Ask Steve – Rapid-Fire Questions

Where do you live?

Las Vegas. It seemed a good place to honor my Catholic upbringing.

What’s your favorite color?

Blue. But I happen to be colorblind, so my blue might be a little different than yours.

What’s your favorite food?

Bananas.

Here’s my own banana shake recipe: Blend 2 frozen bananas (quartered), a handful of walnuts (about 10 walnut halves), 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and about 1 cup of cold water in a high-speed blender for 30-45 seconds. Delicious!

Variations: use rice or soy milk instead of water; use almonds, cashews, pecans, peanut butter, or almond butter instead of walnuts; use 4-5 dates or 1/2 cup of raisins instead of maple syrup; add 1-2 tablespoons cocoa or carob powder.

What do want written on your tombstone?

I’ve narrowed it down to three choices:

  1. Unoccupied
  2. Ding! Gratz!
  3. Visit www.stevepavlina.rip

Hey baby, what’s your sign?

Aries. There’s really no better sign than that. Just ask any Aries.

Where did you grow up?

Los Angeles.

Were you an only child?

No. I’m a firstborn with two younger sisters (both living in L.A.) and a younger brother (currently living in Tokyo, Japan).

When did you launch StevePavlina.com?

October 1st, 2004.

What’s your education?

12 years of Catholic school plus two degrees from California State University, Northridge: B.S. in Mathematics and B.S. in Computer Science. I learned a lot of B.S.

Why should I believe anything you say?

I don’t recommend that you do.

What are your credentials for writing about personal growth?

I was born really short, but after working on my growth for many years, I successfully reached a height of six feet.

What’s your stance on abortion?

I’m pro-conscious-choice.

What’s your stance on the death penalty?

I don’t favor it for humans, animals, or humans who behave like animals.

What are your views on sex?

I’m pro-sex. As long as it’s heart-centered and consensual, let the fun begin. Nothing beats a good shag.

Are you straight or gay?

100% straight… with just a slight bend to the left.

I’m a fetus guarding, lethal injecting, abstinent carnivore, and I find your remarks offensive.

That isn’t a question.

Why are you so ornery?

Probably because I went to an all boys Jesuit high school. One of my teachers was later revealed to be a child molester (no joke).

What do you find most depressing?

I don’t find depression because I don’t look for it. If a nuclear bomb went off, I’d enjoy my new tan while coaching the survivors to stop saying nucular.

Why do you write certain things that you know will offend or alienate part of your audience?

To help people become more aware of their resistance to joy. You can’t offend a truly joyful person. Or as Buddha would say, “If someone offers you a gift and you decline to accept it, to whom does the gift belong?”

Why is your web site so ugly?

So you have nothing pretty to look at except the content.

What was the best day of your life?

Today. That’s the only day there is.

Why are you here?

To help raise the consciousness of humanity, which obviously requires that I raise my own consciousness first. Plus I really love bananas.

What if you fail?

I return home, select another banana-loving family, and try again.

How can I tell how conscious I am?

Notice how much of your life is (a) a result of your conscious and deliberate choice, and (b) a source of tremendous joy for you. The more conscious you are, the easier it is to create a life that makes you very, very happy. Your life will be filled with what you love. You’ll be happy with your body, your mind, your emotions, your work, your relationships, and your purpose. Consciousness smooshes suffering.

Why are you so positive and happy? Is that for real?

I choose to be this way. I figure it’s better than spending my entire human existence crying for a diaper change.

Do you believe in God?

Of course. It seems only fair since She believes in me.

Why do you give joke answers to serious questions?

To help you become less of a fraidy cat.

Why is there so much suffering in the world?

There is suffering in your world because you unconsciously create it. Ironically, your own free will gives you that option. You have so much free will that you’re free to torture yourself if you want. To create suffering you need only fear. To eliminate suffering and experience joy instead, think love. In the absence of conscious awareness, fear is the default. Love can only be chosen consciously.

Are you a lightworker?

Yes.

Why is there an 11:11 in the corner of your site?

It’s a symbolic nod — a spiritual high-five if you will — to those who already know what it means. If you don’t know what it means, you can safely ignore it.

Are you a Democrat? A Republican? A member of the Green Party?

None of the above. I’ve never voted in any political election. I’m not even registered to vote.

You don’t vote? Why the heck not? Don’t you believe it’s your civic duty to vote?

I vote no to fear-based politics in order to vote yes to conscious living. When my country shifts to a more conscious system of governing that isn’t rooted in fear, I’ll gladly begin voting. In the meantime I choose to focus on ridding myself of fear first, since I can’t manifest anything better than a fear-based government while I still harbor fear within myself.

Would you ever want to run for U.S. President?

My loyalty is to that which unites us, not that which divides us. I can’t see myself ever being interested in a traditional political career because I don’t believe in favoring one group of humans over another, regardless of how they may feel about me. If I ever do get involved in politics though, I’m sure the media will have lots of fun with the material on this web site.

Do you follow any sports?

Nah. I’m here to participate, not watch from the sidelines. I do play disc golf regularly though.

Why don’t you have a regular job?

Because I didn’t order a regular life — I ordered a large. Jobs are unnecessary anyway; there are much easier ways to make a living.

Where does your concern for others come from? Why do you care what happens to other people?

Basic non-duality. I see everything that exists, including you, as an inseparable piece of myself. I regard consciousness as primary and the physical universe as arising from within that consciousness. I know my true identity is that consciousness, of which my physical body is merely a small part. Caring for others is therefore Self-care.

I find this a more accurate, congruent, and empowering paradigm than the popular notion that the physical universe is primary and consciousness arises from within it. Don’t knock it til you try it.

What difference do you think you as an individual can make in the world?

I think I can learn to replace my fear with unconditional love. Plan B is to rid this planet of the scourge of bananas.

This entry is part of the “Ask Steve” series. See the original Ask Steve post for details, or view the Archives (July 2006) to peruse the entire series.