Primary benefit of the workshop?

[Manomanman]

As time post rebirth, er, workshop passes, I'm going through a lot of phases. When I got back, I was just shellshocked by what just happened - I couldn't believe how amazing my new "mind" was, and the radical shift in perspective that I had. It was a mix of emotions, joy, discovery, and sorrow upon returning to my old life, but also joy at knowing that I was in the process of growing and moving on. This was all within the 2 days of leaving Vegas.

Then I felt intense agony the following week. Let's call this the healing crisis - kind of like when you start working out and things hurt really bad.

I'm entering into a new phase - a more stable phase.

Over time, I'm seeing that the primary benefit is that personal development lessons are "sticking" really well now. I'm able to make a lot of quick adjustments to my belief structure without a lot of effort. I'm doing all sorts of blogging, video journaling, talking to people in new ways and getting all sorts of new information about myself. I'm just shaking more and more rust out as time goes along. I've deeply internalized the TLP triangle.

It's sort of like I gained an "accelerator" on my personal development. I had a few breakthroughs at the conference, but what's more important than those experiences are the ways that I'm interacting with my day-to-day world. How I'm actually progressing at a startling fast pace - something that just dawned on me today.

What are you guys getting 1.5 weeks post-conference?

[Erin Pavlina]

I've gotten several emails from people who were at the workshop and they're all going through something similar. It's like you take off these glasses and see the world for how it is and you're not always prepared for what you see. Or it's like someone told you about something in the world and now it's all you can see whereas you couldn't see it before.

Keep using truth. Don't go dark or unconscious. If you are not sure about what to do with a situation, at least don't deny it is a situation.

You'll start to see things in a new light. Some of what you see can cause discomfort.

I like to think of PD like giving birth. Sometimes painful, but out comes this beautiful little baby to love.

[Manomanman]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

Or it's like someone told you about something in the world and now it's all you can see whereas you couldn't see it before.

That's a succinct way of putting it. While we were able to live in denial of a lot of things before the conference, it's almost impossible to go back to just ignoring how we feel.

Such a radical change might be disconcerting for some people, but I'm actually welcoming the experience.

[SMA]

Jesse, I commented on one of your blog posts a few days ago and with the input lately (post-workshop stuff) I still haven't read them all, but I was just looking through and was so ... impressed ... with the 'How Could I Have Been Such a Fool?' post that I actually made my honey stop the TV while I read it to him. He too was deeply touched and wondered if you would mind if he put a link to it on his facebook profile...he deeply agrees (as do I). Let me know.

I know you have evolved, so to speak, since then, and things are moving fairly quickly for you. It's amazing to observe from where I am...thanks for sharing what you have - I know some of it has been very difficult.

Love,

Shauna

[theorique]

I am feeling a bit frustrated because I am no longer in denial about a few things. At the same time I am extremely grateful that they have surfaced to the point where I can work on them consciously.

As a specific example, I have observed that I can very easily be extremely outgoing around friends, or in a structured social scenario[*]. However, in other situations such as in a supermarket or on the street, I feel 'blocked'.

The exercise of opening conversations with random strangers via 'stupid' questions has been surprisingly challenging for me and has raised some doubts - Am I as outgoing as I thought I was? Is the fear of 'rejection' stronger in me than I thought it was? What the heck is going on here? Why is my extroversion so situational?

I have never developed a feeling of shaking, pulse-pounding fear - it's more like my mind comes up with dumb 'self-protecting' excuses why I shouldn't talk to one person or another - e.g. this guy is a different race from me, so he'll think I'm bigoted if I ask him a stupid question; this woman is about my age and attractive, she'll think I am hitting on her with a gonzo pick-up line; this guy is wearing a suit, so he's probably a busy, hard-working businessman and he'll be annoyed that I am wasting his time with a stupid question. So I have a clear picture of the problem; the next step is finding a good solution.

Perhaps just grinding repetition of the stupid question exercise will be enough to break through this blockage, but in the meantime, I am frustrated that I seem to be giving so much power away in order to avoid the mere potential for (irrelevant) social rejection or disapproval from a stranger. Grr.

-jack
[*] For example, I was at a social event this evening where everyone had nametags and the vibe was lively, and I found it very easy to open conversations and talk to people I didn't know.

[StarieEyed]

Theorique,

I have the same problem with talking to ppl. I have not tried the stupid questions game, as I was not at the workshop but thats what runs though my mind when I'm looking for someone to ask a question at a store for example. Sometimes I feel I'm not "good enough" to talk to certian ppl and things like that. I need to get over that. I plan to do the "I'm a ten year old and want that shiny new bike" stuff to get to the next work shop! It should not be that hard since I sometimes get free rooms from Harrahs and live in Orange county so its not that far for me to drive. Though I am a stay at home mom so have no real form of income but really it should not be difficult. just have to get past the part where I would want to use that money to pay off debt instead of go to the work shop.

[Bing Wu]

Jack, it's funny you should mention that! I find myself questioning "do I ask this person, that person... he looks like he will blow me off", and it's funny because it's exposing my fears. I'm getting more comfortable now with questions, but there are still certain types of people who intimidate me, e.g. serious-looking business people... I often still get the pulse-pounding shaking fear you describe though, no matter who it is. I find I just have to act anyways, because there's generally disconnect between my fear and what I actually experience. It never quite goes the way I think it will. I have to say that the experience of opening up and growing my courage is amazing, and I wouldn't have started in this way, at this time without the workshop.

[Rachelle]

Originally Posted by Alex Wu

...I often still get the pulse-pounding shaking fear you describe though, no matter who it is. I find I just have to act anyways, because there's generally disconnect between my fear and what I actually experience. It never quite goes the way I think it will. I have to say that the experience of opening up and growing my courage is amazing...

I can relate well to this. I often experience this when I go to an audition. It is STUPID ridiculous. Maybe sometimes when performing in front of people, but more often than not its at an audition. It really really sucks and I constantly ask myself why am I putting myself through this!?! LOL. But I know it's to build my courage.

But I'm getting better! My last audition - I was barely nervous at all! FINALLY! Maybe that means I've finally gone up a level in courage and confidence, or something. What ever it is, it feels really good!

[SMA]

Perhaps it's also a matter of putting ourselves in peak state, vis a vis the paraliminal Steve offered on his blog a while back...I listened to this before the pre-workshop meetup and it took away the little bit of nerves I was feeling.

I also found that when I felt REALLY connected at the workshop, I had no problem talking to strangers afterwards because I just felt we were all connected and I loved them before I even spoke to them...so I didn't even worry about what they were thinking, almost like leaping over that barrier before it even got in the way. I was walking merrily down the Studio Walk the night after the last day and just talking to EVERYBODY, and everyone was friendly right back.

Maybe you can help me take a bit of my own medicine and help with this project? Making a Free Hugs video

[theorique]

Originally Posted by Alex Wu

Jack, it's funny you should mention that! I find myself questioning "do I ask this person, that person... he looks like he will blow me off", and it's funny because it's exposing my fears. I'm getting more comfortable now with questions, but there are still certain types of people who intimidate me, e.g. serious-looking business people... I often still get the pulse-pounding shaking fear you describe though, no matter who it is. I find I just have to act anyways, because there's generally disconnect between my fear and what I actually experience. It never quite goes the way I think it will. I have to say that the experience of opening up and growing my courage is amazing, and I wouldn't have started in this way, at this time without the workshop.

That makes sense. I definitely find the procrastination instinct creeping in as I think about what to say and whom to say it to when I am walking around intending to do the exercise. Maybe I'll talk to the next person, hmmm... no, maybe the next, no, maybe the next...

I agree that when I finally get it done, it never goes the way I expect. I think more practice and not accepting any excuses is the best answer I have at the moment. If I have a great breakthrough I will let everyone know my secret weapon

Originally Posted by Rachelle

But I'm getting better! My last audition - I was barely nervous at all! FINALLY! Maybe that means I've finally gone up a level in courage and confidence, or something. What ever it is, it feels really good!

Excellent! It always feels good to look back at something that was formerly a challenge and realize that it's not as big a deal any more.

Originally Posted by SMA

Perhaps it's also a matter of putting ourselves in peak state, vis a vis the paraliminal Steve offered on his blog a while back...I listened to this before the pre-workshop meetup and it took away the little bit of nerves I was feeling.

I agree - mood is a key part of it. I was feeling fairly low walking to work a couple of days ago - the weather was getting colder and I thought I was getting a virus - and I had no energy to approach anyone and say something silly. Ideally it would not depend on our internal state - our 'will' could simply override this when we make a committed decision to do something - but it's not always easy when a behavior or habit is new and unfamiliar.

-jack

[Manomanman]

Originally Posted by SMA

He too was deeply touched and wondered if you would mind if he put a link to it on his facebook profile...he deeply agrees (as do I). Let me know.

Shauna

Hey Shauna, you're more than welcome to link to my blog. In fact, let anybody you know who's struggling with this know that a super crazy angst-filled futurist is coming up with a solution as we speak.

I'm trying to get "hooked in" right now blog-wise - setting up facebook, twitter, getting a forum going (eventually). Before Steve's workshop, I was completely disconnected and out-of-touch with the world. But I REALLY want to hook in and see if I have something to offer.

I'll be posting up some "pillar content" soon. Right now, I'm just mashing keys on my keyboard, desperately trying to grasp for some kind of direction. It's turning out to be Steve Pavlina-meets-1984

I'll try and get email going ASAP on the blog. Thanks for the feedback!

[SMA]

Well, unquestionably you have something to offer - you already have. On that note, in order to attract more traffic to your blog, Jesse, you can change your posts from numeric to post name by going into the settings. People searching for certain topics (you've covered a lot already) will find you in this way, once the articles are indexed on search engines.

Hmmm...I don't sense any sarcasm when you speak on the blog about the cynicism you feel, and about finding ways to manipulate the system and the 'stupid people' in it to your own ends...I'm curious how we fit into this. You're being a little warm and fuzzy here, but by your post about resonating with Steve's dark side and your expectation that he might eventually burst forth and go nuts on the Darkworker side of things (kind of a funny image, actually)...you seem a little, shall we say, less so. Not that I don't understand, I'm just wondering what's 'real' for you...

[Dukie]

Originally Posted by Manomanman

What are you guys getting 1.5 weeks post-conference?

I got what I wanted to get from the workshop: accelerated growth. Post-workshop I moved out of my parents' house, I disconnected from my old circle of disempowering friends, I moved to a much bigger city 70 miles from where I used to live and I'm now connecting with more conscious friends to get a mastermind personal development group going.

I'm continuing to eat healthier (snacking on some pineapple as I'm writing this), I quit smoking weed, am more social, keep hugging people (although Antwerp has a lesser hug-vibe), am more productive and more motivated than ever to accomplish the goals I set.

Planet B rocks

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Dukie

Planet B rocks

Definitely!

Perhaps I should have warned you about the intense g-forces during blastoff.

[Manomanman]

Originally Posted by SMA

Not that I don't understand, I'm just wondering what's 'real' for you...

Hey Shauna, thanks for the advice. I'm going to put my blogging on steroids this weekend. I haven't rolled out the "big content" yet, I'm waiting to get my feet on the ground technology-wise, in addition to "voice-wise" JesseLovesYou.com » How to Become a Blogger – Step 1: Find Your Voice Online

I'm attempting to be more real - I have a sarcastic side, which comes through in my writing. But I'm also really passionate and driven. A lot of my writing sounds like I"m playing a "character" - but the passion that comes through in my writing is a very deep part of me.

If you look at my other forum posts in the main 8 or so forums, you'll notice that I "stay in character" - because I'm really passionate about affecting change in the world.

When I'm talking to somebody that I feel a more direct connection to, I learned (at the CGW) to be more direct and "with the person". I try to be in the moment when I'm really connecting with another person - it's more about them than my blog.

You'll notice a bit of that trickling into my blog posts once I get things situated. I'm not really good at doing comments and trackbacks and I don't have a contact page. I'm basically "insulated" from the dialogue I want to create with readers, and it's irritating me a lot right now.

I have about 5 "pillar articles" that I really want to get up ASAP, and then I'll initiate more of an ongoing dialogue with my readership.

-Jesse

[SMA]

Your passion comes through in every single word, Jesse.

I was just curious about the dichotomy between the desire you say you have to change the world, to wake people up, and then your statements about wanting to focus only on getting power for yourself a la darkworking (yes, i understand it's not eveil at all, AND I understand the motivation behind it).

Then again, I suspect many of us who are thoughtful have these conflicts...

[Manomanman]

I made that post about how the Emperor is not evil. I think I need to blog more about why self-interest is good for the world.

If I had enough power such that I had the equivalent of $50,000,000 under my control, the world would be a very different place. There are oligarchs worth trillions who see fit to let the world remain the way it is. They are a dieing breed.

The next generation will swallow their wealth and re-appropriate it for technological advancement.

[Steven Ledgerwood]

Originally Posted by Manomanman

What are you guys getting 1.5 weeks post-conference?

Primary benefit for me:

I have reframed the way I view my life and purpose. Now, I don't feel the same need to seek/find/achieve a particular external life situation or purpose. It has been helpful for me to view the overarching purpose of life as growing and fully experiencing existence from the starting point of where I am right now.

Viewing life in this way, I'm better able to accept fully the totality of my current life situation AND my desire to create new experiences. This has been a subtle, but dramatic shift in my perspective.

[MichaelHowe]

Originally Posted by Manomanman

What are you guys getting 1.5 weeks post-conference?

I quit college and started my blog too, Jesse! I'm SWIMMING right now. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I have to go write right now. XD

BTW, I love your blog. It's great reading that someone else has some similar experiences trying to start up their blog and then seeing them doing it anyway.

[Manomanman]

College is a massive ripoff.

[zackster]

Originally Posted by Manomanman

College is a massive ripoff.

Oh really? I never would have gotten my job if not for my college diploma.