VioletFlame

For me it means/conveys clarity. When I think of the word "aware", I think of being actively present and discovering clarity.

Being quiet, mindful, and fully present and noticing all of the life existing around me and recognizing its perfection as it is, even if some things may appear flawed. Try to evoke the feelings of Joy and Inspiration as much as you can. Consciously or intentionally engage in the things which give you the most joy and your God-State will naturally activate. I am a musician/singer/songwriter and personally, I find that playing or creating music transports me to this state almost immediately. Music is such a powerful source of God and a powerful tool for channeling one's God-State. Even just listening, dancing, or singing along to certain music can illuminate you, elevate you, and bring you to a state of total peace, joy, and radical acceptance.

We are practically already attached to our electronic devices. And this is gradually becoming more and more literal. Futuristically speaking, before we know it, we will start seeing people deliberately transforming into machines, for reasons which may seem "obvious" or "rational" to us in the future. Who knows, maybe a device implanted under our skin or in our brain will "cure cancer". However, many other problems could arise from that, increasing our vulnerability to other things. Hell, perhaps it could even increase our risk of some other random disease. It's just a matter of evolution and survival. We are becoming more and more dependent on machines and devices. To the point where we will need them just to function and survive. It's definitely a creepy thing. And virtually everyday I contemplate this and the future of AI, I watch people look down at their screens and I wish I lived in a different time period.

Most of the gems I've found in second hand shops has provided me some of the richest experiences of my life. In Sociology, there is a concept called "conspicuous consumption" which basically explains the consumer practice of ostentatiously purchasing specific "high-quality" goods for the sole purpose of displaying "prestige" or gaining status, reputation, or acceptance in society. This materialistic way of thinking and spending is very common in Western Civilization. We also live in a society which chases instant gratification and temporary thrills. In turn, this of course, disrupts our financial health and personal well-being. For me, a "high-quality" item is one which provides long-lasting joy, meaning, satisfaction, and sufficiency. Personally, I believe used goods provide just as much value, if not more, as new goods do. In a way, there contains a great deal of spiritual value in used goods. There is so much history and energy embedded in a used item. Think of when you touch or hold an antique; you can almost feel the historical energy attached to it. Depending on how powerful its energy is, certain objects can almost heighten your awareness of their consciousness. But to answer your question, I think people are just forgetting to align and integrate their values and understanding of real value with their financial decisions. Surface-level value may refer to how much the thing might cost. But what is that item actually going to do for you and how will it benefit you or improve your life? That's where the true value lies.

@ShardMare First off, good for you for being interested in self-improvement and personal development. You're 17 years old and that's a wonderful age to commence this journey. After reading through this post, one thing which came to mind is that perhaps you are experiencing information overload and bombarding yourself with too much stuff at once which is creating a chaotic energy. Philosophy, for example, is a massive tree with many branches and it can get fairly overwhelming to learn, especially if you eagerly climbed right up to the top of that tree without really looking at its foundation yet, or seeking to find what's beneath that tree; digging up what's underneath... Perhaps you're searching for a topic which can really inspire you. One which you can deeply and intimately connect with but haven't quite found it yet. It sounds like you could use a focal point to help ground you or a topic of interest which you can really sink your feet into. Maybe choose one topic to contemplate or focus on per week. Bury your heart and soul into that topic, and strive to grow familiar with the nuts and bolts of it, and then gradually work your way up to more complex, nuanced aspects of the material which you are studying. This will not only help you develop a deeper, more visceral understanding of the material, but it will also help stabilize your train of thought and ground your concentration so that you will ultimately feel more enriched and fulfilled from the learning experience. Hope this helps!

In my opinion, suicidal contemplation is entirely human. Suicide is fundamentally the deepest human conflict. And I believe most of us, if not all, contemplate this idea at some point in our lives. However, is it the answer or solution? No. Not at all. Depression or suicidal thoughts only appear "crazy" on the outside to those who lack empathy or true understanding for what are actually ancient/universal human emotions. In other words, they are normal to experience or come across in life. It starts to become an issue when these ideas or thoughts become more constant or begin to consume your entire mind or dominate your worldview. But even then, I wouldn't label you as "crazy". If anything, life is pretty crazy if you ask me! Personally, one of the things that's helped me in the past, is to create a safety-toolkit list of all the things which helps you find comfort, peace, and solace. I would focus on the simple, little things. For example, sipping on a hot cup of tea or coffee is something I find much relief and appreciation for whenever I am having a hard time. Taking warm showers or bubble baths is another great one. Listening to calming music, reading something that gives you joy, I have the Tao Te Ching that I often return to when I am feeling low and it always brings me to tears of joy and lifts my spirit back up; it literally gives me life. So if I'm having a rough day and I feel like the life is washed out of me, I will return to the things I know which feed me love & life. ❤️

@Leo Gura I've been reading tarot professionally for over 10 yrs and I must say that most people do not get what it's actually meant to be used for. Unfortunately, you may have come across some quasi-readers. It's hard to find a genuine reader out there. In the New Age community, some people are still stuck on this stereotypical notion that tarot is some fortune-telling game and should be used to "foresee" the future. That's bullshit. And it's a "needy" and shallow way of perceiving it. In fact, Tarot has evolved from that mentality and is now viewed as a self-exploratory tool. It should be used to help you with the present, current issues you may be dealing with or needing to confront. It may reveal certain information which may wake a person up or help them realize what they may be repressing, resisting, or holding onto which they may need to let go of. And it may also reveal messages which will inspire or help a person work towards their future goals. But the future is always changing, so it goes unspoken, and the cards themselves are like a guide to facilitate personal growth. The cards are an illustration of life and it's all based on Jungian Psychology and the Fool's Journey, which represents all of us. Most people who have come to me for a reading, who don't know much about tarot expect me to give them a concrete, "yes" or "no" answer as to whether or not, for example, their relationship will last or if their romantic interest has the same feelings for them. Most people seem to be mainly concerned with their romantic life or financial/career situation rather than the deeper, more spiritual issues. Of course I prefer helping people discover or actualize their passion, deepest interests, or life purpose through tarot rather than having to ever-so-gently explain each time to them that "it's best to work on yourself and focus on you rather than wait around for someone to give you the time of day." But it's rare that people approach me for those reasons. And I have helped clients; returning clients have brought me flowers and made me the most beautiful gifts as a way of thanking me for helping them see something in a new light, or get off their ass and work on their business, etc. This is why I established policies and clarified to my clients from the very start that I am NOT a fortune teller!! I am interested in spiritual counseling and I use the cards to help you interpret what is currently going on and resolve how we can go about fixing those issues. The cards give you clues. It's all about strengthening your intuition. Actually, it's all intuition; and everyone can learn tarot so long as they strengthen that intuitive muscle. So most people don't realize this but tarot is actually a tool for personal development. And personally, I think it's one of the best tools out there for developing self-awareness, introspection, shadow work, etc. And it's personally helped me in so many ways along my journey of self-actualization over the years. There is honestly so much to it but essentially, it's not really meant to be used to investigate the future. People want it to be that way, but that's just another escape from confronting the real current issues their not willing or ready to confront.

As it's good to be your own best friend, sometimes you must also learn to be your own best critic.

@Gianna Aw thank you so much! ❤️

YES.

Lack of intimacy. And I'm not referring to sexual intimacy here but the type of intimacy which looks like sharing, hearing, listening, and seeing another person and truly connecting with other human beings. She may have felt ignored or neglected for some time. Like anyone else, she wants to be seen and heard. She's seeking attention as a cry for help due to lack of true connection with others. It also sounds like she is having a hard time loving and accepting herself as she is. She must practice self-love to the point where she will no longer need external validation or outside approval and strive to build trustworthy, worthwhile connections which will help to build her and support her personal growth.

I saw a clip of JP in tears recently and you could really feel his pain. JP seems to exhibit high cognitive empathy functioning which not a lot of people have. When I watched him, I started to cry myself and turned over to my trusted friend and said "oh no, this time is taking a lot out of him; it's really taking a toll on him." This is due to his heightened sensitivity to societal and global evolutionary marks in history. He is genuinely crying and genuinely upset by the current state of human consciousness, Western Civilization, etc and it is because he has very high empathy. He looks at this generation and the world as a whole, and it kills him to see the collective suffering, angst, dread, or turmoil, to the point of tears. Same thing goes if he is describing something beautiful or profound. He may cry. This is tears of joy..again, caused by high empathy functioning.

@Realms of Wonder I totally hear you dude. That's been my dream since I was little and still is (subconsciously) a fantasy/dream of mine. Especially since I've been performing since I was 11 yrs old. (I was raised into a family of performing musicians!) but unfortunately, I realized that we live in a capitalist society and for now I have to make ends meet and all. But I made a deal with myself that I'd at least like to do that with a big smile on my face--making money doing what I love, and helping people heal. Essentially, I see myself and all Music Therapists as not only leaders, but true healers. And it sounds like so are you! While in school, I still regularly perform and seem to reach people through my music which is always my mission--to reach the audience on some level. I am happy because I am featured in local places and get to perform my original music and touch the hearts & souls of many and many more to come throughout my life and that is more than enough for me. And you know something? It wasn't necessarily easy for me to get to this point. Because I DID have this clinging dream attached to me, weighing on my shoulders, this big desire to gain recognition which seemed so heavy when really I wanted to feel weightless. I wanted to float along and simply play and write music because I LOVE to and it makes me incredibly happy. Without it, I probably would've been long gone a long time ago. But my mission now is to use music as a healing tool for others in the same way it helped me heal and recover from traumatic experiences along my journey. Music opens space for the subconscious to take over, for our emotions to spill out and make sense, and for cathartic release. Fame and fortune is not the destination for me. It's not what I really want in life. It was when I was a kid/teenager, I really wanted to gain recognition since I have been pouring my heart and soul into my music my whole life-- it only is natural to want to share it with the world. But one day I woke up and realized I and You can STILL do that. There are soo many ways to reach people through your music and one does not need fame and fortune to reach people and to make an impact on somebody's life. You could sing or perform a song to a neighbor who seems to be struggling with something and that very act could leave a memorable, inspiring and profound mark on his/her life. You can be a Star, as you are. You can reach to the top, starting now, from where you are; from within. Try to let music intrinsically motivate and inspire you as opposed to only extrinsically inspiring you. Once I realized the true reason why I love music so much, I realized it's not about chasing fame or publicity. It's about connecting with others and making an impact in some way through the music. Whether I excel at that while I'm on stage singing to a large group of people or singing in a clinical setting to one person, I will be content because the musical relationship I develop with each person and each client will be intimate. Not fleeting, but hopefully an experience which is life-changing and mind-altering for the individual. Fun fact: I was actually a high school walk-out because I chose to stay home and play my guitar, sing my heart out, and write music all day. In a nutshell, I never imagined myself to be going to college. But it was the mere discovery of this profession and of my life purpose which motivated me to go because my philosophy is like this; so long as you have a vision and are studying something which is heart-centered and centers around your life purpose, then it's absolutely worth it. If you're willing to put the time in, and if you have the discipline and patience and ambition to reach your end goal. I am actually minoring in Film Score as well. ? So there are many options for you to get your feet into the Music Industry. Practice. Practice. Practice. Until you can practically play with your eyes closed! Keep working on your skill and proficiency and recall your favorite artists and most influential musicians/leaders and consider them to be your distant mentors. Keep them in mind and heart. Learn as much as you can from them and their music. Gain inspiration as much as you can. ?

Waking Life! This is by far the BEST philosophical film I've seen so far. And one of my favorite movies in general. ?

You can actually evoke nostalgia. As in, it does not have to come to you like Deja-Vu. Have a heart to heart with your inner-child and ask them what gives them the most joy, exuberance, and exhilaration. Reflect on the things you enjoyed most as a child. For example, what was your favorite story, film, or song? Perhaps consider tuning into your favorite childhood song or watching your favorite childhood cartoon. Music is a powerful tool for unlocking nostalgia and evoking memories and feelings of nostalgia such as wonder and joy. ??

@Realms of Wonder Hi there! Great post. ? First off, I wanted to say congrads on finding your life purpose and passion. I think that's wonderful that you are following your calling. I too am a performing musician, singer/songwriter and I think it's so cool to come across other musicians and artists on here. ☺️ I have a question for you dude. Have you heard of Music Therapy? I am currently in my third year of college pursuing this degree and I can honestly say that I already see, just based on my overall mood and mindset, that it is totally paying off. So, in case you haven't heard of this profession, MT is the use of music, both receptive and active, to achieve non-musical goals such as social, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, physical, and yes, spiritual goals. There is an excessive amount of neuroscience behind music and its impact on the brain and how to utilize music to achieve therapeutic goals. So if you dig science as well, then this may be up your alley. Music Therapy ties into the study of neuroplasticity and how music is a tool for healing and facilitating the recovery of patients dealing with specific maladies, conditions, disabilities, mental and behavioral issues, etc. I will be working with the youth. However, Music Therapists can work with all age groups. I feel called to work with clients dealing with Autism, learning disabilities, social and behavioral issues, and mental illness. But you can also work with patients battling major conditions such as Dementia or Parkinson's. Which is something I may do further down the line. Aside from my overwhelming passion for music, I've also had a deep passion for psychology. So once I discovered this field of study, I was blown away and felt my whole body tingle and light up like "THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO" Lol I literally felt like I was made of light in that moment -- of discovering my life purpose. It just made so much sense to me. Did you know music is the ONLY stimulus which can activate EVERY area of the brain at once? Pretty nuts, right? And in MT, we are able to use music as the vehicle to stimulate neuro-pathways and create new pathways in the brain, creating better results. There is a vast amount of research and studies on how music has effectively enhanced or benefitted the lives of many who are suffering. I could go on and on but for now, in case you're interested, here is some research on MT. Some Music Therapy research: · Reduces pain · Decreases anxiety, depression · Improves speech/language rehabilitation · Improves physical and motor rehabilitation (improves fine and gross motor skills) · Increases respiratory capacity · Facilitates expression of feelings; fears, hope. · Increases socialization & acceptance of disability · Mood elevation For more information, I recommend visiting the American Association of Music Therapy. Here is the link: https://www.musictherapy.org/ I hope this has helped or inspired you in some way! Much luck to you on your journey! ☺️?

Hello everyone! My name's Hannah and I decided to make this post to hopefully encourage a bit of inspiration today. A few years back, having been practicing daily meditation and dedicating myself to spiritual/personal development work, I am blessed to share that I have discovered my life purpose! And so I thought it may be worth sharing a part of my story. For those who read, thank you, I very much appreciate it. ❤️ So having grown into a musical family; both musician parents who met in the local band they were in, I naturally gravitated towards music pretty much right away. Since before I could enunciate complete sentences, I was singing and uttering melodies, and by the time I was 11, I was writing songs, playing guitar, and performing in local coffeehouses and open mics, eventually turning it into my part-time job. I mean I was that kid who did NOT want to go to school and would rather be at home singing and playing the guitar instead. I was very quiet, distant, and in my own world and rather than playing sports, or being involved in social activities as a child, I much preferred staying at home in my room just studying and mastering the guitar for hours on end; with literally almost no breaks. So that is what I did. One may say most of my childhood was squandered because of that, (not interacting with other kids socially in "normal" ways and taking life almost quite seriously), but I shall not say that because I was simply just following my passion, committing to it, and immersing myself into it everyday. And because I found that it gave me great joy, fulfillment, relief, and understanding, I considered it to be some kind of calling at an early age, and something to focus on for the rest of my life. I can't express enough how much those long hours spent alone on just learning my instrument as a kid has awakened me, relieved me, and ultimately healed me from my own personal traumas, wounds, and suffering I was dealing with at that time. Some of my most beautiful, cherished, and deepest moments in life were spent in solitude, just sitting in the dark playing the guitar/piano, headphones on, and with my eyes closed, just demystifying the notes, and experimenting with different sounds and with the art of improvisation, and that that has brought me to elevated states of consciousness and a place of overall inner peace which I am beyond grateful for. Being in that active flow, almost trance-like state when playing/writing music became part of my spiritual practice, my spiritual healing journey, and most thankfully, my personal salvation. Once I discovered Music Therapy was a thing, I basically knew in my heart right away that THIS is what I want to do. And aside from music being my deepest passion since childhood, my second greatest passion was always Psychology, especially Jungian Psychology, so it really made perfect sense to me to pursue this path. In addition, because I have dealt with a great deal of trauma throughout my life, and discovered for myself the healing power of music and the incredible therapeutic affect it can have on us, I realized that I want to spread this truth; this remedy, and really, really help others, particularly the youth, with their own pain and adversity through the use of music. As a high school walk-out who resented school, I never ever thought I'd be going to college! But once I noticed my requirements to get into this field, I without hesitation, yet mindfully, decided to commence this journey. I believe that it is most likely worth it so long as you are certain or clear about your path and are passionate about the subject. Now, at 23, I am proud to say I am pursuing a double major in Music and Psychology, heading towards my degree in Music Therapy! I am very curious if there are any fellow music therapists or music therapy enthusiasts on this forum? It's been quite a long time since I've been on here but I would love to interact with other fellow musicians and Actualized.org fans who are involved in this field! Thanks again for reading and thank you so much @Leo Gura for creating such profound content and sharing such evolved wisdom with us. After watching you for years, and following your advice, and actively committing to it, it has greatly transformed and impacted my life in so many positive ways. You are deeply appreciated. ❤️

Out of all the people on this forum, I am almost sure there are extroverts. They are not a lost cause and have just as much capacity to self-actualize as an introvert. The question is how many self-disciplined extroverts are on this forum and how willing are they to commit and balance their social life with their solitary practice? I believe extroverts are more than capable to self-actualize, it's just a matter of shifting one's mindset. For example, an extrovert who is interested in self-actualization may be more focused on seeing external results manifest rather than internal results. And they may be more susceptible to distractions around them, making it difficult to ground into their intention. Granted, it may be easier for an introvert to commit to a practice of self-actualization but I wouldn't exclude extroverts or undermine an extrovert's potential to self-actualize. If anything, we should aim to encourage and support more extroverts to personally transform themselves when it may not be as natural for them or on top of their to-do list.

@Nahm Hehehe! Oh my goodness that is so funny and uncannily similar indeed. As nutty as this sounds, I recall my angst-y teenage self deliberately keeping some of the blood stains on my Fender Squier for aesthetic purposes. And also to sort of remind myself of what I'm made of I guess. Lol! Quite liberating, indeed. By the way, thank you so much for your kind words . Reading your comment truly lit me up, I really appreciate it.

@OctagonOctopus That's brilliant! Looks like I'm gonna have to give that one a shot next time I feel the urge to release and exorcise some inner-demons. Thanks dude! Lol

Hey man I just wanted to say that this is completely natural and I believe more people are doing this than they are actually willing to admit so thank you!! (Yes, I do this from time to time...hehe) Look, sometimes we just have to think out loud. And I believe that reciting things aloud rather than keeping them contained is really so healing and powerful for the soul. ❤ So even if you are chatting to yourself, fuck it; so be it! Become content with the uncomfortable. Explore thyself. Many times, when talking to ourselves, we are using the process of free association without realizing it. Personally, I feel that this process can really truly welcome in so much clarity, as well as active presence, and a strong sense of self-revival and renewal. And sometimes releasing our thoughts from a cage, is all we need to allow the truth to hit the air. Hope this helps! ~Hannah

Ah yes the joys of screaming/screaming into a pillow! Screaming in the car as you're driving down a discreet road can work wonders.

Sidenote: Resistance is often a major factor and it is parasitical. I recommend the book "The Art of War" by Steven Pressfield. It emphasizes on how to defeat resistance and overcome creative blocks. I tend to return to this book whenever I'm dealing with writer's block. Granted, it's a bit ironic to be reading a book about conquering resistance instead of actively working on the pursuit or endeavor haha. But it's a small book so it's easy to speed read through and the advice is very profound.

@Flowerfaeiry Aw thank you so much girl ? and I'm really glad to hear you discovered your newfound adoration for music. ☺ As much as I understand that feeling, I must assure you that it's never too late! And it's never too late to learn an instrument either if you were interested..or any pursuit for that matter haha

@flowboy Thank you for everything you said. After reading your words, this restores my faith a little bit. You know, one of the reasons why I date guys 10-15 years older than me is because well for one, ever since I was a child I felt (almost uncomfortably) older than the rest of my age group and that sensation has stuck with me my whole life. But also because well, I am a sucker for mature, fully evolved men who are honest and sincere and whom I can genuinely trust and discuss things with that actually matter. I also assumed that older men will embody their values, practice what they preach, and honor their integrity. But I've learned that that's not always the case either. It seems obvious but it's really a matter of how conscious and developed they are as an individual.