for the discoveries of these people.

Personal Challenges I have overcome:

• Used to be very shy, introverted, and socially awkward
• Use to have low self-esteem
• Cleaned up my diet, now eating mostly vegetarian (thanks to my wife who is a vegetarian)

What I’m working on now:

• Enlightenment
• improving my health & diet
• Finding my life purpose

[Ann Brown]

Name: Ann Brown

Age: 61

Gender: Female

Location: GA, USA

Occupation: Retired

Marital Status: Widow

Kids: 3 Adult

Hobbies: Gardening

I actually stumbled up on Leo while searching the web for ways of letting go. I watched the video Four Ways of Letting Go by Ajahn Brahm on You Tube and one of Leo's videos was listed. I fell in love with his presentation style and the information and instruction made sense to me. Depression, low self esteem, lack of life purpose are some of the main reasons I wanted to get Into personal development. I have shared some of my story in my journal that I have never been able to express to anyone. I have been doing personal development about 6 months. It seems that I am the oldest in this forum, yet I am still alive, and I want life to be the best.

Personal Challenges I Have Overcome:

1-Typed this page. {hate to type}

2-Joined a gym, attend 3 times a week.

3-Meditate daily at least 20 minutes.

4- Shared personal information on this site.

What I Am Working On Now:

1- Acceptance, letting go of the past, living in the now.

2-Awareness

3- Peace throughout this life journey no matter what is going on.

 

[Klandine]

@Naneschka Hello! I'm intrigued. Nice to meet you!  

[krazzer]

Name: Kaz van Wel
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Location: Alkmaar, The Netherlands
Occupation: Web developer
Marital Status: Married
Kids: A boy is in the making 
Hobbies: Webdevelopment, Books, Bodyweight fitness, Hiking, Meditating, Improving my own life

I'm just (like everybody else on this planet) trying to find happiness. I always think hard on how I can improve my life. I always think long term. This has led me into personal development quite naturally. But it really went to another level around the age of 25, short after when I met my now wife. Before I met her I was addicted to porn and sex. My whole life revolved around that. It affected my personality very heavily and my wife really struggled with it and almost left me.

I started working on myself and quit watching porn cold turkey. I changed a lot and became a much better person to be around with, and it kickstarted my desire to improve myself in other areas of my life. Quitting porn made me less craving dopamine hitting my brain and I started eating healthier and spend less time on the computer and more with my wife. I'm still not fully free from porn but it's way less than before and I can be honest about it now to my wife.

Personal challenges I've overcome:

• Porn addiction
• Sex obsession
• Social anxiety
• Obsessive gaming
• Switched jobs, which really scared the shit out of me
• Started a business

What I'm working on now:

• Working towards financial independence 
• Growing my own business so I can eventually quit my job
• Minimalism
• Enlightenment
• Preparing myself to be an awesome dad

[PetarKa]

Name: Petar

age: 15

status: single

occupation: high school

hobies: working out, science, (sad to say-not many hobies

At first I listened to music like Eminem & found his life story. I got more & more engaged in this as time went by. I found one of Leo's videos (don't remember which one) by chance & after that I felt something bigger  was waiting for me, something I haven't even imagined yet. I started pers. dev. a year or two ago (hard to define) & was focused on imroving my social life & anxiety. I continued onto my physique.

Accomplishments:

-imroved my body greatly (from skinny to machine)

-moderate progress with dating, socializing & friends (no anxiety, but I've hit a platto)

-improved my mentality & openmindedness

Working on:

-one whole year of pushing my comfort zone (Leo's vid- 1 simple rule for acing life)

-developping unstoppable confidence, becoming extremely extroverted, dominant & energetic

-continuing to develop my body into a lean machine

•I expect this year to be amazing & nothing less! I expect this to be a big breakthrough in my journey!

[Christopher Cant]

Name: Christopher Cant
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Location: Bristol, UK
Occupation: Self-/Unemployed Artist
Marital Status: Single
Kids: No
Hobbies: Painting/World-Building (not exactly a hobby at this point), Livestreaming, Cycling, Weight lifting, Personal Development

I started writing what I felt like was the full story, but it ended up being too long, so I'll make a new thread for that.  I'll just say that I found Actualized.org and RSD in the last year, but I have been teaching myself how to improve at specific skillsets for the last 7 years, and I have felt a huge amount of personal success.  However, the vision I have for myself has exploded into something massive, and I am going to keep working and building myself bigger and bigger.  I feel I have to create something huge and inspiring, and leave a giant footprint on the world.  Also, I currently live off the benefits system, but I don't feel too much shame any more; it has been a huge part of my journey.  I am actively pursuing financial independence.

Personal challenges I've overcome:

• Built my technical skill as an artist to a crazy degree when I really consider it.
• Mostly beat my crippling issues with self-image and confidence
• Learnt a lot about weightlifting, bodybuilding and paleo nutrition
• Mostly beat my doubt, guilt, embarrassment, shame, for being within the benefit system.

What I'm working on now:

• Eliminating Perfectionism
• Building myself an income
• Expanding my vision
• Minimising procrastination habits
• Something I find myself calling 'becoming socially powerful'
• Resuming a healthy relationship with exercise and weightlifting

What I hope to tackle in the future

• Social Dynamics / Pick-up
• Educating other creatives on how to self-actualize

Edited February 11, 2016 by Christopher Cant

[Khin]

Name: Khin

Age: 21

Occupation: Student

Location: Lancaster, PA

Hobbies: Drawing, meditation, Enlightenment work, personal dev. work, Helping others

Marital Status: Single (Never interested to be in relationship)

Kids: No

LOL! Back in 2008 and 2009, I was killing some flies in my back yard. with broom! Come to think of it now I was really wild. Didn't know anything about anything. Nothing at all. But that day, I saw flies died and thought about myself. I asked, do I want to die? No!!!! So why am I making others die then? Will I die tomorrow? In a week? In an hour? I realized that all is possible. I couldn't sleep and eat for months. I cried in my bed thinking about me, my parents, people I love would die too. Knowing that anyone could die at any moment. It was really painful torture. From that on I stopped killing. I don't even kill an ant anymore. I started to go to church and asked questions about God because they said he can save me from death. Then, I was sent to a temple. Never wanted to go but had to because of MOM! I was only fourteen. I meditated everyday there and understood many things. Since then I have always been into enlightenment works. In U.S. I found Leo's video on the day I lost my job. LOL! funny thing was instead of depressing, I was actually happy to see his video because listening to the truth was MORE valuable than everything else at that moment for me.

I've overcome:

Overcome fear of death

Able to accept the reality

Emotionally stable: decrease anger, No depression, Not too much happiness

I'm working on:

Nursing Degree (For Family)

Finishing my responsibilities (For Family)

Cutting all the ties (Basically Family)

Cutting out bad habits

 

 

 

[Jesper]

Hello everybody!

Name: Jesper de Jong
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Occupation: Software engineer (self-employed)
Marital Status: Not in a relationship
Kids: No
Hobbies: playing guitar, photography, personal development

I got into personal development around 2000 when I did a number of courses from Landmark Education, which my brother had pointed me toward. I learned a lot there, but it didn't really make me work on personal development for the long term. A few years ago I did a few other courses, from CSA. Again, I learned some things, but I also noticed that I was mainly learning theory, and I found that I have an enormous amount of resistance to actually practically applying what I learned.

Some areas of my life are going great, and some areas are not going well at all.

Work is going great. I'm very confident at work, and ever since my first job when I was 24, people always quickly viewed me as a valuable and knowledgeable expert. I made a big change in 2009, when I started my own one-man company. I'm very happy now working as a freelance software developer. I like my job and my income is great (although it won't make be financially independent), but I'm also trying to figure out what I can improve in this area. The main thing that I don't like about my work is that my income is tied directly to the amount of time I put into it (I am paid by the hour).

What is not going well at all is relationships. I've been without a relationship for a very long time and I've convinced myself that that's something that is not for me, that it doesn't fit with my personality, and that I have no idea how to get a girlfriend. I know those are limiting beliefs, but knowing that ofcourse doesn't make them go away. This area is where my biggest challenges are.

Personal challenges I've overcome:

• Starting on my own as a freelancer
• Used to be Mr. Nice Guy, trying to please everybody and not expressing myself - I'm slowly getting rid of this
• Doing fitness on a regular schedule and not skip even if I don't feel like doing it

What I'm working on now:

• Being more "out there" in my work life: started a blog, going to present at a conference in two weeks
• Making changes in my work so that it is not tied so directly to my time (I want more freedom with time)
• Finding out what my life purpose is
• Committing to really get into personal development for the long term
• Overcoming resistance to apply the theory in real life
• My biggest challenge: getting a relationship with a great woman

 

Edited February 11, 2016 by Jesper