Pythagoras

for additional demonstration, consider this video, in which a drone with a camera observes itself in a mirror: when your mind encounters itself in a reflection - it doesn't freak out and say, "where are my arms?" it simply says, "guess I'm a flying drone now."

I recently had this insight. of something controlling without a limited size/shape/boundary such as our body or mind... Nor do they have specific knowledge of what they're connected to... is this ego? It seems unchecked they simply scan for opportunities to spread, and extend as far as possible. It obviously works best through our nervous system and muscles, but with tools and networks, it's able to spread in many more ways. You can see it in personalities when people, heh especially families, try to control others, or change lots of opinions with propaganda, leadership or other social control. Or when people build lots of machines to operate on matter around them and factories. Or when they produce lots of art, architecture or hell even this forum? Think about those experiments where people feel pain from a fake limb generated by a mirror, personify and anthropomorphize random objects or even stoned people becoming aware of their limbs or fearing their limbs are out of control... Is this ego? or simply the growth of the universe? I sense it around "me," this attempt for my own mind to extend control as far as possible - and i feel it competing, as if its outer tendrils are searching out others like roots to stake out territory. But it's not all harmful, I'm cautious to judge it at all... if i cook someone a meal, i accept that... it's as if there's some set of conditions that make it benign or malignant... any comments?!

My thoughts on Noots after about 4 years of exploration: 1. Remember noots tend to treat people differently from one another. This is one reason they're not as mainstream, as, say, aspirin. I will give examples for myself that differ from most. 2. Build your stack one noot at a time. Use other peoples' stacks as a reference, but don't take all new things at once. Take the time to learn about each one, whether it should be cycled, proper dosage, vendors that have a good price and low contamination and side effects. Often vendors sell noots in inappropriate dosages! I've seen it in L-Theanin, gingko and Melatonin. Also, don't ignore side effects. Some noots are demonstrated to work, but have the potential to cause problems. It's not worth it. Along the same lines, don't buy those mixtures of noots. What are the chances they're in the right proportions for you? Look up their ingredients and try them out on your own to find your proper dosage. 3. Here are some key sources to learn from: examine.org Collects research about many chemicals including nootropics. Before you buy something, read its page in full. labdoor.com Tests various brands of nootropics and supplements. Don't overpay or buy contaminated stuff r/nootropics This subreddit is frequented by very bright people on the cutting edge. Please spend a long time lurking and looking at old posts to see your question has been answered before posting. Most of the users are experts trying to figure out how things work biologically and don't want to answer noobie questions unless you have already exhausted other sources. So, please read-only for as long as possible. 4. Give yourself time to build your stack. Your body and mind may not be able to handle certain noots in its current state. As stated elsewhere, don't even bother with noots until you have a regular meditation and physical exercise practice going. Your sleep/caffeine habits should also be completely in check. Finally, get your eating habits top-notch. Still eating sugar, dairy and meat? Move away from that and onto greens, grains and beans. Think like a dancer: you need to have good motion before you add speed. Just getting your heart rate into the exercise zone for 10 minutes a day will do so much for you! For example, one noot, say gingko, might help you with your memory. Learn everything you can from it before adding, say, a racetam, that makes you more intelligent. Spend a few weeks with it, then a few weeks without, then with and compare notes. I highly recommend a journal. Realize it's not just the substance, it's the whole system (stage yellow!) of you, the substance and your environment. What works during a rough part in your life might not work now. These substances aren't simple "upgrades." They all work differently. Some are upgrades, but others are antagonists, prompting your body to strengthen itself. Others are regulators, some are unknown! And some won't work right if your body can't handle it due to lack of nutrients or weak circulation. 5. I've stressed that our bodies are individual. Let me tell you about differences between me and the majority of others: Almost everyone loves L-theanine, but I've found it makes me super impatient and anxious. It's hard for me to believe others say it makes them relaxed, ha! But that's biology. I keep trying smaller doses, but it always gives me a grumpy day. Racetams: Leo said to avoid them, but I say try them out. Absolutely vital is that you have a source of choline with them, or you may get bad headaches. CDP choline isn't enough for me, so I take Alpha GPC. One interesting surprise I had with racetams: I wanted to use them to get better at differential equations. Instead, I found they leveled up my emotional intelligence! After about six months of increasing my empathy, I got more comfortable, learned to love myself a little more and then was able to get deeper into the math. Noopept in particular gave me deep emotional understanding of others, although it's short-lived. Meanwhile, Phenylpiracetam, one that is generally the most potent, has little effect on me. Modafinal: as they say, you have to sleep some time. Personally, I don't take it multiple days in a row. It is potent as hell, especially arma, but it does interfere with my sleep. When I take it, I find I have to go to sleep right on time that night, at 10-11pm. If I miss that window I'll be up until 3am. And I find the effects last well into the next day. At the end of the second day, I experience tiredness like you wouldn't believe! I have to drop everything around me and take care of myself by sleeping! Bacopa: I used to not be able to take it. It hurt my stomach, but after a few years of improving my health overall, I tolerate it well and it removes quite a bit of brainfog. 6. Once again, about nutrition: Look into Vitamin D. Most doctors test you annually for it and the U.S. is chronically low. D is a steroid hormone which makes hundreds of other systems work properly in your body. Most people are badly deficient in it and also fiber. So take care of your basic nutritional needs and your noots will work much better. Don't think you can noot yourself out of bad nutrition, because you'll just burn yourself out faster.