Ulax

@Raze Any on friendships specifically?

@Raptorsin7 Glad to hear it for you bro. What do you think the cause was?

Love the vibe. You seem like a very caring individual. Looking forward to seeing your progress on this journal.

Nothing significant so far that I can tell. Although, it is hard to tell, imo. I'm realising there's al lot of charlatans in the field though. People who claim they are IFS therapists very misleadingly. The top dogs will have done training with the IFS institute, and have a certain level, i.e. 1, 2 or 3. However, some therapists will do a random ass course on it, or have literally just read a book. Fucking manipulative if you ask me. I'm starting with a level 3 IFS practioner now in conjunction with my current one. Who is a random ass course person. I'm thinking of dropping my current one soon tho. I only recently realised about all this charlatanism. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also, I'd advice going as high level as you can. Saw some worrying shit on an open-access IFS forum of a level 1 therapist asking for advice on how to deal with a client, re an issue she seemed to have no idea about. To my mind, that person has business being that person's therapist. Becomes the blind leading the blind. All the level 3 practioners seem to know what is up though.

This is gold

I've been trying desperately for the past decade to change my life through various techniques, and journeys - including actualized.org, therapy, meditations, pick up, challenging myself. However, I feel so much like I've missed out on life. I wanted so badly to be free of my mental chains so as to live freely during this time. And it is painful to think about all the things I missed out on. How do you guys recommend I cope with this? I guess grief, self-contempt, and hopelessness are the main things I resonate with currently. Thanks in advance

Haha that is wild!

Learn about the book from various sources. I.e. watch some introductory videos on YouTube about the book or content of the book. For example, if I was reading a Ralston book I would watch a load of ralston interviews before it. Also, I like audiobooks more.

@StarStruck Sick. Nice one dude. Wishing you well.

Hmmm interesting. I rate the determination btw. Have you tried mantra meditation? Have you tried Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)?

Something like the film 'Seven Pounds' (one w/ will smith) might be soothing for you.

I don't think these two things backfired. I believe backfiring is part of the nature of progress. I ground this in my belief in the Hegelian dialectic of historical change. My understanding is the Heg. dialectic of historical change works in the following way. Progress/ change always occurs in the following way: Thesis-> Antithesis -> Synthesis. Thesis = New idea permeates culture/ society. I.e. Lots more rights for women Antithesis = Polarised reaction to the thesis permeates culture/ society. I.e. The rights of women have gone too far. Synthesis = Culture/ society is permeated by a compromise between the thesis and antithesis. I.e. Some of the new rights to women are tweaked or revoked, and new rights for women are made with more understanding of their impact on men.

The following is my two cents. I'd start my enquiry into answering that question by saying: It depends what you mean by islam. I'd first question. Is there an essence to Islam? Might I simply say Islam is an arbitrary conceptual category. Perhaps, I might then say, What do people generally mean when they refer to islam? I might then look at people in different countries and look at what they generally mean when they refer to islam. ----------- Personally, I'd then probably embark upon a sociological exploration of why people describe Islam in the way they do, and how they relate to islam in their personal lives. I really like internal family systems Therapy (IFS), and it is the theory which I base my theory of mind in. So, I would likely read about the history of Islam, and the contemporary literature on practice of Islam. Then understand it through the lens of IFS. -------------------- However, I'm pretty dyslexic, so I can't read reliably. So, when you read, I would like you to read with gratitude ;).

I'd personally hold off on the psychedelics. I'd look into Internal family Systems therapy (IFS). If you have issues with funding the treatment, feel free to say so, and I'll tell you how to get free/ reduced cost depth therapy. A couple other questions: 1) How do you find reading? 2) Do you feel many emotions? I.e. are you numb? Are you sometimes overwhelmed by them?

Unfortunately, leo used a lot of videos in his blog, and site that were powered by vimeo. Leo did a post recently about how vimeo essentially stopped powering the vids, and would only do so again if Leo agreed to a dramatic increase in subscription cost. Poor dude lol.

Funnily enough, many people actually get attracted to avoidant people. It recreates their childhood. Trauma bonding is v common.

@StarStruck What sort of things are you thinking about?

I was wondering what people's perspectives were on what this means for me. I'm not currently involved in those fields. (I do law/ philosophy). However, I'm thinking it signals a disowned part of me that really likes those creative fields, but hasn't yet embraced those. What do people think?

try do nothing meditation and check if you have adhd

I second this

Meh, make your life well rounded

Dammmm sexy guy

I'd start doing some body based mindfulness with labelling. I believe it will likely help you deal with the withdrawal effects. And, yes, coffee is a hell of a drug.