This reminds me of a definition that changed my perspective of this idea. The idea is that a habit is something we don't know we are doing. Its on autopilot. The moment awareness is brought in and we become aware that we are doing it, it is no longer a habit, it is a choice. This is when we can decide to choose something new and create a new paradigm. Great vid Leo.
The majority of people commenting on here is what he was talking about when he said in one of his videos "most people will never achieve enlightenment" I agree that this and many of his others has changed my life in ways most can't comprehend. I plan on striving to be part of the rare ones who find it!!
Leo this video literally saved my life. Two years ago I was on the brink of suicide. Nothing seemed to helped and I had given up. Then I came across this video and something about it inspired me. Skipping to today and I am still practicing awareness, now very intensely. This video changed the trajectory of my life and I could not be more grateful.
Haha Leo I remember when I started to watch your videos couple years back I thought "wow these videos are long", now its getting to the point where I am like "Damn these videos are to short". Thanks Guru x
Awareness is essentially what you actually are. Everything else which you feel you are is in constant motion and change. When we are in our true self (awareness) it helps to keep in check what is being performed by I (ego)
Watched this video many years ago. Not sure why but I felt called to come back and say this. But I made a mistake with it. If you’re dealing with things like trauma, bodily pain and strong emotions, make sure you learn techniques to resolve these things. “Awareness alone is curative” is a sound principle, but applied without the right resources, you can retraumatise yourself over and over. Your whole life can become about the pain and it won’t just go away. I feel your awareness of pain can even become a form of avoidance, avoidance of doing the work to resolve it. Stay strong my beautiful people. Have a good day.
if you are unhappy just think i dont mind being unhappy let me be unhappy and what you will find is that when you dont mind being unhappy it is hard to be unhappy for much longer
For several years I was a religious person trying to overcome my sinful nature with the help of the holy spirit. They used to tell me that the spirit is always at war with the flesh. And that the holy spirit would give me the strength to overcome the flesh. My life was filled with guilt, self-hatred and low self-esteem. I have been meditating every day for almost two years now. Finally, I am beginning to understand how my beliefs were driving me into neurosis, and making my life so miserable. Thank you Leo for all your videos.
A physical way to describe this could be when you are aware of something, you weaken the brain circuits to do with it. This is because they are no longer constantly firing on autopilot and strengthening in a cycle (neuroplasticity) so wither away more. The automatic circuits weaken so much over time that the momentum of the thing fades greatly, and no longer has the power to take you over.
This is single handedly the most life changing stuff I ever heard in my life. I've been into self-improvements for years, and discipline has always been a huge pillar. I knew that it was possible somehow to frame it differently so it would become effortless. And here it is. The key. And thanks to this video I finally got a deeper idea of the power of awareness. Just a bit more. It is almost EVERYTHING. This is the feeling I'm getting... with a high level of awareness... life becomes easy. That is it. Easy. All the problems you have, all the dreams. They all become easy. The rate of progress becomes so high that it's hard to track. Oh my god I can't wait!
This video is ABSOLUTELY TRUE! I've been doing self-help for a year. And while it did help in certain areas, I always seemed to regress back to the mean. And when that would happen, I'd become depressed and have intense feelings hopelessness, like all the work and theories I put in are for naught and that I just suck. So I found Leo a week ago, I've been practicing meditation and increasing my awareness bit by bit. I've seen more personal gains in a week than I have in a year! I'm drinking alcohol far less, my depression is gone, my anxiety is starting to dissipate, I'm calmer, and my memory is so much sharper, I can recall minute details from a few days ago. I used to be on edge sitting at home, my mind constantly wandering and wanting to be stimulated by people, alcohol, video games, bars, etc. Now, I'm happy as can be sitting alone by myself. Thanks Leo for helping me understand the power of the mind, and that I can gain control over it! God bless, you may have helped me save my life.
I absolutely love your videos Leo. You talk about things no one else talks about, and your videos and insights have definitely had a huge impact on my life. Just want to say thank you for sharing these videos with the world, you're super!
I love the bit @17.15 "Are you aware right now". Simply saying that makes you focus your attention instantly. I'm going to use it as a mantra. Keep up the good work Leo
Really enjoy your video each week, and they have changed my life for the better - more awareness, more peace, happier, thinner, eating healthier, better relationships, etc, thank you, Leo! The series on "Spiritual Enlightenment", "Morality/Moralizing", "Stop Being a Victim", "Awareness", and "Does Free Will Exists?" are my favorites! I have watched/listened each one for 5-10 times and continue listening to them today while I am driving or working out. Can't thank you enough!!!
So so so true, so so so important. Thank you for this. Gives rise to the fact that we do naturally tend towards that which is life generating, because in order to hurt ourselves, we have to numb out. There is no way to continue to kill ourselves while being awake. Love you!
Damn Leo, this is an epiphany straight from your head into mine. I’ve noticed I’m always aware when smoking which is why I rarely do it. But when it comes to other things...they are automatic. I fully trust that awareness is curative in time. What a beautiful statement from a beautiful mind. Thanks again
about 3 years ago I accidentally seen your video on youtube and I've watched so many of your coaches material since then! I am INTP personality and understanding for me is doing whole magic! Your teaching is so consise, clear and easy to get! Thank you so much Leo for telling me that I have my power with 100% of responsibility and about different way of perceiving the world - living in reality is so much easier for me! Hello from Poland ;)
I've been just watching my extreme bout of depression right now, with no judgement, recently it has come to the surface and when you just observe it, you see the almost lack of power it really has, yet its uncanny ability to deceive you.
I was reflecting on literally the exact same topic yesterday, as I've been having problems getting out of the habit of smoking weed. I came to the conclusion that it's all about making conscious decisions in the moment, pretty much what you said. You confirmed many of my deliberations, thank you Leo.
Leo, your best video yet, and I love them all. Completely revolutionizing my perspective already. AWARENESS without judgment. I even realize that where I have made progress in correcting neurotic behavior, THIS principle has been applied. An old-fashioned way of saying this is "be honest with yourself." The difficult part is the WITHOUT JUDGMENT component - but it is vital. Absolutely love the analogy with the naturalist studying bird behavior. All I can say is THANK YOU. Keep up your important work, sir!
Wow Leo! This is definitely one of the most useful self-improvement videos I've ever seen. You verbalized it perfectly. And I know it works because that's how I myself was able to control my eating. I was being aware that I was eating. I couldn't explain it or verbalize it at the time, but just being aware that I was eating helped me to control it. I am looking now to apply this to other aspects of my life that I wish to change for the better. Thank you!
I was actually applying this strategy in my life before even knowing it was a legit strategy, So I suppose I wasn't aware of my awareness... interesting. Thanks Leo!
I don't think it contradicts anything, it's a strategy for improving bad habits you want to "cure" by practicing awareness... I guess it's not the best approach to any and everything but can be very effective
Hey Leo, thank you for this one. I've been experimenting with this principle for a while and starting to see results. I want to share one recent insight I had on this: breathing makes all the difference in how aware I can be (at least it seems to be the case for me). It's like not breathing (fully & deeply) has been my main way of cutting off awareness and killing my emotional intelligence. It's like when I don't breathe while doing whatever unproductive, I am reliably disconnected from my feelings so I can't really be present. I discovered this by complete accident, while doing breathing exercises for singing/diaphragmatic support. Maybe it can be useful for someone else, too.
Absolutely! Breath is my connection to my body to the present moment to reality to where I am located- and out of my head, the past or future, imaginary conversations the narrative of my life.
There is something unique about your videos. No background decorations that will distract audience from paying attention. All one can see and hear is your presentation.Again it is evident you are fully present with your viewers. You have a calling to teach. Thank you and remain blessed always
your videos are gold Leo, thank you! you don't solve our problems, you teach us how to think and look from different prespectives, which ultimately solves our problem. because the major problems are in the mind.
This happenned to me today a few hours ago. I am trying to stop eating meat because I do calisthenics and I want a better performance, so I grabbed some meat today and when I was eating I could see it as it was. I noticed I was eating meat of a dead cow and I didn't like it anymore. It was kind of disgusting
+Tempo2010 True! We've been brainwashed. Imagine if everyone knew / saw where their meat came from and how it was killed. They should put a warning sign on meat packaging like they do on cigarettes. A lot of the 'animal lovers' who still eat meat would probably quit.
Recently I experienced release from some limiting beliefs. Without being aware that it was happening. The beliefs were always there, and then suddenly they just weren’t. I wasn’t even trying to stop them. I was just learning. I achieved this release through the principles of awareness described here but it had not been laid out so plainly. Now that Leo has described it in a “nutshell” I recognize that my study and efforts to use the Tao Te Ching and the iChing for guidance actually enabled me to put this principle into action without realizing what I was doing. The Tao Te Ching helped me to understand how not to judge and how to rediscover humility. It showed me how to see things as not good or bad, just there. It taught me how to be like water, and flow and yield rather than to force or flagellate. It taught me how to be gentle with myself and others. This in turn enabled me to observe myself. In order to apply the teachings, I had to be aware of when I encountered situations where my ego mind was taking over and not heeding the message of the Sage regarding the sacred Tao. This was how I must have practiced flexing my awareness muscle. On another note, I think these sound like steps for shadow integration. Watch yourself without judgement, be aware of what you are and what you’re suppressing, fully accept it and then find yourself no longer being a slave to your unconscious auto-pilot. There’s a reason why Jung was so enamoured with Chinese Alchemy.
Very powerful stuff. I’ve had much growth over the past 7 years due to shining the light on myself. The biggest obstacle I’ve found. Is the “ego” is afraid to shine light on awareness. In my case. It wants to hold on to the neurotic behavior. For fear of change. And/or comfortability. Also watching ones self without judgement is so powerful. But very difficult. But with more awareness the less judgmental we will become Thank you for this practical presentation to becoming aware. And I believe it’s important to understand, We can always become more aware.
Leo, I am listening to this today and today I've been feeling exactly like you described. The guilt over a repetitive negative behavior I keep doing and can't seem to stop. The day after is unbearable and I keep doing it over and over. It all makes sense. The part I struggle is with not feeling guilty while being aware. How can I do this?
I started following this method about a year ago, and the changes in my life have been great. I think it's worth mentioning that being aware of all the good habits is just as important, as it helps concrete the good habits.
Guys, if you really want to apply this principle successfully, a meditation habit is almost mandatory. Whenever I meditate for a couple of hours, I naturally become more aware, and I feel like I can almost "turn on" my awareness button. Also, while I am engaging in unhealthy behaviors, it becomes easier to remember to be aware if I have meditated prior to it. That's why I try to meditate one of the first things in the morning--it sets the tone for the rest of the day. Maybe some of you can apply this principle without meditating. Well, I can't. Meditation is so wonderful. It looks boring & purposeless, but after a good 2-hour session, I feel like another person; I remember that I am alive.
So simple and factual, very few people have the talent to convey any message.....first time I truly understand awareness, and what it really means! thank you Leo!
Fantastic yet simplistic point, Leo. To be aware of those things that aren't good for us has always been the first step to resolving the things we want changed. As they say, just knowing it is half the battle. From what I see, most people subsist happily on living in ignorance and denial that they have to change their bad habits, or how rude or mean they are to others, or just a poor disposition in life. It's easier that way. It's not easy to look at yourself with 100% awareness. And although I do it, it is overwhelming for me and difficult mentally. I can see why people take the easy way out and just place most of it on ignore. But I won't. It's easier to take criticism that way.
I have a bad habit of distracting myself when I have things I know I should be doing and I got this voice bellowing in my head saying what you do know and forevermore will bear no substantial fruit with time, why constantly chase yourself out of your best qualities and let them lay dormant this is foolish and unwise, if you wish to make impact in the universe you must be open to the dread, the boring, or whatever you might call it, for this is what will bear the most fruit with time, and you know this yourself.
Leo have you ever thought to become a user of Quora? It's a question-answer site but the big difference is that the answers are usually given from various exceptional persons, and world class people, like for example at the physics and science domain there are various PHD's and Professors who share their knowledge, In Medicine there are surgeons, in Bussiness various famous entrepneurs and so on. I think you would make a great fitt and if you start answering some of the people's question based on: life decision, self-help, maybe enlightment and spirituality questions, literature, I strongly believe that people would admire your wisdom. I am sure that this will be a great contribution from you, + I assure that you will also enjoy the site's content, please come with a feedback, thank you.
I regret for all those billions of people who didnt get a chance to watch this video. This is super practical and can be extended to more areas of life.
Hey Leo ! You kinda contradict yourself in this video with what you said in your video about overcoming addiction. In this video you tell us to not hold ourselves back from doing what we crave and just be mindful while doing it. But in the video about overcoming addiction, you tell us to just sit there and let the cravings go while we watch mindfully . So on the one hand you say we should give in and on the other hand you tell us not to give in and experience the craving. I've seen both techniques work, by experiencing it myself but nevertheless i'm a bit confused about it. Would you be so kind an clarify that ?
I know you posted this forever ago but just responding in case other people read it; I think they are in a sense, one in the same. With the addiction video, the technique is to focus on the cravings. Sit with them. The 'don't give in' part, imo, is just prolonged, enhanced awareness of the craving. This awareness is curative technique is similar in the sense that it's awareness, but this time is a less intense in the moment approach, but instead an easier, more long term approach. Once is sitting with awareness of cravings, and one is being aware of all the side effects and the whole experience of what happens when we give in. I honestly think you can go with either one. But I think the sitting with the craving technique can be so much more powerful, very quickly (e.g., sitting alone in a room ALL day with no stimulation) but the other one allows you to live your life and progress slowly.
One of the most important videos i have ever seen for my personal development. Amazing results will appear when you start to apply this method in your every day life.
Amazing video Leo! Do you know something... I applied your "Mindfulness Meditation" every single day of writing my book. Just prior to writing the next chapter I did it for 30 minutes. I have finally finished my novel, just because of your help. I so badly needed it LEO. I had faced so much resistance from my family during that time and only your videos and the teachings you make for us have helped me immensely. Besides, this video just changed my life today :) I so needed it really. I mean it
This is difficult to do. In another video you said mindfulness is so forgetful to practice so you said to use daily alarms to remember to practice mindfulness. But here we just practice awareness whenever we do unwanted behaviors. Do we just focus on one particular area and then move on to the next so this change actually sticks?
At first it's really hard. With practice it becomes more natural. It shouldn't be your only technique -- because you'll just forget too often -- but it's a nice cure-all technique to have in your back pocket whenever you catch yourself doing something you don't want to be doing. I would couple this technique with creating new habits every couple of months. You should have areas of your life you're actively working on improving. Apply it there cause your mind will already be focused there.
Actualized.org When trying to be aware what do I actually focus on? Do I focus on what I feel inside? My thoughts? What I see or hear? I feel like I am not practicing awareness correctly because there are so many things to be aware of.
I have always wanted to stop drinking, I tried, AA, staying fit, taking pills to stop me, but none worked. all the time i was aware what boozing would do to me, from damaging my brain cells to being broke to having fucked up relationships and the hangovers. From being aware of boozing has slowed me down big time, not the wanting to change by AA, taking pills or whatever, but just by being aware of what boozing will do for me that i do not want. Jealousy is another big time motivator for destroying great people, i always wanted to change my jealousies towards the person whom i am with, but failed, it got worse instead of better. Leo, you are so right on top of the Awareness technique it freaken works! Just being aware of my issues has made my life so much better. i do not judge my jealousies, i do not react to them, i do not add to them, i simply notice them and tell myself it an old habit and it will go away when i tell it to. You are Amazing Leo!! They say God works through people, He is so right!
It's no-thing, because it's the unmanifested, formless, spaceiousness, you can't say that awareness is something or has form because it's formless. If awareness was something we'd be able to quantify it, describe it, and lay claim to it... But this is like swimming in the sea and trying to grab water.. It's not possible, it slips through your fingers. This isn't opinion this is simply fact..
Holy sh*t! This is literally the definition of a Mind-Blow. Looking forward to start this journey to "become the best version of yourself" :) I really wish all of you reading this good luck on your journey as well!
NOTES - Awareness Alone Is Curative - How To Auto-Correct Unwanted Behaviors Excerpted from the RU-vid Channel: Actualized.Org Link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qy_INVm_Pw0.html • More action isn't always the answer • Reframe for how to create change in your life -> Awareness alone is curative • A way to define Neurosis: "The excessive use of will, force, and action to try to change your own behaviors." -> Leads to self-sabotaging patterns Distinction: Looking for an active solution for your problem VS Taking the light of your awareness and shining it on the problem, trusting that with sufficient awareness, the problem will simply dissolve • Every unwanted behavior you have will autocorrect in time, merely through the process of observation • A corollary of this principle: It's impossible to engage in an unhealthy behavior while you're fully conscious (Bill Harris, Centerpointe) Catch: 1. It requires you to be aware throughout the whole thing. The awareness will then reveal the damage that this is doing to yourself, to such an extent, that you couldn't really genuinely continue the behavior. 2. The principle always works. But your awareness isn't sufficient to be able to really follow through on it. 3. Patience. It requires a constant application over time. Example: Becoming fully aware of how much suffering you're causing yourself. For example with junk food. • Normally: Guilting oneself. "I gotta really put the screws to myself. Gotta get serious here. Take massive action. Summon massive willpower." -> Willpower eventually erodes and you give in and back in your old patterns within a week or month. • Suggested Alternative Method: Awareness alone can be curative. Do not prohibit yourself from eating it, not judging yourself at all. But do it fully consciously, knowing full well what it's leading to. Looking at the food with full awareness. Observing how you start to feel achy, sick, heavy, sleepy, bloated, heartburn, etc. -> You just watch yourself day after day without judging. At some point, you'll become so aware of the absurdity of the situation and how much damage you're causing yourself, that you're not gonna have to force or guilt yourself into not eating junk food anymore. = You'll learn how unaware you're ordinarily are when you're doing these unwanted behaviors. Being unaware is the only way you can engage in unhealthy behaviors. Pointers: 1. Awareness isn't the same as logical knowing. • i.e. actually observing the mating patterns of birds in nature and becoming familiar with things and starting to see the patterns of how things work VS reading in a book something about the bird • It's an in the moment observation of what's happening. It's a skill. You have an awareness-muscle. When it's not flexed, all your awareness is gone. 2. Being aware is not the same thing as moralizing. • don't sit there and guilt yourself -> that's actually unawareness • moralizing is one of the major unwanted behaviors that you should be concerned about with unwiring = through awareness. Not by more moralizing. Actually seeing that the moralizing is hurting you. • Let go and stop micromanaging. Just be aware. 3. Awareness is not suppression. • don't suppress your desires, even the shady ones. (TV marathons, Junk Food, Porn, etc) -> but be aware as you're doing it • Big mistake: As you're being aware, trying to manipulate your behavior to try to come to the best outcome possible -> DO what you naturally want to do, but be aware. = Being aware is very passive. Trust that this process works! Over time you'll prove it to yourself. (The scientist observing mating patterns wouldn't try to go and interrupt the situation, he'll just record exactly what's happening) Areas of applications: • Works with any unwanted behavior that you have -> overeating, facebook, porn, drugs, drinking, smoking, internet, social media, video games, procrastination, shyness, depression, guilt, workaholism, anger, perfectionism, anxiety, fear, OCD, etc • Shyness -> Rather than forcefully trying to solve it. When being shy, watch yourself, in the moment being shy. Notice the thoughts that are coming up in your mind, how they affect your behavior, notice the emotions that come up, sweaty palms, notice what's happening and observe the shyness process. -> Eventually you'll reach the point where you'll no longer be shy. If you're consistent with it and actually practice awareness. • Depression -> Sit there fully aware of your depression. Without trying to change it. Be aware of the thoughts that come up, while they're coming up. It's challenging because if you're depressed, your awareness muscles are very weak. BUT if you stay aware longer and longer throughout every depressive episode that you have in our life. The depression will become impossible. You'll become aware of how you're creating the depression. Wrap up: What's happening in your mind with awareness. • Your mind is like a thinking machine. It's a vast network of thoughts and beliefs. This giant complex system is what creates your personality and is what fuels many of the actions and behaviors in your life. (Episode the knowledge graph) -> IF you want to create change in this web of beliefs, you'll have to start to become aware of how the system works. The system tries to maintain a status quo • You ARE the system. How do you change yourself then? Intuitively, you're going to try to act from within this web of beliefs to change the web of beliefs. But thoughts will not deeply change other thoughts. = What's really required for deep change in the system. The raising of awareness. -> As that happens, the web of beliefs starts to restructure itself. The reality of it: This web of beliefs is floating in a giant sea of awareness. Awareness is the only thing that's outside the web of beliefs. -> Awareness is the most fundamental thing you can ground yourself in. (Notice, that's not thinking, knowledge, belief, moralization, ideology, dogma, BUT awareness) • Confusing awareness with any of these is to get stuck in this network of beliefs and thoughts. -> The function of this network is to maintain homeostasis. Which is not Change. (Change truly comes from awareness.) • We have a tendency to want to force a change. If we somehow apply enough force in one part of the web of beliefs, that that'll somehow make a dent. -> We don't realize that the force is actually coming from a part of the network. This is where self-sabotage and homeostasis come from. • Counterintuitively, we have to let go and just work on raising awareness. And to have faith, that the change you seek will come as a natural byproduct of the raising of awareness, and not through some force applied within the system. -> The system is helpless to change itself, without awareness. = Because the web has to actually conceptually first grasp that it's not the only thing at work. That there's something beyond it at work. And that it has to surrender to the things beyond. Let this enter into your network of thinking. • Leo's Episodes are providing us with new concepts, thoughts, and beliefs. (Creating a little bit of initial leverage) -> Feeding a little bit of the right kind of beliefs and thoughts into your network. = Trusting that it'll trigger the awareness. -> Create an "Aha!" moment and insights. They don't come from thoughts. If you've been stuck in that cycle of self-sabotage. Try the alternative. Believe that the deepest change will come from: 1. An awareness of the damage that you cause yourself. 2. A natural desire for reality and truth. At the most fundamental level, all real change comes from alignment with truth. How to develop awareness: (There's no short cut for it. By simply sitting there and being aware) 1. Daily meditation habit. 2. Acutalized.Org videos talking about awareness (what truth and reality is, the illusions created by thoughts, how the mind plays tricks on you, etc) -> You'll get the right concepts into your web of beliefs, that'll allow a little bit of clearing for the awareness to start to arise and really take effect. = Over months and years, as you build up that up and as you flex your awareness muscle, it'll become so strong that a lot of the problems that you've had in your life will simply melt away and dissipate. Thanks, Leo!
This shit is getting very deep, i feel like now with all I have learnt from you there's no coming back, I will always know it when I'm "sleeping" and when I'm aware. There's no coming back. Let's just hope that it will take me to a good place in life in the long run.
+Zotykiel Zotykiel ok that's too many knows for me to comprehend. I am but a simple man. I just gave you the best answer i could think of at the moment so take it as you will.
Leo is hardly a newcomer to the RU-vid scene. He's been making vids for 3 years and if you've followed his content for a sufficiently long time, you probably already just assume that every single video is helpful and deserve praise.
I quit smoking reading the book “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking” but I just realized because of this video that that book just teach you awareness about your smoking habit, it even tell you not to stop smoking while reading the book, it is teaching you awareness but I just realized that if it worked for quitting smoking so well it could be applied to other habits. Thank you for that
His personality indicates that he might have done it for a while or at least tried it a few times but maybe it's more of a "natural high" from all the meditation
My unwanted behaviour is eating too much. Mindlessly or eating because something tastes good. I want to stop but its like an addiction I cant stop. People dont take me seriously becaude I dont look fat but I need to stop eating. I eat like 3000 calories and up sometimes. Your videos have put me on the right path. Please make more on addictions and self control! Thabk you.
Thank you so much !!! I had an anger problem, I could be in rage and insult people, or be very angry with my computer and now (it's only been 2 months since I've started to watch your videos) my problem has almost disappeared !! So I feel happier without that feeling of anger that I had quite a lot in my every day life, so thank you !!!!!!!! I'm in love with your website ❤❤❤ Kiss from france !!!
I am glad to have come across this video. The method is presented very vividly. Thank you for it! Somehow I have already come alone on this path. Unfortunately, it did not work, especially in the area of addiction. Now I know why. Instead of continuing consciously, I let myself fall into the unconscious. And I was back in it again. The fact that one is allowed to continue is good, because usually the will is exhausted, that's why it's time again. It should fall away like a ripe fruit, only then one is liberated.
Just when I think I've been blown away to capacity by Leo, he sneaks another one in. I'm an addict, who quit video games four years ago. First time I understand completely how I turned off any desire to play them. THANK YOU SIR.. now just to apply elsewhere. Namaste. (this video being 4 yrs old and my 4 yrs are coincidence)
This is such a relevant video in my life right now. I have several unwanted behaviors that keep me from enhancing my own personal development. I think I can try to apply this. Thank Leo!
Thanks Leo. This will be helpful as I lay out all the specific mechanisms of psychostasis (mental defenses against change) and transcendence (related to awareness).
Increasing awareness made me to see so many mechanisms I run on that it overwhelmed me. I came to the point I even noticed the way I punish myself for not being who I think I was. This is raddiculous to notice inner voice who actually hates me. I am sure the method you presented here will help me in my progress of detachment from my ego. I even did not realise that it is that much strong.
Yo Leo I' ve been following you for 6 months now and meditating every day, I just made my meditations 30 min long from 20 min since you uploaded you last video about meditation. You really changed my life and Im only 20 years old yet, I feel like you are showing me the path and make everything clear in my head with your videos.You always upload the perfect video for me right when I need something to make sure am on the right path. I cant imagine where will I be years from now. Im really greatful for founding you... One thing I have been having troubles for a long time and thats videogames, I was a gamer all my life, and I quit smoking and quit other bad habits thanks to self-actualizing but cant quit playing games. Im not really addicted to them since if Im away from computer for weeks, tottaly OK for me but when Im home just cant help playing. I tried to be aware while playing but feel like cant really play without being unaware. When playing its like I put all my focus and awereness on the game otherwise I cant really play.I cant find a middle-path. I tried to change things more "erraticly" like going somewhere else (instead of home) or doin some other stuff but its just doesnt fix it permanently. So my problem is I cant really be aware while playing because it takes all my focus and awereness on the game itself. How could I fix this? I know this is bit long and not the best english but have been wanting to write a comment like this in a long time! : ) Keep up the good work!
Try being aware of how unsatisfying the game is after you finish playing it. How you get bored with it and it just leaves you unfulfilled and searching for the next game.
I find it so crazy that I literally applied this in my life years ago, but now I see myself cluttered in bad habits.. this totally makes sense, it’s time to get to work!
My life changed tonight while watching the video that introduces us to our unawareness. I am without words to express to you my gratitude, which I guarantee will be eternal, at just that experience. I spent the rest of my evening in the nearest state of simple contented calm bliss. Now as I begin to watch this for the second time, I am seriously without words to describe what I experienced from this. You have played a pivotal role in saving my life. I physically felt something give inside my mind at the end of the first viewing. You answered questions I have sought the answers to for most of my life. You have introduced me to ideas that WILL save my life. I don't know if I can express just how dire and upon a high wire with no balancing pole my life has been the last 3 years. ... I am without words! And I only caught maybe 1/10 maybe of the contents?! You know fading in and out of sleep. Then as if I weren't already completely mind blown over what you have so graciously, beautifully given here, I was again shocked to my soul, how many views?!!! Only 3k? Please take the time to view this! How courageous and noble you are to engage in this way Leo! Before watching this tonight, those who know me best, and are close in this struggle with me would probably said one month to 3 tops before I would have just finally given in and been done. THIS IS ENOUGH THAT I SEE POTENTIAL THAT WILL TAKE ME THROUGH THIS LIFE AND WITHIN ME ETERNALLY.
Hello! Leo, Awareness is vital, essential to life, there is no doubt of its powerful effects. Things like porn, sex and eventually food, they release chemicals in the brain that makes one addicted to it. My intuition tells me, while listening to your video, that someone with porn addiction or sex addiction when acting out with a supposed awareness, it would not help but perhaps even emphasise or getting the behaviours refined-amplified. Being aware, the meditation in movement, observing ourselves, does not necessarily stop habits. If properly aware, step by step, working on the issue with patience, when aware, one would stop or diminish the acting out on the unwanted behaviour pattern. Doing whatever you already do, with no breaks and full awareness, it sounds to me like letting oneself go to a 'sleep' state that allows the 'acting out' on the unwanted behaviour. Being asleep here is then not being aware at all as they are opposites. There is more to it than just what you say, I think. I am sorry to mention that your approach on this video isn't quite accurate and can also be dangerous to people prone to addiction. My text is being written spontaneously, and I did not work on the text so that it may lack some more consistency and not be very convincing. My main point is that I feel it does not apply in all situation as you present it, and it may even be dangerous to certain people that for example are addicted to some behaviours, encouraging them to surrender and allowing them to get more addicted and get in trouble. Thank you for reading it. I did watch your whole video as so I did with so many other great ones.
This video really helped me Leo. There is another catch to it though. So, you realize how bad the habit is for you and you stop doing it, and after a while you say to yourself that this only happens when you're being fully conscious, and that when you're being unconscious about it it's actually good or "not that bad", and you don't need to keep suffering. Instead you go unconscious and keep that bad habit. At least that's what happened to me with coffee and smoking. I think the key here is consistency. Whatever you do, you may find yourself coming back to it, and when that happens just do it consciously so that it reminds you how bad it really is. I mean not bad bad, just unhealthy you know.
He's right you know. I have been doing this in my most succesfull periods of my life. I think I was able to enter that state of awareness because I was aware of the difficulties I might elsewise face later in life, my grandmother thought me this, by sharing with me we what she noticed(was aware of) things that I would do to myself and point out to me what resulted from that behavior and discuss with me if I noticed that too and it made me aware of what I was doing and I would start wondering what it would lead to if I were to keep continuing that behavior it made me aware if I would unconsciously start doing some certain behavior and the more I did it I become more aware of what it was what I was doing and then eventually I would just not even have the urge to anymore . I'm talking about the moments where I overname my some of my biggest difficulties. Like being shy, having more confidence, enhancing learning skills.. though I lost this skill of being aware for a while when a lot was happening in my life and I landen into depression. And up until not so long ago I tried neurotically to force myself to be more happy, and try to find solutions for different problems and it just made it worse for me. And the problems became worse I started talking more and more and more and more about my problems, wich became itself a really big problem for me socially and the wordt thing was that it made the original problems also a lot worse. So try to grasp what he's telling you here if you have certain problems you want tackled and you've already tried everything and nothing else helped or you may even have given up. Try it out, try doing it with more awareness. You won't regret, but you will have to train it because it's not something that you just simply do, you can't force this because forcing it will hold you from actually being aware. ;) Goodluck to you all
Hi Leo I applied your technique for an very strong unwanted behaviour of mine and while it wasn’t easy at first, I forced myself to be in that awareness state and man!!!! It was so awesome! O_O
