Barbara

@LastThursday Authenticity to me has a lot to do with how you communicate boundaries. And you can't possibly establish boundaries from thought, especially during an interaction, because it's all too fast and fluent. You would have to be connected with how you feel regarding what arises and communicate it freely and truthfully. In that matter, I might agree when you say authenticity is an outward expression since it's about what you communicate, and the purpose of it would be not only removing fear barriers but also express yourself coherently and freely. But, I don't think that being authentic is about others admiring you since that's something you can't control or focus on. At least, that's how I see it About vulnerability, It's really well put actually, makes me wonder that you don't have to make that invitation to anyone and that you might establish that by being authentic in communicating your boundaries.

@Elevated I see. It makes a lot of sense, actually Thanks for your sharing!

Why do you think that? Just questioning for the sake of curiosity to explore the topic. Not judging @Origins Really appreciate your answer, pal. You've enlightened me immensely already. I'll follow and do intuition-based trial and error from a place of connection. Not wanting to pester you, would you say that aiming to be relatable (sweet spot between relatability and authenticity), as mentioned above, would be about attention, connection, or both even?

@Origins It's true that I do care if others like me or not, and that has to be resolved. Resonates so deeply what you say about interacting from a place of connection and not attention. I'm just wondering tho, if it would change my vulnerability boundaries.

And also, what "success" there is to achieve, if its foundation isn't real?

@Hardkill I simply don't know what you intended to say with that.

This is sooo relatable Welcome to counterproductive relativism. I find it helpful to ground myself in intuition and feel. Pure rationality won't help you to make sense of the world. Here's this thread where amazing people on this forum just dropped out gems.

@Elevated Really cool videos, thanks for sharing! The second one is really cool and intense to watch. Great exercises. I'll definitely take on this knowledge and apply it to see how it goes.

@Hardkill How come?

I do get you here. But to me, looking for being relatable would damage the authenticity, I feel. But might be a solution. I would have to put it into practice and see how I feel. I don't. It's just a fear, based on perception. The problem might also be my definition of cocky. I guess it's a kinda scarce mindset, actually. I'll check the videos. Thanks! Good luck with your path mate @Qna Absolutely agree with you, but I did not say I was trying to be authentic. I'm just being and encountering some struggles in the way

@Origins Dude, always feel like I could read an entire book on what you have to say. But it's even cooler to see that you encourage us to get our own experience. Thanks for your golden input

This was life changing for me. Maybe it helps. Be more authentic! That’s the greatest love expression.

@tuckerwphotography That's a great video! And the asking men one is also really cool. As a woman, I don't feel like I need men. Because to need is to have no other option and I would say that I do have enough masculine energy within me, that often I really need to accomplish goals and be consistent in creating routines and so. I super agree with Teal here tho, that although I can fabricate it, it's not very natural to me and that can make me anxious and out of tune. With a man, I feel like a step out of a rigid and lead position and can let loose and surrender. I become very feminine with curvy, juicy, and creative energy. But that sometimes can also feel out of balance since it can become too much. So yea, even with a man, I always need to cultivate masculine energy, but in a way that only will help me grown, whereas cultivating masculine energy with no man around becomes more like a job, just to operate in the basic functions.

This is a great tool, especially when used from above (as Leo puts regarding criticism). These types of individuals will run away from assertive people. So, it's really valuable to learn how to be assertive. Thanks for sharing!

Maybe take breaks when feeling like it's taking energy instead of revigorating you

@Joelvs Also watch out for self-fulfilling prophecy @SamC Dude... shout-out to your profile pic. I fucking love Hilma af Klint. Do you have any resources about her that you would like to share? I would love to read as much about her as I possibly can!

@Surfingthewave I don't think that in an equal-parts relationship there'll be the manipulative one and the manipulated one, honestly. Normally when you feel hurt, you'll try to hurt your partner as well. Even if the two apologize sincerely for what they've done, later. Of course that, those dynamics are only normative. With higher consciousness, that would be predictable to happen less and less. And that would never be the case if there's some degree of disparity between the two. What do you mean here?

Regarding any type of manipulation, the best way for me to deal with it, is, instead of thinking "I'm being manipulated", thinking "I'm letting myself being manipulated". And I'm highlighting "deal" because this second thought is already proactive in itself. I'm not just stating that I'm being a target of others' manipulation, for the sake of denunciating it and feel pity for myself. Dealing with it means I want to resolve it and grow from it. With that said, when saying "I'm being manipulated", there's not much I can do about it, since I cannot control others. They'll just do what they want and the most you can do is telling them to stop or explain how that's affecting you. But that does not guarantee you anything. It's completely out of your control that they hear you or not. But when I say, "I'm letting myself get manipulated", I'm already focusing on what I can actually control. Myself only. This means I'm not putting my well-being and self-perception in anyone's hands. I find it helpful here, to work on self-image, self-love, and self-esteem too. This way, other people behaviours won't shape you. And this for me is responsibilization. Just owning your life. Not even bothering to think what others should or shouldn't be doing. I would only add tho, that if I trust the person who had a manipulative behaviour, I'll go ahead and tell her how I felt. But that's only for the puropose of not growing apart and would aply to two or three people in my life

For reflection: What’s your relationship with this forum? What makes you keep coming back? Is it addiction? Companionship? Validation? Some form of meaning, by helping others? Attention? How do you feel about social media in general? I tend to have a somewhat obsessive personality over things, so when I feel I’m coming here more than I would like to, I stop coming for a while. But since Vladimir left, I started thinking about if I’m taking advantage of this or drowning myself on the internet, looking for being entertained. I have an exam tomorrow so today is clearly the second one. I guess overall, I’m curious to see what you have to say since I see so many of you being so consistent here. What makes you coming back?

@Gesundheit yea, resonate with that too. Eheh

Have you heard of this? I think it can have a huge impact on the global economy and it's not being talked about that much. The World Economic Forum created an initiative called The Great Reset. They trace it within general lines and abstract concepts but from what is said on their website, it's hard to understand the concrete measures they wish to implement. They patterned up with every big company, like, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Emirates Group, a bunch of banks, companies from China, you name it, to develop "systemic solutions to key challenges" (what does that even means?). They talk about hot topics from tech to society, like 5G, AI, 4th industrial revolution, environment, new geostrategies, LGBTI inclusion, and many more. But still, I find it hard to grasp the concrete strategies they propose. Thoughts? https://www.weforum.org https://www.weforum.org/great-reset/ https://www.weforum.org/events/the-davos-agenda-2021

I believe that the “I” that doesn’t like this or that, is not the same “I” that knows that “everything is love”.

I really relate with this thought. Honestly have no answer worth sharing... Just thinking out loud: Doubting the insight we gained would not be the same as doubting the direct experience it’s self. With that said, I would say that the truth of an insight can only be “measured” by one’s intuition and not logically. So you can simply trust the insight, when you know it comes from a honest and authentic place. And if you’re doubting the place were this insight came from, that would maybe be a sign that the insight is not to be trusted. I guess that a nice rule of thumb would also be: “Is this a thought or is this intuition?” For exemple your question, that is also mine, “Can an in insight from direct experience be trusted?” Is a thought. So shouldn’t be trusted for itself. But if you deeply feel like questioning an insight per si, that could be intuition telling you maybe abandon to it. Anyway, don’t take me too seriously tho. I’ll be working on this still

@OBEler Is not on the table that she doesn't finish her studies? I believe that the pressure of having to finish it is actually counterproductive for her healing process and right now her mental and physical health are in the first place. That's what she should be focusing on first, I think.