ZenSwift

Here's an update. I went and got a job as a wildland Firefighter, fighting forest fires. I was very happy because it was 100x better just sitting at home, plus it was an extremely challenging job. So I appreciated the challenge. Even though I had to work extra hard to keep up, and I had to stretch an hour every evening on top of a 14 hour day to keep up, I was thankful for the opportunity. People could not understand why I was so happy all the time, especially given the rough nature of the job. After about 3 months of working, I ended up being taken off the crew because I didn't measure up. This was absolutely devastating as I've been on a streak of being let go from jobs for one reason or another. Luckily I didn't lose employment completely, I was moved to do odd jobs in a warehouse. And a couple of other different jobs in between. I was pretty bummed out about getting separated from the rest of the crew, I took a big hit in the pay having to switch to the next job, making half of what I used to, but I at least I still had some employment. During that time I had a few hours after work, because instead of 14 hour days I was working 9 hour days (8 hours with a 1 hour lunch break). So I had time to focus on the Life Purpose Course again. And I read 2 Life Coaching Books. I finally had some routine and time to focus on myself a bit. I also learned that the job as a Firefighter was not only a physically unsafe one but a very emotionally unsafe environment. Creating a dog-eat-dog environment of boys where you never felt really emotionally supported, you basically had to become very callous to survive the environment of all men. Much more than any job I've worked before in oil. ⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛ I've come up with a more direct life purpose statement. In 2019 my life purpose statement was: I teach people how to Understand themselves to create a Peaceful mind and a Passionate life. Now it's: 🟡 I Energize and Clarify Minds through Speaking, Igniting Confidence to Live A Fully Engaged Life. When it comes to visualization, I've noticed that I can tap into emotion far more easily when I imagine people gathering to hear what I have to say. And I get that feeling of being honored that people are giving me their time (their most precious resource) to listen to what I have to say. 🔵 Zone of Genius: Speaking 🔴 Domain of Mastery: Public Speaking. 🟢 Ideal Medium: Speaking to Crowds. Top 10 Values: ⚪ Health ⚪ Courage ⚪ Leadership ⚪ Personal Growth ⚪ Focus ⚪ Clarity ⚪ Freedom ⚪ Positivity ⚪ Peace of Mind ⚪ Connection ⚪ Health - Feeling good in my body and in my mind, sustained across time. ⚪ Courage - Taking right action aligned with my values when it is difficult to do so. Speaking and acting from the heart. ⚪ Leadership - Exerting my sovereignty onto reality. ⚪ Personal Growth - Challenging myself every day to be one step better than yesterday. ⚪ Focus - Being profoundly intentional with everything that I do in my life. ⚪ Clarity - Seeing the big picture, allowing myself to lean into the present moment. When I have full clarity, I am able to lean into the moment fully and just do the next thing. ⚪ Freedom - Disciplining myself to create sovereignty of mind to have control over my life. ⚪ Positivity - Seeing all the pain in life for the gift that it really is. ⚪ Peace of Mind - Feeling content to just enjoy this moment in front of me fully, no matter what I am feeling. ⚪ Connection - Creating a deep rapport with others such that I feel understood. 🟠 Strengths: Strength #1: ⭐ Perspective wisdom Strength #2; ⭐ Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness Strength #3: Curiosity and interest in the world Strength #4: Bravery and valor Strength #5: Creativity, ingenuity, and originality Strength #6: Zest, enthusiasm, and energy After the Season of Working in Wildfire, I traveled to Rishikesh, India for a 200h Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Program. The Kundalini Teachers were very good and knowledgeable, the meditation and Aryuveda teacher seemed pretty good, the Hatha Yoga teacher was very knowledgeable, the anatomy teacher was knowledgeable but had no lesson plan, the Pranayama teacher was terrible, and I didn't learn a damn thing from the philosophy teacher. None of the teachers were communicating between each other, and the school didn't create any cohesive linear lesson plan. So you'd run into scenarios where teachers are unknowingly repeating something said in a previous class. And other teachers wondering why we haven't covered xyz yet. The people organizing the school did not care at all, did not keep a good standard of cleanliness, and overall through many ways showed that they didn't care. I was ready to leave after the first 10 days. But I hung in there, finished the three weeks, got the certification, for whatever that was worth, then went on traveling through India. With plans to visit other countries as well. With new plans of my mother likely joining me on my travels because it worked out that way with her work. I detail my travels a bit more in this update: ⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜ I noticed that I have to always be in an environment where I'm needed, and where I feel engaged and challenged. Unless I have a full roster of clients and events to run, it's not in my best interest to be without a job of some sort to show up to. I feel like I need people in front of me to be motivated a lot of the time. Until I create that structure for myself, I feel like I'll have to rely on already established businesses and organizations. I find that my brain goes into a very intelligent and creative mode if it is fulfilling the needs of others. If someone wants a presentation on something, I'm highly motivated to put something together and present it. ⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜ I definetly appreciate @Shodburrito thoughts on this. And I think he's right that I'm not yet conscious enough on what's the best for me in how to live my life properly given my kind of brain, personality, etc. And only through massive experience will I uncover that more. And one very important thing is to choose something definite and just see the goal through entirely, even if it's choosing the wrong thing, it's far better than not choosing anything at all. I remember Leo's video on exposing yourself to new experience detailing that you have to gain experience in creating something truly valuable. I have yet to complete a good size project that brings lots of value to people. Like a presentation, or finishing writing my book. Leo's video on how to become decisive was a very important video with helping me make a decision to pick up a job doing firefighting. And then Leo's video on exposing yourself to new experience played an important role in influencing my decision to travel. Along with it making the most sense to travel in my life at this time, many things lined up you could say. Plus I was in no good zone of productivity going back to no other job after the season finished. Going forward, my plan is to travel for 2 more months, then hopefully come back to a job that'll expose me to new experiences, facing the benefit of being needed, and having a routine. Then getting very intentional about my skill building of being a professional motivational speaker. And I for sure want to get the iPEC life coaching training. The money is already spent in my mind.

SHOKZ OpenMove Bluetooth Wireless Headphones These are bone conduction headphones. You can use with earplugs. I think there's even a version you can use with for swimming. Been using these for years.

Okay so here's an update: I've been to Dehradun, Rishikesh, Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Indore, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Mumbai, North and South Goa. Next is Gokarna, Hampi, and Banglore, then Kerala if it still makes any sense. I did Bhaang in Udaipur, which is a THC edible. I was high for 2 days. Not fun. Horrific trip, but I survived. I think I might post the trip report. I went to Kumbh Mela. Did the holy bath, went on antibiotics for 5 days to save my life after that. I wish I did at least two days there, rather than just one. My original goal with Travel was to expose myself to as much experience as possible. In the spirit of Leo's video: Expose Yourself to More Experience. Now, just being somewhere on the opposite side of the world does a lot. But I'm feeling like I've maxed out the gains of just being somewhere else, I need to look for deeper experiences. Since Varanasi, I've been pretty bored. And it even started back in Pushkar. I enjoyed it a lot more when it was rougher. I've noticed I really don't like areas that cater to tourists - - it's very hollow. Also I don't feel really challenged anymore. It's more of the same. In Goa, the beach is nice to look at, it's nice to get in the warm water, but that gets old after 2 days for me. The whole sitting on the beach thing is not my jam at all! At this point, I miss working on projects like writing my book, building my skills, I want to be contemplating things, expanding my consciousness. It all feels like distraction being here! Deep career success, Awakening success, and relationship success is what I'm after now. I do want to look for some dating experiences as well. As I am now in the south where it's a lot less conservative. And I really do like Indian Women! I am also considering using hinge premium dating app in addition to being very intentional about going out and talking to tons of people. Perhaps I'll be significantly more successful with socialization here because I'm a unique foreigner? I've noticed it's challenging trying to make friends when you're moving around a lot. Moving around is in a way me surveying the landscape to see what I really like the most. Then when I find a spot I really like, I'll come back in the future and just spend a month there, writing a book, and I think I'd enjoy finding a routine of working on my craft, socializing, eating well, and enjoying nature. I realize I appreciated the experiences of walking in the villages the most. Untouched by tourists. When you're in a place where people meet a foreigner for the first time, it's something special. People want to shake your hand, take photos with you, sometimes they'll even buy you a meal or some tea. Plus prices are not artifically raised for you like they are in the tourist areas. I've also noticed that the rougher it is, the more radical the living situation, the more it is challenging to survive there, the more I'm out of my comfort zone - - the more rewarding it is. When I see some rough shit, I have a renewed appreciation for what I have. I do plan to still go to Thailand, Vietnam, Phillipenes. And my mother happens to be joining me for that. As it just lined up that way. So that could be a great bonding experience. I also believe I'll grow more when I get back home as well because I'll get that contrast once again. I've had a lot of stress I created for myself worrying about the money I spend while traveling. Being too conservative with my money caused me lots of unnecessary suffering. The way I've remedied this is by asking myself: "Will spending this money help me grow?". That gives me permission to not get so worked up over things costing money.

Been listening to Leo's music playlist for Years now. When I first listened to it, it was a breath of fresh air to have a playlist where EVERY SINGLE SONG is a hit! All these songs now have serious sentimental value to me. I have done lots of tips to them, I've driven in beautiful places with them, lived life alongside them! https://www.actualized.org/insights/leos-music-playlist https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFfM65xLnO-GI1fYqup85SgJcC_d9vq3_ What's your favorite song from the playlist? For me it's Oneiric by Lazerhawk. I used to make music playlists myself, sorting through thousands of songs, and it made the most rewarding playlists. But I haven't done that in several years. I definetly want to reconnect with that! I highly recommend anyone reading to try this hobby of playlist building out! You won't regret it! I'm totally interested now in seeing any additional music playlists that Leo has put together. And for that matter, to those reading, perhaps use this thread to share your own contemplation/tripping playlists? Anyways, thanks for sharing @Leo Gura!

Leo, as a student that dreams of developing the ability to teach like you, I deeply appreciate you sharing your slideshow that you reference for your talks. ❤️ https://www.actualized.org/insights/lower-vs-higher-perspectives-slideshow-part-1

Yay Leo!

@Samsonov thanks for the tips! I'm learning lots of stuff on reading people's intentions! I'll keep note to get into a Routine, especially when I go down to the South.

@Samsonov thanks! I'm still confused about what the hell to actually do! 😂 Other than just walking around the cities!

Beat me to it! @mmKay Since Leo's postings about theft, and combined with my travels in India and learning about the scams that are everywhere, I have become extremely interested in the whole topic of scams and Theft. It is SO fascinating! Makes me excited to hear what Leo has gathered.

@Porphyry Fedotov I plan to visit all over. Rishikesh, Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Etc.

https://www.actualized.org/insights/automatic-love Dude, this post inspires me so much to get MY ASS INTO GEAR with contemplation. I feel like I'm either 1) Too busy with survival, 2) Too Distracted and scattered with other things, 3) Too Lazy, 4) Too unable to focus on important things when I DO have time for myself. One Day I will figure out how to focus this mind of mine! I want to Collapse every duality in Leo's "Understanding Duality" videos through contemplation. One Two Three I want to exhaust all the points of pre-modern, modern and post modern ideas Leo has listed. I want to contemplate deeply all these deep Questions of life to fruition: How the fuck is anything possible? What the fuck is anything? Where the fuck did I come from What the fuck is consciousness? How do I live the best life? I want to awaken to Every facet listed here and then some. I want to Do 300 Trips on 5MeO. I want to Gain Mastery in Motivational Public Speaking. Not to mention integrating deep insights from videos on topics like Happiness. And I want to Decimate Leo's Book list. Along with Decimating my own book list. So much things I want to do, so little ability to focus. I swear at this point it is my life mission to change that. Anyways I felt passionate writing this all out.

@Majed definetly for sure gotta do pickup there!

I pretty much use this forum to read what Leo says, read trip reports, read articles that catch my eye, perhaps read some other really conscious people, and post my trip reports and post on specific things to seek guidance on.

I look forward to meeting Jesters

✅

@Cocolove So I've concluded that the supposedly safest way to go about heavy metal detox and to do the challenge rounds is to see how I do with a low dose round of chelation, and work myself up to a good dose or chelation rounds, and when I can manage that, that is when I go for a challenge test.

I've been studying Heavy Metal Detox deeply and I have been running up against this unresolved issue. First Question: @Leo Gura, when you did your first provoked urine test, was that the first time you had the chelator DMSA enter your body? Or did you first test to see just how your body would react on a smaller dose? For me, taking 2100mg of DMSA right out the gate seems outlandish if I don't even know how my body will react to even one pill. Wouldn't it make sense to try doing a chelating round and see how my body handles it? And perhaps if it's going smoothly in day one, I could do a provoked urine test on day 2? Second, less important question is: When you test yourself, lets say after 20 rounds of chelation, do you do a Provoked Urine Test or just a Normal Urine Test?

I basically did 4 months of detox by working a job where it was so many hours, so busy and it was so remote where I actively chose to use it as an opportunity to detox completely. Here's my suggestion for you. Definetly do the detox. But if you plan to reintegrate after, may I suggest a much more intelligent reintegration process. Because much to my surprize, the addictive behaviours went back to usual as nothing happened. But I will say I have definetly noticed a huge positive rewiring away from the instant dopamine hits. Definetly felt the positive of rewiring my brain from taking that much time off of the dopamine hits. But don't assume you're then immune to an addiction. Similar to an addiction to alcohol, once an alcoholic, always an as alcoholic. Always got to watch yourswlf like a hawk and have systems put in place and much more abundant things in life to pursue to replace the shallow dopamine hits. Book to consider: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. Where he discusses a 1 month process of detox and then an intellegent reintegration with technology with developing a personal philosophy with why you're using any of these potentially distracting devices/apps.

"Would you like butter with that popcorn?" At the movie theater. "Sure". The butter is $7. Proceed to watch a shitty movie. Serves me right for trying to have a popcorn and a soda, felt like crap after from the food and the movie! So glad I got a lovely reminder as to why I don't buy popcorn or drinks at a movie theater anymore. And why I check the ratings first.

Currently I've dropped my place to live at home because I had a job working away the whole summer. I am lucky with logistics.

Obviously there's no guarantees with anything in reality but I'm curious to see what you guys on the Forum have to say about India. I would like to travel to India for a yoga practitioner retreat that will last for 2 months in Rishikesh, and then I would like to travel to southern India, exploring around, backpacking, along with possibly even visiting Thailand as well. I'm looking at a three to four month trip of solo travel. (I also have never traveled solo before like this. I've flown to a few places in the USA alone but that's about it.) - A colleague of mine mentioned that she reads the news and is worried about me going to India for fear of me being caught in the middle of World War 3 or some similar dangerous conflict. So that is why I come here to get your thoughts. Let me know about your thoughts on: What's going on in and around India today? What are the chances of it being safe versus unsafe in the upcoming months? And Furthermore: What are some great resources to help keep yourself safe when traveling solo in a new country? How to avoid getting conned, scammed, taken advantage of, etc. (I will study Leo's video on the topic as well.) Please share with me all the resources and insights you got.

Bumping for interest.

I find myself reading your blog often. Really good mind expanding stuff, I appreciate that. If I didn't already saturate myself with other learning stuff I'd sit down and go down the full rabbit hole of each of your posts. I loved the CIA podcast, and has piqued my curiosity/awareness to all CIA psychology related things. I recently bought this book called The Ellipsis Manual. Added to the shelf beside the other 70 books I gotta read Been reading a lot more now. I like to average a minimum of 1h a day. But 1.5 to 2 hours is a sweet spot I want to establish. I am intrigued by the deep technical books on fundamentalism you posted about Funny moment: When I had a moment of huge resolve to get a water filter in, you just made a post sharing your water setup. A perfect synchronicity.

This Thread title has me smiling so hard lmao. Too funny

For me, I did SEVERAL trips just asking the question: What is Actuality? From there you'll begin to scratch the surface of realizing that reality LITERALLY is just ISing in front of you, appearances happening to nobody. Appearances grounded in itself, grounded in Nothingness, being itself as an infinite shapshifting fractal. Figments of consciousness literally just existing as they are on their own with nothing behind it., No "How" is needed. It is just A=A. I personally just scratched the surface of this myself, accessing stats of consciousness that the whole show of reality is just happening within the bubble of consciousness that I am accessing and forgetting how I'm generating right now. Accessing states realizing that all stories of why things exist are just stories and contexts projected onto reality to fool myself that spontaneous existence isn't just happening right here.