VioletFlame

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.

@Emerald haha seriously..thank you for that because it's so true! I struggle accepting this as well. How do you feel about this? Like honestly, I would really prefer a man with high integrity and empathy functioning but apparently that is a far-fetched fantasy to own. If the man wants "variety" then fine, he can go get it. But to "cheat" because he "craves variety" is just a lame rationalization which can only stem from blatant greed. That's like condoning a child to consume all the candy in a candy store, saying "it's ok because that's just what all kids want", even though you know it's not healthy for them and that it is gluttonous and has numerous consequences. If a man's unsatisfied and desires something new, then he should grow the balls to tell her and leave. It is cowardly to cheat. It is corrupt, way over-rated, and even glorified at times. Loyalty and "object constancy", on the other hand, is something special in today's society. So rare that it is now being portrayed as some unattainable or fantastical dream. It makes me wonder if there is even any point in working together towards a committed relationship if this is the way most monkey minds think?

@Jacobsrw Thank you very much! ☺ Art Therapy is amazing too! It's quite mind-boggling to me how all of these self-expressive methods of healing (art, music, dance, etc) have been utilized and effectively working for millennia, yet they're only recently being taken more seriously as an efficient tool for healing and personal transformation. Music Therapy actually aims to integrate ancient Eastern healing techniques such as pranayama, mantras, automatic writing/free association using lyrics & sound, and other mindfulness strategies in a given session, which I find quite pleasing. I mean singing and chanting in itself is quite a meditative tool. Diaphragmatic breathing is a mindful, conscious process which calms the nervous system and eases you into an active state of presence. Singing is also one of the most powerful ways to stimulate the vagus nerve, the main parasympathetic nerve in the body and controls our heart rate, lung function,etc. Stimulating the vagus nerve has been shown to alleviate stress, depression, and PTSD symptoms, overall improving our mental health. I mean this may sound fairly obvious or familiar, but even simply humming can bring us back into a state of homeostasis, renewal, and grounded-ness. It's very purifying for the body and soul indeed. ☺ "Catharsis" is one of my favorite words because catharsis often gives birth to one's revival. And music and the arts truly does have the healing powers to revive a person from their suffering in quite literally, miraculous ways. By the way, congratulations on completing your degree! You must be so excited ! I wish you so much more fulfillment, exploration, and Joy along the rest of the way. ? Thanks again for your kindness!

It's always best to dress presentably. You can never go wrong with dressing well and it's a fairly easy goal to accomplish. Cleanliness is a must but precision not so much. I've been with men who obsessed over their appearance more than some women I know and it turned me off. Perfectionism is not very attractive. But dressing well and expressing your own individual sense of style which seems to reflect or match your personality can be very appealing. Good luck!

@diamondpenguin Thank you so much! Yeah for sure, it is definitely an exciting Eureka moment when you discover what your heart genuinely desires. I believe searching for one's life purpose can be thrilling in itself, let alone when you finally access it; it leaves you feeling completely overjoyed. Thank you for reading and I wish you all the best along your journey!

@Leo Gura Thank you so much, Leo. Yes, after deliberately searching for careers which would align most with my passion, essentially integrating both musical, spiritual, and psychological elements, I was very excited to discover this one and it hit me pretty much right away that it was the one. It is a cutting edge, game-changing profession which is also very involved in neuroscience. It's been around since WWII but is only now beginning to really grow and thrive within the field of therapy. I am very happy to be working towards this path. Thank you again for your time.

@Leo Gura Hey Leo, thanks to Actualized.org and consistently following your content, I have discovered my life purpose/mission and I would love to hear your thoughts on this. I understand that any career field may have both its pros and its cons, including red flags, pitfalls, or for example, signs of insincerity, hypocrisy, and other forms of low integrity. I feel as though this boils down to not the field itself, but the people within the field operating on different levels of consciousness, or stages of development. I also understand that a career path may appear ideal to us on the surface but once we are actually IN IT, a different story may reveal itself. Therefore, I am trying to prepare myself in advance for anything that I may not be expecting or may not be aware of, simply because I'm not there yet, so that way I don't get too tripped up or disappointed when I am there. I would deeply appreciate any advice you can offer as I'm entering this career path of my choice and working towards it everyday. I truly believe Music Therapy aligns most with my passion/life purpose and I'm interested to hear your opinion on this and if there is anything I should watch out for along the way! Thank you so much for your time.

I live in the tiniest state of the country, where the film Dumb & Dumber was created. I doubt Leo would fancy coming here lol Again, I'm not sure if Leo would be down for this sort of thing but I really feel that it would be pretty sweet to attend some type of live Actualized event such as through a video networking platform to learn Leo's stuff directly and engage with the community more vividly.

Hi everyone my name's Hannah and thanks to Actualized.org and following Leo's advice for about 6 years now, I discovered my life purpose and am now currently pursuing my passion for Music Therapy. During Covid, I had to record a final performance video for school. However, during one of my practice sessions on Zoom with my professor, little was I aware that she had recorded me performing here and encouraged me to use this video for my final performance. So here is my rendition of the classic tunes Dream a Little Dream of Me by Doris Day and Don't Know Why by Norah Jones. I hope you enjoy and thank you for your time. ❤️

If you're not aware of this, Leo has videos about motivation and videos which support financial freedom and focuses on success, life purpose, working towards your goals and aspirations, and many more. The fact that Actualized.org even exists, and entirely for free, is a blessing and I believe it is already changing the world, making an enormous impact, and helping to transform many people's lives. However, it's up to the people to take it or leave it, and to grasp this material and apply it in their everyday world. It can only really change your life if you put in the work. If there is no work or practice, then there is no self-actualization, only stagnation, and/or disappointing results which seem to trigger this outlandish notion that Actualized.org is a scam. It's only a scam to the one's who expect results to fall into their lap without doing any of the work Leo encourages us to do.

Hey man! After reading your post, I felt called to share this with you. So I actually discovered this free app recently called "My Affirmations". It's pretty damn cool because it allows you to organize and group each affirmation into different categories. It also has this slideshow feature where you can assign beautiful landscape images to each affirmation and it will appear on your screen in the order you design. I find this helps me stay more focused on each one. In addition, it enables you to record your own voice speaking the affirmations. So you have the option to either hear nothing (or the background music it includes) and just read them in your head, or you can actually listen to your own voice speaking them to you which I found to be the most powerful and works most effectively for me personally. I hope this helps! ❤? Hannah

Hey guys--how do you feel about this idea? Of course it's not up to me, but I think it would be a pretty cool experience to attend a live virtual Actualized.org event/workshop of some kind and connect with everyone in this community more intimately. Just a thought--would love to hear someone else's opinion on this!

"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in" ~ Leonard Cohen "The wound is where the light enters you" ~ Rumi

Yes. In fact, I would encourage you to continue meditating, especially if you are considering taking psychedelics. Meditation is a brilliant preparation tool for not only virtually every situation or circumstance you encounter in life, but also for experimenting with psychedelics. Much Love ❤