Max_V

@Mondsee Exposing awareness. So for example when you strip away all your identifications, beliefs and assumptions, what will be left? Same way in do nothing, after a while thoughts get slower and eventually stop all together with full acceptance. What is left when there are no thoughts?

@Azrael I've had this too, but in addition I wake up every 2 hours and have different vivid dreams, sometimes I have 5 different a night Do you have any idea why I have this?

@Visitor Man, I'd like to have such a mentor aswell! Totally exposing your fears and being honest seems like something I really need

@Afonso I'm going through the same phase right now. This too will pass :), just watch the toughts go by. Meditate without expectations, without goals. Just sit

@ArasH Ye there is a lot of dogma in the nofap circle. It certainly helps to go into it, but it doesn't solve problems and psychological issues. It might accelerate certain development though, since you get so much energy that you once wasted. Cool you got to two weeks, I've never gotten past the 7 days mark . I'm certainly giving it another try now, since everyone here gave me some good points, and help.

@Principium Nexus Good luck!!

@Hero in progress Watching shows really, thats the only things that's left. I've cut out all the other stuff I really like watching a good show though, I get so immersed in the characters, the story, etc. Normally this doesn't cause anything, but I've been watching a lot more than usual.

@Hero in progress That is beautiful <3 I'm in a difficult period right now, I am attached to entertainment and I feel so much turmoil inside of me

@Hero in progress I've had one, it was one that lasted for about a day or so. So nothing too big. Before I experienced the hell that comes with a resisting ego. Physical pain, Emotionally and mentally overwhelmed When I got past this though I felt all identifactions drop, and a huge peace was inside my heart

@Loreena Yes, I went to do an intake with a psychiatrist. The first question he asked was, " So, you have anxiety problems?" I said " Yes, I believe so.." Then after that he asked me if I was autistic, if I had a specific condition, I said " No, nothing extraordinary." He finished up with, " You are not someone I can treat. Fear is part of life, some have it more than others." Then he said he could prescribe me medication, but that's all. After I said I had nothing out of the ordinary, he treated me a different way, like I was not good enough for him. I mean isn't all this so wrong?

@JustinS Be very careful though, if you dive in recklessly you mighy overwhelm yourself to such a point that it is traumatizing, again, I've made that mistake too Be very gentle and slow with it. Be sensitive and notice when it's becoming too much. Then focus on the breath and stop untill it feels valid to go again.

I've had this a lot too. Still experience it sometimes. For me it was fear that I tucked away in the past coming to the surface. That is sometimes not only on a mental level, but also a physical one. When you allow yourself to experience it, however bad it feels, it will slowly subside and leave you with beautiful peace. GL

@Principium Nexus I've tried to but once I get passed the 5th day mark, I have this building up of sexual energy that is just too overwhelming. It makes me sick, I have this huge pit in my stomach

Then what would be the natural number? @Shin Once every 3 days, Once a week, Once a month? I'd like to do this aswell, but it is particularly hard for me since I'm still in my teen years. I've managed to cut out porn though

@Hero in progress Well enlightenment or awakening is always peaceful because that is it's very nature. It's the ego's resistance that can make it hell

Well I eat meat because that's what I get served on my plate every evening when my mom cooks dinner. I feel like they already adapt a lot to my Personal Development lifestyle, so it feels quite bad to ask my mom to not make meals with meat in them. I know the benefits of going vegan from Sadhguru's book, and I plan on definetly going vegan when I start living by myself. The real enlightenment work will start for me then and there too.

Ye that's a good idea! I do it too, except for his more rambly type videos, like the one about happiness in succesful people. That can be an exception.

Ah you are from the netherlands, cool! Succes man!

Haha, you are getting caught up in mind stuff. During the do nothing you just let go of control. Just watch how everything passes by

Make friends with your thoughts, be compassionate. It is a part of the body you inhabited after all. When you realize you are awareness observing the thoughts, it does not matter that they exist. You just have to create space, then your thoughts are nothing more than just passing clouds in the big blue sky.

Adyashanti talks about this in one of his podcasts. Fear, Gatekeeper of Awakening. So what he mainly talks about is that there are two types of fear. Psychological fears Existential fears -Existential fear is normally the fear that comes with the practice of spirituality. The fear of emptiness, The ego clinging to wanting to be something. With this fear, it is almost always the case that when you face it, and look at it for what it really is, it vanishes. Easier said then done, but it is possible -Psychological fears on the other hand are somewhat different. These fears need a different approach. You shouldn't completely dive into it everytime you notice it's there. If you do so, you risk that you retraumatize your system again. This can wear you down psychologically, emotionally, and even physically. So with this fear you have to be sensitive, and kind. Slowly deal with this, little pieces at a time. It is also possible that this fear is so deep rooted, from a childhood trauma for example, that it needs therapy to overcome it. All in all, it is very important you identify which type of fear it is you are dealing with, so you can respond accordingly. This is something very close to me, since I have an anxiety problem of my own which I'm working hard at to grow from. So I can sympathize with you. I wish you the best of luck with this, deal with this in a sensitive and loving way

Thanks a lot to all of you guys!

Suddenly I had this realization. I've been alive for 17 years already, it was over with the flick of a finger. It creates this fear that I have to do valuable things every day, every hour, every minute, otherwise this life is wasted. Whenever I watch a movie or simply do nothing, I feel a neurotic tendency to do something. I want some relief of this, I want to be able to give myself space so I can relax once in a while too. How do I create this within myself

When you tap into Being, boredom will just disappear. So meditate, be mindful, wake up

Well if you neuroticly motivate yourself to play, then it's not something beneficial. But if you put your heart and soul into your music, and be mindful of the sounds you are creating I think this is something amazing. If you strive to increase your consciousness, it does not mean that you have to give up all the hobbies you had before. It means you can try and do them with more presence, which will make the activity more fulfilling too! Good luck on your journey m8