Cups said:

Sounds like good advice to me...surprising no one.

Moving someplace where no one knows you can be a very liberating experience.  No one there's knows of your past failing, troubles, etc and you have a clean slate to start from.  of course the problem with this is if the persona you create begins to crack for any reason it will be ugly.

Another thing about leaving people who know you well behind is the lack of a reference point in the minds of others.  For example let's assume that deep down inside you're a gay as the rainbow hippie weirdo.



Once you figure that out about yourself- being somewhere new allows you simply BE a gay as the rainbow hippie weirdo...not THAT GUY who took a bunch of drugs and BECAME a gay as the rainbow hippie weirdo.

Doesn't seem like much but it's a big distinction if you have any kind of social life.  I suppose good friends would roll with it, but how many good friends does anyone actually have?

Of course all of that just scratches the surface meaning of what he's talking about IMO. 

To set out with the express purpose of erasing all the grid points that plot out who you are...it's gonna hurt.  You are literally making a decision to kill your"self". 

But, if you've reached a point in your life when the "self" you've created has let you down to such an extent you're even thinking about it...what choice do you have?

Perhaps a more pertinent question is- if you never manage the courage to do this or something similar...will you hold it against yourself for the rest of your life? 

That's a long time.  Or will you accept your innate pussiness with grace and compassion and the understanding "you" literally couldn't do it?

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Great response. This is why I loved traveling and hitchhiking.  You can remake yourself as far as others go.  I think this is the place to begin this practice.  I think in CCs case don Juan was well aware that his "friends" were not worth much.  One must remember that don Juan initiated CC into a whole new circle of warriors to interact with.  One must have somewhere to go if they are leaving everything behind.

Cups said:

Perhaps a more pertinent question is- if you never manage the courage to do this or something similar...will you hold it against yourself for the rest of your life? 

That's a long time.  Or will you accept your innate pussiness with grace and compassion and the understanding "you" literally couldn't do it?

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Quote:

This is why I loved traveling and hitchhiking.  You can remake yourself as far as others go.  I think this is the place to begin this practice.

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Grapefruit said:

Quote:

This is why I loved traveling and hitchhiking.  You can remake yourself as far as others go.  I think this is the place to begin this practice.

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Baby steps kinda thing, Wouldn't be quite such a shock to the system in that case, probably a much more realistic plan, or maybe it's just pussying out. The only way I can see to really fully do it is to leave everything you know, at least eventually.

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We are all pussies and you cannot be different.  Small steps have a much better chance of leading to success imo.  Large grandiose steps lead to quitting and failure in most cases.  In the latter case it's our impatience for change that is the problem.  We can't stand being imperfect.

Quote:

In the latter case it's our impatience for change that is the problem.  We can't stand being imperfect.

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Nice insight.

quinn said:

i strongly have the inclination to do what the OP is suggesting. the best moments in my life were moments where i was away from everyone i knew or left them, or forgot them momentarily. at the end of this year i plan to have no plans and leave to anywhere.

that said, the people i know are a part of me too. as much as i hate them all, i also love them. so idk what leaving will necessarily solve.

basically i feel split between continuing on in a communal life, or indulging in a completely self centered narcissistic life... which ironically is also seen as a 'selfless' one or 'losing yourself'...

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Aye, it's a big problem having no idea what to do but I guess it's something you'll always have to cope with until no longer interested in change of any sort. Confusion sucks, someone give me a risk free plan and instructions please.

quinn said:

i strongly have the inclination to do what the OP is suggesting. the best moments in my life were moments where i was away from everyone i knew or left them, or forgot them momentarily. at the end of this year i plan to have no plans and leave to anywhere.

that said, the people i know are a part of me too. as much as i hate them all, i also love them. so idk what leaving will necessarily solve.

basically i feel split between continuing on in a communal life, or indulging in a completely self centered narcissistic life... which ironically is also seen as a 'selfless' one or 'losing yourself'...

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Icelander said:

This is why I loved traveling and hitchhiking. 

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I loved hitchhiking because the people who picked me up were often so honest because they knew they'd never see me again. I even had a priest confess that he was cheating on his wife

Grapefruit said:

Aye, it's a big problem having no idea what to do but I guess it's something you'll always have to cope with until no longer interested in change of any sort. Confusion sucks, someone give me a risk free plan and instructions please.

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Mr. Middle said:

Grapefruit said:

Aye, it's a big problem having no idea what to do but I guess it's something you'll always have to cope with until no longer interested in change of any sort. Confusion sucks, someone give me a risk free plan and instructions please.

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The first step is the hardest, realizing what you really want. Do you want to be a great Mystic or Shaman or do you want to know what's real? They aren't the same process. If you have anything resembling an enjoyable dream-like life, don't bother trying to wake up from it, you will eventually. Most people use spirituality to avoid thinking, and end up missing out on their lives in the process. Either way, learn how to think clearly. Learn how to ask interesting questions. Don't get bogged in symbol and metaphor, the only sense you need is humor.

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"This is it" and "you're it" so you're all you need. They keep saying it every generation of mystics and philosophers or whatever: your nature is joy, the kingdom of heaven is inside you, ... you you you ... yes, you!

It's just the way it is, and to speculate on it being any different is probably "outside the scope" of our brain's capabilities. We come up with some primitive bullshit like a big man in the sky or big rip or big bang.

Come back to life.