Living Subjectively (Blog)

[Savage]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Living Subjectively

[Angela]

I expect that by the end of the 30 days, all of my relationships will be radically transformed — for the better I believe.

this aspect (the part of you that posts a lot on your forums) is jumping for joy!

[Angelique]

Holy ****balls. I see a lot of myself in this post. I grew up Seventh-Day Adventist (I'm not anymore)...my grandpa was a pastor in the church for a looong time...I got news he passed yesterday. My grandma left a couple of months ago, so I'm not surprised. They would both wake up early and read the Bible. This is too weird.
I felt very nervous and excited about the future while reading this post. This actually kind of freaking me out, because I know things are about to change for me in a big way.

I'm not surprised that he was very accepting though. I do a lot of complaining about the religion but they're actually some of the most accepting people I've met. I just doubt that they will be accepting beforehand. Lots of vegetarians too.

[roxyruby]

I am only going to appear as a piece of text and an avatar picture then I am going to vanish. Because I am not real. I am all your creation in your head. So bye! I'll probably become real again in a little while on another thread, but only if your eyes are looking at it. *ceases to exist as you look away*

[Savage]

Originally Posted by roxyruby

I am only going to appear as a piece of text and an avatar picture then I am going to vanish. Because I am not real. I am all your creation in your head. So bye! I'll probably become real again in a little while on another thread, but only if your eyes are looking at it. *ceases to exist as you look away*

I knew it! Thanks for finally admitting the truth. I appreciate your honesty.

Now if the other figments would just drop the facade as well...

[roxyruby]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I knew it! Thanks for finally admitting the truth. I appreciate your honesty.

Now if the other figments would just drop the facade as well...

You're welcome. Yes exactly. Give it up billions of fellow nothings and nobodies. you are nothing but a fleeting image and thought in one man, Steve Pavlinas head, the only human being, or god or whatever, in the universe/multiverse/whateververse. You have no brain. You have no perspective. You can't think, see, feel, hear, or smell. Only he can. Surrender to the realization of your non existence.

[jayh]

Originally Posted by roxyruby

I am only going to appear as a piece of text and an avatar picture then I am going to vanish. Because I am not real. I am all your creation in your head. So bye! I'll probably become real again in a little while on another thread, but only if your eyes are looking at it. *ceases to exist as you look away*

LOL - isn't it really the other way around? In my dream I created this great character named Steve Pavlina who is teaching me all about subjective reality.

[supertom]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I knew it! Thanks for finally admitting the truth. I appreciate your honesty.

Now if the other figments would just drop the facade as well...

I'll drop it when you drop it "Mr.come into existence" only to make posts than cease to exist BTW I only come into existence to read your blog.

It's fun dancing anyway.

[roxyruby]

Originally Posted by jayh

LOL - isn't it really the other way around? In my dream I created this great character named Steve Pavlina who is teaching me all about subjective reality.

Yes. I guess you manifested me with my perspective because you have some doubt within you. *Vanishes again into nothingness*

[roxyruby]

Ok so if everything is totally your dream and we don't exist, why do we have to come to your website to read your blog? Why can't we just know it all instantly without coming to your website? Maybe that is the only reality you can imagine for now. But maybe you could give your self some tests. Like if you can't make something so big and giantly strange happen that it would have to mean we aren't real...

Like think of an experiment to prove we aren't real and you're the only one that does exist maybe...

*Vanishes and ceases to exist as you look away*

[Savage]

Originally Posted by roxyruby

Ok so if everything is totally your dream and we don't exist, why do we have to come to your website to read your blog? Why can't we just know it all instantly without coming to your website? Maybe that is the only reality you can imagine for now. But maybe you could give your self some tests. Like if you can't make something so big and giantly strange happen that it would have to mean we aren't real...

Like think of an experiment to prove we aren't real and you're the only one that does exist maybe...

*Vanishes and ceases to exist as you look away*

When there is knowing, proof is unnecessary.

What sense does it make to prove something to a dream character anyway? If you have doubts, it's because they're mine.

My doubts sure post a lot.

I like to distance myself from my doubts most of the time though, keeping them neatly tucked away in Australia, a place that doesn't actually exist yet.

[jayh]

Originally Posted by roxyruby

Yes. I guess you manifested me with my perspective because you have some doubt within you. *Vanishes again into nothingness*

Touché!

Seriously though - great article. It spoke directly to me once again. So many thoughts to process now.

I loved the plane ride story. I often struggle with my own authority when it comes to intimate conversations with people who have very different beliefs than my own - (okay, I have a major issue with it). At least now I have another way of thinking about it,other than feeling guilty for not standing up for my own beliefs. I think I need to work on that more... Or maybe I'll just keep blaming it on my mom! Wonder why I created all those problems with her in my dream world? Gotta process that one too.

[st33med]

What kinda person would draw a map of this really weird imaginary continent???

[roxyruby]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

When there is knowing, proof is unnecessary.

What sense does it make to prove something to a dream character anyway? If you have doubts, it's because they're mine.

My doubts sure post a lot.

You can know something and be wrong....or be right in a way....but it turns out to be something different than you thought....

For example I used to "know" that God existed and he spoke to me. I felt confident with this inner knowledge and that some other people just didn't know "the truth"

Oh I knew because I had proof. My prayers would be miraculously answered. This only strengthened my belief.

But then I learned about the law of attraction and it explained what had been happening to me in a better way.

I have known things that have turned out to be false, or different from how I thought.

And it will keep changing, as you keep an open mind and keep learning. There are probably things I know right now that are false, or at least not true in the way I think, and have a better explanation than I know.

But If you have a closed mind, you limit yourself from greater understandings.

So "Knowing" is not enough. "Knowing" has never meant proof of anything.

But people also have the right to believe whatever they want. I guess how boring would it be if we all believed the same ideas?

*Ceases to exist as you look away*

[roxyruby]

Originally Posted by st33med

What kinda person would draw a map of this really weird imaginary continent???

no one drew it, Steve imagined it! or imagined that they drew it! Steve, why did you imagine that my imaginary character lives in a country that is of that shape?? why!!? can you imagine that I move to sweden? thanks

[Savage]

Same figment who drew this one:

[sidelko]

Steve, while you're on your current 30 day trial have you thought of going to Burning Man at the end of the month. Yes, it might take more planning to get there then you were planning on having this month, but once you're there you can have some of the most amazing unplanned experiences. With an open mind, you can leave your tent and have some of the most amazing experiences. Just follow what paths are opened and go along for the ride.

[Cochonette]

I LOVE this post. Favorite Steve post in a long time. Thanks for sharing this dream, NPC Steve. I love how the characters in my dream have cool dreams for me.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by st33med

What kinda person would draw a map of this really weird imaginary continent???

I never before noticed that Australia looks just like the head of a Great Dane dog.

[st33med]

Originally Posted by Angela

I never before noticed that Australia looks just like the head of a Great Dane dog.

Haha, you're right? What kind of insane non-existant person would make this?

[Angela]

A dog-loving one?

[st33med]

Originally Posted by Angela

A dog-loving one?

*GASP*

I might have made it!!!

[Angela]

This Aspect is noticing a LOT more love around these forums all of a sudden. Coincidence? This Aspect thinks not.

[Elfwing]

Originally Posted by Angela

I never before noticed that Australia looks just like the head of a Great Dane dog.

OMG IT DOES. Hahaha!


See, the only problem I have with this belief system is the whole "other people don't exist" thing. It feels like a superiority complex. Not that I'm saying Steve has one, but for me to adopt it would feel that way. "I'm real and you're not" just seems... well, everyone knows the sci-fi stories about how clones are invalid and inferior to the real thing. That's the only way I can describe it.

Subjectively, though, "they're not real so they can't really get hurt" seems to apply, but that doesn't satisfy me. I can get hurt. So why can't they, real or not? It feels like a self centered attitude to adopt.

That all said, if I adopted such an attitude I'd feel far more confident. In video games I can roleplay a charismatic character and feel totally okay with it. Subjective reality would help me become the person I want to be a lot easier because there would be less to fear.

And yet, it would be lonely. If those people don't exist, then I'm not really with somebody when they're there, am I?

I actually had this attitude when I was little. I can remember thinking everyone was a robot who disappeared when I wasn't around them, but it faded away as I got older.

[supertom]

annoying imaginary figments teasing my imaginary country

[danas]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I actually saw a boost in web traffic due to the extra publicity over this event. Yesterday was my highest-traffic day in nearly 2 months.

Talk about subjective reality! I had hardly been on this site in 2 months and yesterday I spent a while here.

This reminds me, two nights ago I was at a bar with friends from out of town. There I met a friend of the friend's friend and we started chatting. I could tell this guy was attracted to me but pulled away. I asked him what vibe I gave out and he totally gave me a spot on intuitive reading about my character. Then I did the same to him.
Then he said to me- lets play a game. We are complete strangers, and he is leaving the country the next day- "I invite you to tell me your biggest secret. Something you have never told to anyone. Something you are ashamed of" And then he would do the same. We promised we would never reveals out secrets to anyone, and that we wouldnt judge eachother.

It took a lot of me saying no. But then after 10 minutes of convincing me I did it. At first it felt strange, but I knew this had nothing whatsoever to do with him. It was about me. Subjective reality! It was about not hiding anything. Letting go of my ego. It was scary. But we both did it. And then he convinced me to share another one, and I did it again. He wanted a third one, but I told him I would tell him a third one if we ever meet again.
Interesting thing was after I told him my unattractive by all means secrets, he said- Wow! Im in love with you!!
Interesting and deep lesson there..

My other friends were having chit chat conversations around, but me and this stranger were having a totally intense conversation that lasted several hours.
I doubt I will ever see him again. But again this was not about him.
A day before I felt like I wanted to aim to be more humble, and not being attached to my ego. And this is exactly what I got.

[roxyruby]

Originally Posted by Elfwing

OMG IT DOES. Hahaha!


See, the only problem I have with this belief system is the whole "other people don't exist" thing. It feels like a superiority complex. Not that I'm saying Steve has one, but for me to adopt it would feel that way. "I'm real and you're not" just seems... well, everyone knows the sci-fi stories about how clones are invalid and inferior to the real thing. That's the only way I can describe it.

Subjectively, though, "they're not real so they can't really get hurt" seems to apply, but that doesn't satisfy me. I can get hurt. So why can't they, real or not? It feels like a self centered attitude to adopt.

That all said, if I adopted such an attitude I'd feel far more confident. In video games I can roleplay a charismatic character and feel totally okay with it. Subjective reality would help me become the person I want to be a lot easier because there would be less to fear.

And yet, it would be lonely. If those people don't exist, then I'm not really with somebody when they're there, am I?

I actually had this attitude when I was little. I can remember thinking everyone was a robot who disappeared when I wasn't around them, but it faded away as I got older.

Yeah I even considered the possibility of it before I even heard the proper theories...

What I thought was....

Imagine if everyone in my life is just an actor and everything in my life is made up? Like they are acting out of a script, making me think that this is just my normal life...
Ofcourse that would mean that sooo many people have their whole life focused on ME and in tricking ME lolol.
It's silly, but it's possible haha.

[Cochonette]

If those people don't exist, then I'm not really with somebody when they're there, am I?

Elfy, you haven't entirely understood yet. Go read Steve's original article on subjective reality. Of course they're there - just because they're dreams doesn't mean they're not there. We're all dreams of ourselves anyway - that's the point. It's not just others who are dreams, but ourselves. If ourselves are dreams, then so is loneliness. Loneliness is just another character in your dream.

[Elfwing]

Originally Posted by Cochonette

Elfy, you haven't entirely understood yet. Go read Steve's original article on subjective reality. Of course they're there - just because they're dreams doesn't mean they're not there. We're all dreams of ourselves anyway - that's the point. It's not just others who are dreams, but ourselves. If ourselves are dreams, then so is loneliness. Loneliness is just another character in your dream.

I do find this thing hard to understand. It took me a long time to finally "get" Oneness, too.

Thanks, I'll take a look at the article.

[Clearer Waters]

Now these are the types of posts that got me interested in this blog...so many years ago.