UnbornTao

Opportunism might be the antithesis of integrity.

What about a cooking contest? Or a race?

The ability to actualize, to make real, could be called mastery.

What's for dinner?

Rather than resisting difficult situations or seeing them as obstacles to avoid, view them as challenges--struggles that can open the door to opportunities and lessons, if you pay attention to what you're doing and making corrections.

What does a powerful presence entail and what does it take to develop it? Create a contrast between people with vitality and "zombies." Why do we fear vitality in the first place?

When you hold life as merely a pragmatic matter, it can diminish--and even undermine--your experience of vitality, intimacy, creativity, and all the other things that make life worth living.

Be increasingly honest and uncover your motives, assumptions, reactions, etc: What is my experience of X really about? Why do I behave the way I do? What is this (emotion, thought, feeling)? Is it true?

You're welcome.

"Life is a bitch and then you die."

Should have titled them "The Buddhist Myth" and "Meditation For Rats".

@Yimpa Has it already rolled out?

My first cup after having quitted for a couple weeks was one of the best ones I've ever have. Pollan drinks once a week, if I recall correctly. That might be a good option for you.

Moved to Pop-culture and Entertainment section.

Worth taking a look: List of epistemologists List of philosophers

I've been noticing for some time now the crucial role metaphors play in shaping our thinking and language. It's surprisingly revealing--and far more pervasive than we tend to realize. I'm planning to use AI to compile a list of metaphors that invent, define, and shape the ways we experience, conceptualize, and communicate reality. Here’s a working list: Everyday Metaphors: Jumping to conclusions Falling in love Splitting hairs Being blind to something (e.g., someone’s motives) Recovering time / Making up for lost time Seeing eye to eye Bridging the gap Turning over a new leaf Planting seeds of doubt Nurturing a relationship Weathering the storm Climbing the ladder of success Walking on eggshells Burying the hatchet Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel Dancing with the devil Playing devil's advocate Painting with broad strokes Swimming against the current Casting a wide net Walking a tightrope Sowing the seeds of discord Building castles in the air Climbing the walls Lifting the veil Time is money Food for thought Beating around the bush Letting the cat out of the bag Hitting a wall Keeping an eye on something Opening a can of worms Feeding an idea The weight of responsibility The flow of a conversation A window of opportunity The roots of a problem Climbing the corporate ladder The fabric of society A memory lapse The spark of an idea Bottleneck Cloud computing Emotional baggage Brainstorming Surfing the web Feeling drained Burning the midnight oil A heart of stone Breathing new life into something Spinning your wheels Biting off more than you can chew Going out on a limb Raining on someone’s parade Having a chip on your shoulder Burying your head in the sand Letting someone off the hook Being a couch potato Having a green thumb Pulling someone’s leg Cutting corners Hitting the nail on the head Passing the buck Biting the bullet Beating a dead horse Reinventing the wheel Going down the rabbit hole Putting your foot in your mouth Chewing someone out Giving someone the cold shoulder Hitting the sack Having a change of heart Making a mountain out of a molehill Breaking the ice Letting your hair down Having a blast Losing your marbles Spilling the beans Hitting the books Feeling under the weather Turning a blind eye Having blinders on Wearing rose-colored glasses Being in the dark Wearing beer goggles Seeing what you want to see Having a blind spot Living in a bubble Having tunnel vision Connecting the dots Gut feeling Butterflies in your stomach Stomach dropping Gut-wrenching experience Standing on your own two feet Being grounded Being open Being bent out of shape Straightening up Being fit / Being out of shape Being off-balance (emotionally or psychologically) ----- Time Metaphors: Time as a moving object "The years are flying by." "The holidays are approaching." Time as a stationary landscape "We're looking ahead to a bright future." "We're leaving the past behind." Time as a resource "I don’t have enough time to finish this." "We’re running out of time." Time as money "Don’t waste your time." "Saving/spending/investing time." Time as a container "We’re in a new era." "The meeting fell within the scheduled timeframe." Space Metaphors: Up = good / Down = bad "She's feeling down today." "His spirits were lifted." Closeness = emotional intimacy "They've grown apart." "They’re a close-knit group." Force = emotional impact "She was deeply moved." "His words struck a chord." Balance = mental/emotional stability "She’s a well-balanced person." "He lost his equilibrium." Obstacles = difficulties "We’re facing many hurdles." "She overcame great obstacles." Might read Metaphors We Live By by George Lakoff at some point—seems highly relevant.

The difference that turns life from a mediocre attempt at mere subsistence into an adventure of growth and learning is your ability and willingness to fully open yourself to your present experience and to contemplate it.

Haven't read it yet but How To Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci might help.

@Leo Gura According to Claude, you're an author: He has written books like The Job Myth and Meditation Theory exploring concepts around work, purpose, spirituality and meditation. So that's that.

Claude finally available in Europe.

VPN doesn't work for me.

Have you ever drunk alcohol? If you do now or have recently, obviously I'd quit that immediately, to start with.

Caffeine by Michael Pollan, recommended audiobook.

Yes.