arthurcgusmao

Leo, I was blown away by this conversation you shared. So many post conventional/tier 2 insights. I'm looking forward to more posts like this. It inspired me to use AI in similar manners. Despite working in the AI domain, I realized I was still not utilizing these tools as much as I could. E.g., some of the most recent questions I explored were "What is logic?" and "Can logic prove itself?".

I've gotten tinnitus about a year ago, from an acute idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss. Basically a sudden loss of hearing that does not have a known scientific reason. I had like a flu and suddenly, the next day, I had this "clouded" sensation in my left ear. Then, the tinnitus came. Exams confirm I had a small loss of hearing in my left ear (inner ear). It was during a stressful period of my life. I tried several approaches to restore my hearing and therefore improve tinnitus, such as medicine (corticosteroids followed by vasodilators), hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ginkgo biloba. Not sure it really worked, I think most of the improvement was due to brain plasticity. Now, my tinnitus is quite mild (3 out of 10, I'd say). I can hear it almost every day on my left ear, but it doesn't bother me anymore. In the beginning I felt like I would go crazy with it, but it subsided. Whenever it catches my attention, I try to use it as an anchor: remind myself that life is short to not live with authenticity and integrity with my deeper values.

Same, I've dropped it ~4 months ago. By the research I did, toothpaste does not really seem to perform any crucial function besides fluoride. IMO the artificial chemicals in it probably outweigh the benefits. The fluoride may be beneficial if you are prone to cavities, but if you haven't had them your whole life it's unlikely to get it in your adult life, from what I've heard.

I come from Brazil, but I live in Switzerland now.

I was watching Edward Frenkel's interview and just wanted to share some of his constructive criticisms to science, that pretty much go in line with what @Leo Gura discusses in many episodes. In particular, he points out: The tendency of experts to try and model the world using exactly the field they've learned (egoic bias as I'd put it -- he alludes to the behavior being comparable to what priests do in stage-blue societies): https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxL4oZCLVMQeMl9oqa2NG2OY1QovtN4ns_?si=nrI8LSmkJ_ie1i4W The dismissal of the value of subjective understanding (he also mentions how Quantum Mechanism and Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem -- proven since the first half of the last century -- have not yet pervaded popular common sense): https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxyuGuzVIcuSI-T1zY-0jFaFcvmwRXeJKG?si=mCAA50AMIFuJerEF In addition, he provides a simple and brilliant explanation of Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem, 100% worth watching. It seems he's been watching too much Actualized.org

If you read Corey Wayne's book, there's a section where he explicitly mentions why that's not a good idea. As most people don't really understand their psychology, most women can't properly or rationally assess what they're attracted to and what caused the attraction to go south. If she's not making plans, then it's clear she isn't as attracted as before. Always pay attention to what people do, not what they say. There are a variety of reasons why her attraction dropped. Your considerations could indeed be correct, or it could be another guy, for example. When women end a relationship they often go into 'rebound mode', where they exhibit high levels of attraction at a time and then suddenly disappear. She essentially tries to replace the intimacy she had with her ex with you. The most important thing is to follow the principle that she'll contact you back if she still has any attraction. When she does so, just focus on setting the next date: hanging out, having fun, and hooking up.

"The Void" In my childhood, I used to feel this void whenever some friend would leave my house (when we were playing together), or whenever I would leave a friend's house. As I grew up this void continued to appear, but then usually when coming back from very intense festivals or college events with lots of friends and girls. Recently, I feel this feeling whenever I think of myself as not having a girlfriend (I haven't had one for a long time now), and by feeling like there is something wrong with me because of this (feeling different from other people). I can also link it to not being as close to my parents, emotionally speaking, as I would like to. I have felt this so much throughout my life that I even coined a name for it in my personal notes: "The Void". It is interesting that just by writing this I realize that my greatest moments of fun were when I was accompanied, even though I find myself someone who can live alone easier than most people. Root cause of addiction = Fear of emptiness (Overcoming Addiction - The Root Cause Of Every Addiction) Another thing to keep in mind is that trying to avoid this void may cause addiction. I think of addiction as not something black or white, but rather a spectrum. There are less healthy addictions (e.g., heavy drugs) and more healthy addictions (e.g., friends, relationships, goals, etc.). Despite of that, they are still addictions, in the sense that we are using them to fill our existential emptiness. The ultimate solution, therefore, is to face it head-on, by opening ourselves up and embracing it (meditation -- you're already doing it, just keep in mind that it takes time --, enlightenment, etc.). An alternative, valid solution An alternative, which will not eliminate the void completely but that is still totally valid, is to move oneself up in this spectrum. Adopt healthy eating habits, training habits, healthy relationships (interdependence), healthy movies/documentaries (e.g., videos about personal development), healthy things you like to do, etc. Create long-term goals for your life and start implementing them now, even if by tiny steps. Even if you are stuck with school, bad teachers, or related, having these long-term goals will help, because they are a plan for you to eventually reach a place you'll like to be. And when you can move towards them, even if a tiny bit, you'll start feeling a bit of the good feelings now (remember that life is about the journey; not the final destination, but who you become on the way there). Implementing these healthy habits and goals will make the void, when it comes, less and less intense, and your everyday life a lot more motivated. In sum, this void is a natural thing that we all feel. You may feel it stronger since you are not enthusiastic at all with your future, as others previously mentioned. I think the Life Purpose course could really help, as it is helping me a lot. There are many nuances and subtleties about what is taught there, so you have to really open your mind (and, most importantly, your heart) when taking it. Cheers!