juvoci

@Batman Very well said. Thanks, Batman! You are right.

Does anyone else feel trapped by names? Limited by names? Your first name? Your last name? The name of your business? A pen name? A stage name? Etcetera. Allow me to elaborate. When we (or our parents) choose a name, it’s a significant choice. Why? That name defines us, identifies us. And over time, we build a reputation with that name. Our friends and family know us by that name. Our customers, our readers, our listeners, know us by that business name, pen name, stage name. Attached to that name is all your triumphs and all your failures, at least all those done under that name. Sure, you can change your name, business name, pen name... but then you lose your reputation too, the good and the bad. You lose “brand recognition”, so to speak. When I first got deep into metaphysics and philosophy, I realized the limitedness and arbitrariness of names. Partially this was due to experiencing ego deaths for the first time. I didn’t feel like Juvoci anymore. I felt like this name limited me. It pointed to something much smaller than my consciousness. I didn’t want it anymore. I wanted to have no name. I wanted to be nameless. Either that, or I wanted to have infinite names, a new name everyday. I didn’t like the idea of having ONE name, and sticking to it indefinitely, as if that one name could really define me, identify me, be me. So my questions are: Has anyone else felt this, or anything similar? Does anyone know what causes this feeling, and what the solution might be? Of course, there is some ego involved here. An egoless person wouldn’t be concerned with this, but then again, if we’re being realistic, we all need names to operate in this world. Right? Imagine having no name. You couldn’t even achieve this legally. You would have to completely abandon society to achieve this. And imagine trying to start a business without a name. How would you market? How would you build reputation and brand recognition? But as soon as you choose a name, you’re stuck with it; not forever, but for a indefinitely long time, especially if you want to be successful, as a business, as a writer, as a musician, etcetera. @Leo Gura, do you ever feel trapped by your name, “Leo Gura”? Or “Actualized.org”? Do you ever wish you could change these names? Do you ever feel like these names weigh too heavy? Like they’ve accumulated too much history, too much reputation, too much baggage, too much ego? I’m just thinking outloud here, something I’ve been wondering about a lot lately. Names are fascinating to me: why people choose the names they choose, the influence names have, the baggage they can accumulate over time, the weight they can eventually hold. But clearly I haven’t cracked their code yet. Names fascinate me, but also confuse me, and like I said, confine me, limit me. So I’m super curious about any input y’all have on any aspects of this. Thanks everyone. ???

@JosephKnecht I think you’re missing the point of my post, but that’s okay. ??

Any thoughts on this?

@blackchair Speaks to your nonchalance regarding names! I certainly admire that. I sense that my extensive thought regarding names has benefits, but also drawbacks. ?? In some sense, Blackchair is as good a name as any! And your real name is quite cool too! I actually really like the name Juvoci, but no one knows how to pronounce it. And my last name is pretty lame and ugly, in my honest opinion. ?

@blackchair That’s a really cool name, actually! In my opinion, at least ? What is the significance or reasoning behind Blackchair, if there is one?

@blackchair But are you a public figure? Or aspiring to be a public figure? Or are you a brand or business owner? An entrepreneur? An artist? If you’re a low-key anonymous character, then yes, names and identities don’t matter too much. In that case, it’s just pragmatic. “People call me Joe just so they have something to call me.” But when you’re looking to be a public figure, a professional political figure or writer or public speaker or athlete, etcetera, then it’s a more significant and strategic decision. Thoughts on this, Blackchair? ?

@Mason Riggle Exaaactly! Thank you Mason, you understand. And see, it’s an important decision. These are important questions. But then, how does one ultimately decide, and commit to a single name? Because there is also the risk of overthinking the entire thing, which perhaps I’m past the point of. But then again, maybe 3 years from now, after I’ve chosen my pen name (the main reason I’m thinking about names; I’m an aspiring writer who hasn’t published yet), I’ll look back and be glad that I put this time and thought into it, rather than going with the first name that occurred to me. Or maybe I’ll think: “Wow, that was a waste of time. Should have just gone with my birth name.” Impossible to know, and perhaps it doesn’t matter either way.

Just another comment on my original post: Someone whose birth name is Francis Siobhan Petersburg might consider writing under the pen name Frank Peter. But see, there are opportunity costs for both names. If he uses his full birth name, Francis Siobhan Petersburg, then it’s a mouthful, harder to spell or Google-search, potentially more pretentious-sounding, etceteta; but if he uses the name Frank Peter, it’s less distinguishable, more “average joe”. Which name would be better?

@JosephKnecht Thanks Joseph! No offense, but I think this is too simplistic of an answer. I don’t think the founder of Staples was so much concerned with leaving a legacy for Staples, so much as they were concerned with quickly telling their customers what kind of things they sold. And I don’t think the musician Jack Johnson was so concerned about leaving a legacy for Jack Johnson so much as he was concerned about... just having a name to share his music under. And a writer whose birth name is Vile Peacock Semen will probably publish under a different name, not because of legacy but simply because... well, obvious other reasons. Some people may choose a name for the sake of legacy, sure, but not all, perhaps not even most. Also, I don’t think the desire to leave a legacy is necessarily a trap or a bad thing. The desire to leave a legacy can be selfless, if your legacy is for the benefit of others. MLK for example, or Gandhi, to use cliches. Their names now stand for things, and no doubt they were smart enough to know that they would. Is this delusion or an egoic trap? I think not. It’s foresight, forward thinking. If Vile Peacock Semen believes in equal rights for African Americans, he might change his name to Martin Luther King so that his ideas about equality, and his legacy, won’t be known via the name Vile Peacock Semen. See what I’m saying? What are your thoughts on this perspective?

@Mason Riggle Yes, Mason, exactly! People judge a name immediately, before even knowing what or who is behind it. And thus, choosing a name can be very strategic. But then again, there are very successful people and businesses with questionable names. Rae Sremmurd always comes to mind. Super successful music duo, extremely weird name with vague pronunciation. And there are many other examples. And then there are people like Sam Smith, Adam Smith, Will Smith, Dave Jones. Super successful, yet extremely generic names. It seems that with every name, there are benefits, and opportunity costs. So how does one choose a business name, or a pen name, or a stage name?

Hey Leo. In your recent blog post (2 Month Break Updates), you mention the apple "tree" of work that's needed to create the fruit, the "apple". Regarding that, I'd certainly be interested in seeing more of the "behind the scenes" of your research and video prep process. I think it could be an interesting way to expand your domain of education: Revealing a little about who you are as a being on Earth living day-to-day, and what it takes to organize content and knowledge the way you do, through a less formal vlog-style series. Perhaps on this site or on a second YouTube channel? Just an idea. Perhaps others feel this idea as well?

@Abdelghafar

Hey Leo. I am a shaman currently residing in the hills of southern Oregon. I may be able to help you heal your digestion issues. For success, however, you'll likely have to forget some of the things you think you know about yourself and about your environment. Feel free to message me at juvoci@gmail.com if you'd like to correspond. Cheers! @Leo Gura

@How to be wise It may happen quickly, suddenly, like a global awakening.

@Husseinisdoingfine People who use their phone extensively in their career and need the latest tech to compete =]

@electroBeam All is one.

@Brittany @ihavenoidea ^^^

@BlackMaze Thanks for the question BM =] With strength of character, I am referring to one's ability to be true to oneself. Examples: - Speaking what you believe, even when it is difficult (often called "speaking your truth"). - Being brave enough to change your life circumstances (like travel, quit a job, start a job, end a relationship, start a relationship, leave an organization, start a business, etcetera). - Being true to yourself, even when it means you might lose something (like a job or a friend or a spouse). - Not compromising one's principles. These a few different ways to basically say the same thing. I suppose strength of character comes down to bravery and integrity. Important to note, however, that strength of character alone will not suffice. Self-awareness is also necessary; because you can be true to yourself, but if yourself is evil, then "having integrity" isn't necessarily good. In fact, a brave individual with strong character who is not self-aware can be even more destructive. Cliche examples include Hitler and Trump, among many others. Does that clarify? =] <3

Watching this video in 2018 probably impacted me the most profoundly. I still remember the day vividly. It was "the straw that broke the camels back" so to speak, the thing which pushed me over the edge, between Tier 1 and Tier 2 of Spiral Dynamics, from green to yellow.

@meow_meow Over time, you'll probably lose interest in those low quality materials. The more time passes, the less you'll crave them. Also, consistently remind yourself why you choose to let go of such things. For example, I used to eat a lot of cheese, but my skin was always unhealthy. Then I stopped eating cheese and my skin became much healthier. Everytime I have an opportunity to eat cheese, I just remind myself: "Would I rather enjoy this cheese for five or ten minutes, and have acne for the next week? Or would I rather eat some stir-fry vegetables instead, and have healthy skin?" The answer is always obvious. In fact, just the other day, I walked into my office and my co-workers were eating pizza. I thought: "Damn, I'm hungry, and the pizza looks delicious." But I resisted the temptation, and felt great about it all day; especially when I look in the mirror and see how clear my skin is. =] <3

@Osaid Ah, yes, that too. Actually, great typing speed might be the most valuable skill I gained from playing so much Runescape. I took a typing test a few months ago and scored 140 WPM which apparently is extremely high.

After leaving university, I traveled a lot. I went to Australia, the Philippines, Belize, and then road-tripped around the USA for 2 years. Now I work for a small company that sells private jets. =] <3

What is the benefit of psychedelics? What is the problem with the mind pre-psychedelics? And how has the mind improved post-psychedelics? The problem with the pre-psychedelic mind is that it is closed, while the post-psychedelic mind is open: open to new possibilities, new perspectives, new ways of understanding the world. This is the essence of creativity. Creativity is a never-ending process. It goes on forever and ever. The opposite of creativity is stagnance: unmoving, unchanging, unwilling to grow. The wisdom of psychedelics is that they expand the mind. They push the mind into new territory. Now, granted, this can be scary at times. Unknown mental territory is similar to unknown physical territory. You can’t be certain what you’ll encounter there. You can’t be certain whether or not you’ll be safe. But if human beings had never ventured into unknown territory, then we would never have discovered this vast and beautiful planet. To use an analogy, and continue this metaphor... in my personal experience, the closed-mindedness of my pre-psychedelic mind is to the open-mindedness of my post-psychedelic mind, as nescient prehistoric cavemen are to super-intelligent multi-planetary aliens. =] <3