aklacor727

I have spent the past few years consistently reading and watching self help and spiritual books and videos and feel as though I have a pretty solid big picture understanding on the areas I can further grow myself. However, there is so many different areas with potential for growth lol. I know it is recommended to only focus on a couple at a time. I have been dabbling recently in shadow work, and realized I have somewhat suppressed my emotions so I'm going to start with emotional awareness meditation, and working to integrate and resolve past traumas associated with this. I am looking for tips on how I can stay focused on just implementing a couple of different aspects into my life, without getting distracted by the others and going too quickly or jumping from one thing to the other, idea to idea. What do you find is helpful for staying on track with your short term goals, and not getting too all over the place with things? It's hard for me, as reading and listening to this content is a hobby I enjoy, however with all of that that I do, it's hard to stay focused as I'm always reminded of the other areas for potential growth.

To those of you that live mostly from Being perception or cognition, how does that look or feel in instances when someone close to you is struggling and comes to you for support. You see their self deceptions, ego, projections, denial, blame, shadow, etc... if you are in full acceptance of that, how does this translate to action, in terms of helping them in a healthy way. My friend has been putting alot of blame outwards and resisting looking inwards. I see others kind of strengthening her self deception and ego in a way that it further puts blame outwards. I haven't had much to say recently because I don't want to feed into those deceptions, but I do also want to be supportive. I also figure this can be a way that I can practice and further embody "being perception." I don't really feel myself "needing" her to be different or change, but I do of course desire happiness for her.

Out of all of leo's content, one of the hardest pills for me to swallow was his insight from the radical implications of oneness video where he goes into talking about how you have and will experience being every one and everything...aka I will have the experience of being a murderer, rapist, pedophile, etc, every perspective possible... definitely had resistance hearing that and kind of put it to the back of my mind for a while. Over time as I've kept growing and deepening my understanding of oneness, when I come across people that I notice are very different than me, I remember that video and I start envisioning myself being them, and really feel what it would feel like to be them and see life through their eyes. Then remember that I am actually them ? It's odd to think about. My spiritual progress has been kind of slow, but slowly as I allow myself to accept things like this in my present experience it has really increased my empathy and ability to love and accept all beings. I even do this now with animals, I can't even really help it. The other day I caught a mouse in a catch and release trap and I felt like what it should be like to be stuck in there, when I released him into a field I pictured myself being that mouse running off being relieved to be free but also scared about being alone out there and away from its family now. I feel like a dork admitting this lol Anyway, just one way ive found myself integrating and remembering some of the things Leo's taught into my every day life. Anything you guys find yourselves doing? What would you say is one of the main points of Leo's teachings that you've found yourself resisting most?

@Leo Gura definitely working on that integration still...I have acceptance and compassion for evil knowing that it stems from a lack of consciousness/their own version of love..but would not want to intentionally cause it and can't say that I am to the point where I love it. I still have alot of work to do in this area of unconditional love... after reading the comments here planning on rewatching your series on love to see if I can connect the dots more for myself..

Been almost 2 years that I've been single and completely turned off by the type of person that in my past I would have been drawn to... hoping my past pattern with that has finally transcended and gone full circle! After the last long term relationship that was back and forth for 5 years, dated two different people that displayed the same characteristics, broke up with each of them after realizing this... just completely turned off by this behavior and I believe that shows how much I have grown and healed. Though I'm in no rush and happy being single, I hope that eventually I can find a healthy person to enjoy my life and time with...!

Has anyone else not incorporated a daily meditation habit into their life yet? I do feel somewhat guilty and self judgmental that I haven't, because I am aware of how helpful the results will be in my life. One of my main struggles that I hope to overcome is my social anxiety. I just want to feel comfortable and at ease in these social situations. I notice myself in my head alot rather than being present, which then feeds back into the anxiety because if i am not focused and fully present that obviously causes me to not be able to include myself in the conversations as much, from not always even knowing what is going on since my focus is so all over the place and in my head. Every so often i wonder if i do actually have ADD, i have been like this for as long as i can remember even as a child. I do recall a traumatizing social situation as a child, very early like kindergarten, so alot of it probably did stem from that. Not really an issue during one on one interactions (i am actually a hairstylist so i do a lot of that) or when i am with people i am fully comfortable with. This is much moreso an issue in group settings. Anyway. I plan to quit smoking cigarettes when i finish the last few i have left, and will be replacing that habit with a serious commitment to daily meditation. If i can succeed at this, it will seriously be amazing for my life. Please wish me luck on my success...and i am always appreciative of any advice. I have also been reading one of leo's book recommendations Mastery, so I am hoping the awareness and wisdom from that will help me succeed even more on developing and maintaining this habit.

@ttom SO much helpful information there!! Thank you ?

@ajasatya Just being honest.. ? thank you for your wisdom and support and taking the time to respond to me

@ajasatya very true, i definitely agree with you on that. I do notice myself reasoning and justifying myself out if it, for other reasons as well. N i know deep down part of the reason why i made this post is because im scared its just going to be another failed attempt. But i am hoping to learn from my past mistakes

@ajasatya in all honesty, and i know this probably sounds dumb lol, the combination of my brother living here, and having an obnoxious dog has been a major deterrance. I used to just put my dog in my room and meditate out in the living room but now that my brother lives here it'd be awkwardness. I can do it in my bedroom and put my dog out of my room with a gate blocking him from getting to my door and scratching at it. So not that its stopping me, just more of a hassle and deterrance that makes it not as easy and organic of a process of actually sitting down to do it than i would like. But thank you for asking me that, actually writing out my reasoning makes me realize that it actually shouldn't be that much of an issue lol

@ajasatya very true... i definitely don't want to fall in that trap, as i have in the past with other attempts on developing certain habits to achieve certain results. But i do have goals, and my main goal in life is becoming the most fulfilled version of myself that I can be, and I know meditation will be a huge stepping stone in that direction.. My hope is that eventually i can do meditation moreso just for the sake of enjoying it. But yea, initially my main motivating factor is hoping to overcome the anxiety thing i mentioned

@Jonac thank you, and yes absolutely...i definitely have a past of maybe being a tad too results oriented, and from the book i would definitely set myself along the lines of the obsessive type lol. I really liked how in leo's video on intro to meditation he stresses that with a 20 minute daily practice the only failure is not doing it. If you do it, you have succeeded. Even if youre sucking at it lol which i fully expect myself to be at first.

Hey guys, is there an easy way to get a list of the worksheets/ homework assignments for the videos? I don't think so because I searched but figured I would double check. ? I know some of his videos he posts the link for the actual worksheet to fill out, then there is the homework that he just talks about and a lot of times I'm driving while listening so can't write it down for myself, then can't fully remember what the assignment was later on and can't easily find in the video where it was he talked about it... If theres not, I wish there were a way to access those at our leisure, conveniently. Would be super helpful on keeping on better track with this journey and growing for sure..also a good go to when I'm bored and want to do something more productive than just throwing on the tv! Just hard to keep track of them

For me, unconditional love stems from the deep realization that everyone is at their own point in life, and they are really doing the best they can at their present level of awareness and current life situation. Judgment, blame, and hate will do nothing to help the matter. Full acceptance of what is, patient loving kindness, understanding and presence may. Compassion for the fact that this is a real hard world we are living in, and it is not difficult for anyone to fall into a dark place. Most people do not know how to get out. Be their light rather than adding to that darkness