TL;DR

Whom am I speaking to? Who is this going to help?

My Practical Experience

A few major events happened this week:

  1. First, I envisioned and conceptualized the highest possible good I could do for myself, and put it on a small index card.
    • The small index card makes it easy to always keep in the pockets of my pants
    • Because the card is in my pocket, near my phone, I find that I check my card more than I check my phone
      • This means that every time I read my hands inside my pants, and I physically feel my vision card, I start thinking about my highest good
      • In theory, I become what I think about. Only time will tell if this theory hold up
      • As a bonus, because I am checking my card instead of my phone, my mind does not focus on the negativity that’s promoted on the phone. Instead, I in a constant state of positive thinking towards my highest conceived vision
    • “We become what we think about” seems to be a universal truth; I will now put this to the test, and verify if eventually I realize my vision.
  2. I quit online dating. Flat out.
    • This comes at two realizations: (1) I spent way too much money on online dating, for dates that either never panned out, or dates that were only single instances and ephemeral (2) I was focusing on women when my mind should be constantly thinking positively and big on the biggest vision I can envision for myself, other people, and the world around me
  3. I locked myself out of my bedroom, and put the keys in a time-sensitive lockbox that would only open when bedtime arrived (8:00pm)
    • The self-imposed discipline permits me to craft my environment to best suit my vision, while removing any temptations to revert back to negative habit patterns
    • It’s all probabilistic; if I am in bed before bedtime, there is a substantial increase in the probability that I will revert to a negative habit that will ruin the realization of my vision
  4. I blocked YouTube from my phone. I now schedule when I use social media.
    • Sure, YouTube has many benefits, but knowing myself and my habits, having social media on my phone for an unlimited time window increases the probability that I will waste time consuming the wrong content, which leads to thinking about the wrong things, which leads to becoming the wrong things. We become what we think about.
  5. I took control of my time by budgeting my time (at least for the first 8 hours of the day).
  6. I read the book, “Power versus Force”
    • I have a great understanding on the vital importance of meaning and how it maps to our everyday life.
  7. I went to church
    • They did not say anything that I disagreed with; all information from the pastor and small-group leader were sound and reasonable
    • I was inspired by the story of Alcohol Anonymous and how they were able to curb negative habits through 12-step principles, some of which include peer-groups and service to others. I don’t know if church is the final avenue from which I establish great relationships, but I am certainly grateful that such a place like Church exists to where I am in a common place with people who are positive, polite, and wish to improve their lives.
    • Probabilistically speaking, I think I have a great chance of becoming a great person of value if I attend church than if I attend a bar, nightclub, or music concert.
    • At the very least, going to church will not cause negative side effects or cost me anything but time on my end.
    • “What would Jesus do?” is hard for many people to conceptualize because how many of us truly understand the abstract, creative, complicated nature of the Son of God?
      • I think this is where relationships can help. Because we are built in the image of God, we have the conscious ability to become agents of his divinity here on Earth. We can be inspired by those who take action to glorify God, from which we begin to get closer to God’s true nature. Until then, ask yourself what’s the best good you can do, given the people and personal experiences you’ve witnessed?
  8. I actively think about the people who have positively impacted my life as a source of power
    • I imagine these people as if they have already died, and they are watching me from a higher dimension as I play through life
    • I envision the dishonor and disappointment I bring to them when I choose to partake in negative actions
    • I envision the inspiration, joy, fulfillment they feel when they see me make the right moves in life
    • I not only realize how important honor and dignity are towards achieving greatness for humanity, but equally important I realize just how well connected everyone is and how the goals of mankind should be to service mankind. “It’s the people, stupid” :)
    • It’s not about shame, or obligation, but more about showing gratitude, honor, appreciation. To some extent I deeply and earnestly wish to avoid disappointment, but that’s not what occupies my thinking; I’m focused on going good in their name, as an extension of the goodness that they have gifted me with.
  9. I have decided to focus on myself by documenting what I can learn; thus increases the probability that I will succeed in my way.
    • I decided to choose to stop focusing on “rivals” who do better than me.
    • I decided that if someone is doing more good than me (relationships, finances), then I hope there are only more people like that. The more amazing contributors we have like that, independent on whether it’s me or someone else, the greater mankind will be
    • The best I can do is, what Rollo May recommends: “The greatest good that we can contribute to society over the long run starts at the individual level by cultivating a strong sense of inner identity and finding the center of strength within ourselves; a single person with indigenous inner strength exercises a great calming effect on panic among people around him.”
    • If you really want to help people, spend more time with people.

Another striking observation is that I WILLINGLY spent $550 this month on unproductive things. $200 of that was on dating sites (I know, I know, silly, but we’re all learning. I will forgive others the same way I forgive myself), and $350 was spent on Chipotle.

Here’s an important question: I have no problem spending $550/mon, who would I become if I spent that money on

  • mentorships
  • social events
  • classes
  • education
  • AWS cloud credit
  • tithing
  • fun activities with my younger brothers
  • a general stock contribution
  • mortgage

There are so many creative ways money can serve me towards the vision of the highest good if I repeatedly reminded myself of what my mission is.

I also realize just how much I have chosen to be miserable. I see people with great friends, and still going great work in life. All of my suffering was optional, and that’s time that I cannot get back. It’s done. I only have the remainder of my life left to make the most out of my highest conceived vision.

Lessons from ChatGPT

I also realize that the older version of myself was in a perpetual state of shame. If this is my actual state, rather than the periodic bounds of stress, here’s a list of practical things I can do to increase my conscious energy levels:

  1. Self-Awareness: The first step in elevating your consciousness is nonjudgmental self-awareness. This means recognizing when I am experiencing shame and acknowledge it without judgment. Understand the situations, triggers, or events that increase the probability of experiencing this emotion.
  2. Acceptance: Accept that shame is a natural human emotion. It’s important not to shame myself for feeling shame. Instead, practice compassion and forgiveness.
  3. Release Negative Self-Talk: Instead, anytime negative talk erupts, become aware of it, then, simply choose, effortlessly, to concentrate positively on your worthwhile goal.
  4. Meditate: Practice non-judgemental observation
  5. Gratitude: Focus on the things you are grateful for in your life. Gratitude is a powerful tool for shifting your consciousness to higher energy levels.
  6. Positive Contribution: Do good externally to feel good internally. Engage in activities that allow you to make a positive contribution to others or the world. Acts of kindness and service can elevate your consciousness and shift your focus away from shame
  7. Educate Yourself: Continue to learn and grow. Seek knowledge and wisdom that can help you evolve and better understand yourself and the world. Document your learning.
  8. Forgiveness: Forgive yourself and others for past mistakes and transgressions. Holding onto grudges and resentment can keep you in lower energy states.
  9. Surround Yourself with Positivity: Spend time with people who uplift and inspire you.

Lessons from A.A.

Interestingly enough, I was reading “Power versus Force” during my awakening. The book includes a few snippets on how the Alcoholics Anonymous, particularly the 12-step approach to overcome any addiction.

Click here to view the original article by Mike Sturm.

  1. Admit that you are powerless.
  2. Believe that only something greater than yourself can help you become better than you are.
  3. Make a decision to turn your will over to something greater than yourself.
  4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself.
  5. Admit to your shortcomings
  6. Prepare for Progress
  7. Prepare for Progress
  8. Get right with the people of your life
  9. Get right with the people of your life
  10. Keep track of what you’re doing well, and what you’re not, and promptly focus on the latter
  11. Set aside time to collect, reflect, and project.
  12. Use what you’ve learned to help others

Here are a few more key points from AA according to the book, “Power versus Force”:

  • Respecting individual freedom and choice
  • Demonstrating honesty, respect, humility, service, tolerance, goodwill, and brotherhood
  • Avoids moral judgement
  • Merely says, “If you practice these principles in all of your affairs, you’ll recover from this grave and progressive fatal illness, and regain your health and self-respect, and the capacity to live a fruitful life and fulfilling life for yourself and others”.
  • service to others
  • moral housecleaning
  • anonymity
  • humility
  • surrendering to a power greater than oneself overcome any denial of the issue (acceptance)
    • These ideas were taken from the Oxford Group.

Another thing I took away from the book, “Power versus Force” is the role of addictions:

“The common belief is that it’s the substance itself to which the victim has become addicted, due to the substance’s power to create a “high” state of euphoria.

But this so-called “high” is merely the suppression of the lower energy fields, thereby allowing the user temporary access to higher energy levels.

The suppression of lower energies doesn’t create higher ones; it merely reveals them, briefly.

It is to this experience of seeking that exposed higher level that people become addicted.

A “high” is any state of consciousness above one’s customary level of awareness.

The permanent high-state experience that may be legitimately attained only through a lifetime of dedicated inner work, can be reached via artificial means (i.e. external substances), but only temporarily.

But, the balance of nature dictates that to artificially acquire such a state, without earning it creates a debt, and the negative imbalance results in negative consequences. The cost of such stolen pleasure is the desperation of addiction, and finally, both the addict and society pay the price.”

Recovery from alcoholism or porn can’t be accomplished by fighting intoxication or lust; but rather by choosing sobriety and connection

“All great teachers, from Jesus to Buddha, have said the same thing over and over again: give up weak attractors for strong ones.”

Does this mean I can’t date?

Yes and no.

Yes in that I will stop dating by online dating and becoming fixated on images over personal growth through iterative human interaction.

No in that, by closing the door on online dating, I can spend more time with people, however they present themselves to me, and earn the compassion that will feed my future relationship.

The ideas from AA has enlightened me on the importance of fellowship with people. This is why I value real, iterative relationships over shallow, online, personas. I will show this value by regularly meeting people throughout the week in the form of:

  • church
  • church mentorship
  • career meetups
  • visiting family
  • hobbies?
  • volunteering?

I’m still actively searching for ways to become more involved.

How does this opinion explain how the world really works in a way that accurate, wholistic, and realistic?

I hope to prove just how useful the fundamental law of “we become what we think about” can be if we choose to aim it as the highest conceivable good we can imagine. Even if it doesn’t workout, you’ll find yourself in a better mood and state of mind.

Given your thoughts and opinions, what practical actions can we take?

Take what you want from this. Maybe you have your own struggles, or maybe you’re looking to find ways to socialize more. Take whatever you find useful here, especially if it’s just one thing.

Personally speaking, to retain my new level of consciousness, I will hold the following habits; these habits are now part of who I am:

  1. Keep my visual index card of my higher calling with my at all times; look at it any chance I get, as if I were checking my phone
  2. Limit social media to a single 30min block
  3. In place of staying home and scrolling through social media, go out and meet people: join a class, present at a meetup, volunteer, etc.
  4. Morning routine is a race against time. Move forth efficiently. Although I can miss a day of a morning routine, I am wise enough to diligently make time for it and make sure I don’t miss more than twice.
  5. Keep social media off my phone
  6. Before going to bed, spend at least 10min LOOKING at my schedule for tomorrow. If I am wise, I will also choose to plan for the next day and name each hour
  7. Attend church. On Sunday and sometime in the middle of the week.
    • You don’t have to be religious to go to church, and surrounding yourself with positive people who wish to do good can only help you.
  8. This is two steps: (1) Recognize nonjudgmentally when a stressful, negative, or anxious thought arrives (2) Kindly gesture all negative thoughts with a visualization of my highest calling notecard