Posts by Michael Gonzalez77

I’ve become a better person. I’m more tolerant, more compassionate, and more well-intentioned—and I don’t even have to try to change my mindset; these qualities have just naturally surfaced in how I act and live my life.

I’ve definitely grown up, which comes with age, but I’ve also become much sharper. That’s purely the result of my spiritual dedication. It’s helped me cut down on mental fatigue and boosted my ability to observe things clearly because I maintain a steady emotional state. My thinking isn't weighed down by heavy emotions anymore. Most of those frustrations caused by sudden shifts in circumstances have vanished. Things feel incomparably clearer now, and because of that, interacting with others doesn't trigger those old, damaging reactions.

I feel fulfilled. I’m experiencing a genuine sense of joy and satisfaction in living, finally free from that useless internal baggage—all that old negativity toward myself, toward others, or toward specific situations. Even those old habits of saying, "I don't want to do this," or "I hate doing that..." are gone.

To give you some context, years ago—the complete opposite of where I am today—I was deeply unhappy and anxious. I hit a breaking point where my entire system and personality collapsed. I suffered a severe psychotic break and ended up hospitalized several times at a psychiatric facility in New York City. As a result, I actually sustained permanent brain tissue damage in a certain area because I couldn't sleep for nearly a month straight, fueled by the destructive thoughts of deep, anxious depression. A few years before that, I had started practicing certain things as a total amateur—just a hobby, a way to pass the time—but after everything I went through, I began approaching these practices with much more seriousness.

Those frequent bouts of nervousness and resistance—the kind that seem to come out of nowhere but feel "normal" to most people—have mostly disappeared. They happen incredibly rarely for me now, especially over the last two years.

Instead, I’ve found a stable, good mood and a sense of harmony. It’s a state of being that I can actually use to contribute positively to the world around me.

I don't believe you can spend twenty years working on yourself without seeing results that lead to personal harmony. If that doesn't happen, then it isn't true spiritual development; something is fundamentally wrong if someone spends years "developing" without any change. When a person becomes a harmonious individual—meaning their way of thinking is sound and naturally prevents them from emitting harmful, negative thoughts or emotions—it’s because they’ve faced the classic struggles of the human condition. They didn't just ignore them; they looked at them, cleared the blockages, and moved past them. This isn't just for their own sake, either. And no, this doesn't mean they are "delusional" or "living in a fantasy land." It’s actually the opposite. People who "live in a fantasy land" are just being dishonest with themselves, trying to make the rug look clean while ignoring all the mess piled up underneath. Ignoring that mess is what creates real problems.

There’s nothing "supernatural" about the manifestations of the spirit, if that’s how you want to view it. It’s entirely natural. Behind the scenes, it’s all connected to your aura, your thought patterns, your stress levels, and your energy. It’s about spiritual knowledge and actually applying it. Spiritual knowledge is inherently tied to the axioms of a Presence that we are all a part of. Calling it supernatural is just a misunderstanding by people who want to pursue spirituality without the actual depth of it (which is essentially personal psychology). Unfortunately, when you skip that, progress is painfully slow. You could spend twenty years working on yourself and realize you haven't actually improved much. You haven't cleared away the flaws that inevitably get in the way of a person's natural virtues. Flaws are just ballast; they obstruct our true nature. And when a human being's nature is freed from that weight, harmony is the inevitable result.

Elizabeth Sanchez2 said:It’s perfectly normal to have desires—you can't exactly exist without them—but you shouldn't get too caught up in the obsession. Even someone retreating to a monastery in rural Montana to meditate still has the desire to reach enlightenment...

Exactly.
Obviously, we aren't talking about a total absence of desire as some kind of starting line—that’s just impossible. Rather, as someone progresses spiritually, they eventually reach a point where they don't hold onto any material cravings that would hold them back. Eventually, they realize they don't need specific personal goals anymore; instead, they simply act upon the callings that feel clear to them, fulfilling their inherent purpose. They aren't doing this for themselves, though—they do it for the greater good, specifically for the benefit of others.
The desire for enlightenment isn't one of those "attachments" mentioned in the quote. In fact, a person doesn't even need to have the specific urge or even the concept of what enlightenment is to achieve it. Before you hit that state, you have no way of knowing what it actually feels like. So, you might not even crave "that thing" people call enlightenment—not that you could truly conceptualize it anyway, since true enlightenment exists far beyond the mental grasp of an unenlightened mind.

Seeking spiritual growth isn't some forced obligation that triggers action once a person starts living a desireless life. At that stage, growth becomes completely organic. It’s like a natural law—think of how planets naturally orbit Sun City if they are placed within its gravitational pull. But before reaching that stage, a person has to build up enough momentum through spiritual focus, patience, and discipline. It's like building up speed until you reach a point where development becomes pure inertia. From there, growth happens because it's a natural necessity rather than something driven by external conditions. To put it another way, it takes massive creative effort to reach a position where creativity itself becomes an autonomous need—where it seeks its own expression everywhere.

A beautiful quote for you:

"Fulfilling a desire doesn't actually end it; it just pushes it aside for a moment before it resurfaces even stronger. Think about when you're hungry—you eat to satisfy that craving, but pretty soon, you're hungry all over again. If you overeat, you might even feel pain or discomfort right in the middle of satisfying that urge. It’s the same with any worldly desire. They offer nothing more than fleeting moments of happiness. Even at the very peak of fulfillment, that joy starts to fade almost instantly. Because of this, worldly desires can never lead to lasting peace. Instead, they inevitably invite endless suffering. When someone is consumed by these earthly cravings, an overwhelming harvest of hardship is bound to follow. Desire is the root of great suffering: that is simply the law of life."

Elizabeth Sanchez2 said:Interesting—not sure if you’re actually into spiritual disciplines or just some kind of "self-taught" enthusiast?

Honestly, I’m just incredibly hard on myself. 🙂

I really believe in one core principle that you have to work on constantly, otherwise you’ll just end up spinning your wheels: focus on good thoughts, good words, and good deeds—and don't cut corners. Spirituality doesn't allow for compromises. You can practice all the techniques you want, but if the goal isn't to be a decent human being—to stop harboring negativity and to help others whenever the opportunity arises—then those techniques are pretty much useless. Life isn't just a set of exercises.
Prayer matters, and God is especially important, but serving God through our treatment of people is what truly counts. Whatever you choose to call it, that's the heart of it.

Elizabeth Sanchez2 said:My question boils down to this: people who can say—without any hesitation—that they’re actually happy. I want to know if there are more of them from the first group or the second... that's all.

You might find this answer a bit confusing or even contradictory at first glance, so feel free to ask for clarification if you need it. 🙂

I’m just a happy madman. To me, this world barely matters—sometimes it feels like it doesn't even exist. Other times, it feels just as fleeting as my own shifting thoughts, much like my life or anything else I ever do. I mostly experience life like a dream, a sort of vision. Sometimes it’s a nightmare, sometimes it’s pure paradise, but in the end, it’s Nothingness within nothingness. I don't care about the outcome, any grand narrative it might spin for me, or any personal success or specific goals. They don't really interest me because dreams are like sea foam; they can be beautiful, they can be a joke, they can be terrifying, and they can lead a person to lose themselves by believing they actually live in some "real" world.

On the flip side, despite everything I just said, I still get a kick out of thinking about things I truly care about. These things are purely positive and incredibly useful. Plus, I’m the one who has to make them happen since I’m the one who understands them; I dive in, research, try to contribute as much as I can, and give it my absolute all to see things through.

Then there's a third point: even with all that "on the flip side" stuff, none of it really touches me deeply. I’ve given myself completely. I also realize that nothing I achieve belongs to the "me" who feels like he should own things. I don't belong to this world, nor does this world belong to me—in a different sense, we are One (neither truly exists categorically, and ultimately, I exist and this world exists within me). Because of that, I try to wake up all those sleeping, frightened people, because I was once terrified myself before I burned myself down to nothing.

Ding-dong! 🙂🙂

David Fisher23 said:Are you suggesting that the drive toward human virtue and spiritual self-actualization is generally weaker in modern society than it was, say, 100 or 200 years ago? I would argue the exact opposite: the pursuit of spirituality is more prevalent today than at any other point in history. People are turning inward more than ever, attempting to understand themselves and cultivate their individualism, whether that manifests through spiritual practice or other means.

The trend toward spirituality has definitely spiked over the last 20 years—especially the last decade. But if we look at the big picture of human civilization, people aren't nearly as focused on this as they were 3,000 or 4,000 years ago when it was at its absolute peak. Back then, there wasn't even a clear line between what we consider "sacred" and "secular" today, though obviously, they had a completely different worldview and way of thinking.

This massive push for individualism and self-fulfillment feels a bit like a fad nowadays (mostly among the younger crowd). Sure, it has its pros and cons, but it’s still a long way from the core principles of true spirituality and the cultivation of virtue—those foundational ideas dating all the way back to Ancient Greece. That said, there is a real chance this movement could go mainstream and create some genuinely positive shifts. It's a lot like how globalization works: while controversial, its goal is to gradually smooth out the social frictions and rigid norms that lead to conflict, especially regarding race, nationality, or religion.

David Fisher23 said:I see your point, though I wouldn't limit the fallout of this "fatalistic attachment" strictly to moments of failure. When we harbor a desire, we aren't just chasing a finish line; we are pursuing a sense of purpose. But fulfillment doesn't only stem from the final result—it often comes from the pursuit itself, the very act of wanting. Therefore, I suspect this emotional erosion can also occur when we actually achieve what we set out to do, simply because the victory itself extinguishes the desire that fueled us in the first place, effectively stripping us of our purpose.

The real issue is the principle, not just the small details. Staying detached from worldly desires—meaning not trying to find your entire sense of self through things that are fleeting and temporary (which is what I was getting at in my original post)—is key. On the flip side, there are certain values that have always been vital, even if they feel scarce today. I’m talking about developing character, striving for self-actualization through spirituality, seeking self-knowledge, and finding a mental freedom that isn't shackled to any specific idea or impression, all while still living life to the fullest.

The goal, then, is to recognize the importance of these worldly results without being consumed by them. It makes life feel complete because, fundamentally, a person should be able to experience and enjoy everything. Positive outcomes become a bonus, while setbacks simply become lessons for further growth. Of course, that’s easier said than done—for an average person, it’s an almost impossible mission. But even aiming for it helps unbind your psyche and frees your consciousness from the various norms that stifle true personal growth.

This is a powerful, honest piece of writing. If it doesn't click for you immediately, you might need to sit with it for a minute and really let it sink in. The point isn't that we shouldn't have desires or that we should become emotionless shells. It’s about how we get dangerously attached to the outcomes. We obsess over the results, and that attachment eats us alive every single time reality doesn't line up with what we wanted. That emotional tether breaks us down internally, creating a cycle where we just react the same wrong way over and over again.

"Satisfying a desire doesn't actually end it; it just pushes it aside for a moment before it comes roaring back even stronger. Think about when you're starving—you eat to kill that hunger, but pretty soon, you're hungry again. And if you overeat, you end up feeling sick and miserable even while you're technically fulfilling that craving. It’s the same deal with everything else in this life. These desires might offer a fleeting moment of joy, but even at the very peak of satisfaction, that happiness starts to fade. Materialistic cravings can never lead to lasting peace. In fact, they almost always invite endless suffering. When someone is consumed by worldly desires, they are essentially planting the seeds for a massive harvest of pain. Desire is the root of all suffering: that's just how the math works."

electricstag16 said:No, buddy, you aren't bothering me. I'm the one bothering you. And I am not going to back down until you finally show your true colors.

Now you’re just proving my point. Thanks for that. Honestly, I doubt you even realize it, since you're just singing the same old tune you accuse everyone else of playing.

🙂

electricstag16 said:Don't worry, you aren't bothering me. Don't flatter yourself. Your intuition is consistently flawed, and apparently, that's nothing to you?
I will post wherever I please, much to your chagrin. I know you'd love for me to just disappear, but I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

Don't go thinking you're important here. I don't have any beef with you or your posts, but let's get one thing straight: stick to the topic at hand instead of judging everyone else's character—especially based on your own biased perspective. That kind of attitude says everything about who you are and nothing about anyone else.

And if I were actually being harassed, you wouldn't be "clinging" to me like this. That part should be pretty obvious.

So—my apologies.

electricstag16 said:Try to make sense when you write, for heaven's sake.

You don't get it? Fine... look, maybe try to chill out and manage your own stress levels. It feels like I'm somehow responsible for you getting worked up or feeling that knot in your stomach, if that’s the vibe you’re giving off through your tone. Just give yourself a break for being annoyed at "some guy" on a forum, and stick to the actual threads—you're constantly drifting off-topic.

😁better?

There, now I've added a little bit of drama and suffering for you.

electricstag16 said:How kind of you to offer forgiveness, even though there isn't much to forgive.
Don't make excuses; you know perfectly well why you stay silent.
You think you "understand" the impulse that brings me here? Please. You don't even understand yourself...

Forgive yourself if I'm being too persistent, and if you've got stuff to say, just say it—let's finally move on to the actual topics at hand.

electricstag16 said:

I don't care what anyone says, the whole thing is a mess. It’s absolute chaos. I remember back when I was working for a logistics firm in Chicago, dealing with similar nonsense—nothing ever works the way it's supposed to. You try to follow the rules, you try to do things by the book, and yet, here we are again. Just another example of total incompetence. It's frustrating, honestly. Unacceptable. kaže:
You have to forgive yourself for your own stupidity first; otherwise, it’s going to haunt you every single night.

You’re making this PDF way too difficult on yourself. Honestly, given how fragile your health is and how thin your patience has become lately, you really ought to be more careful with what you have left. Considering you live by that whole philosophy of "never forgiving yourself," it sounds like there's just no saving you.

I thought you were just ignoring me. Or is this just what happens when you’re backed into a corner and realize you have absolutely nothing to say?
How on earth are you supposed to know my medical history? Do you have X-ray vision or something? Or maybe you're just staring into some crystal ball to make these baseless claims?
Where on earth did you get the idea that my philosophy is about "refusing to forgive myself"? Do you even have a clue what that actually means? A straw man.?

Look, you've done enough trolling. Just tell us what you actually think about this topic. Half the time you're just uninteresting and throwing out bait, which is why I don't bother responding. Sometimes you're funny enough to engage with, but usually, you're just a rigid, one-dimensional guy—that's why talking to you is such a chore. Still, I get why you feel the need to hang out here.

Don't worry, I forgive you for everything. 😉

electricstag16 said:Exactly. You take a life, then you just give yourself some easy grace and suddenly everything is fine.
Honestly, you spiritualists seem to revolve entirely around "me, me, and more me."
And then you have the nerve to claim that the "self" doesn't even exist.
I wonder (rhetorically), can you actually find it in yourselves to forgive your own stupidity?

First thing you need to do is forgive yourself for your own stupidity, otherwise, it’ll haunt your sleep for years.

Hang in there on this forum; you've always been a bit more fragile, both physically and mentally, so try to protect what little peace you have left. Based on your whole philosophy of "refusing to forgive oneself," you're basically walking into a dead end.

James Lopez11 said:Has anyone here actually reached out to ask for forgiveness? I mean, truly, sincerely? Was it humble, and did the apology actually land when it happened? I’m not sure if this counts as spiritual stuff—this isn't from some self-help book or anything—but I'm in the middle of it right now. I’ve realized how some of my past actions really messed things up for someone else. I can feel the negative energy lingering, but I also feel like if I can find a way to be genuinely sorry deep down, that energy might just heal itself... both in me and in them. What do you guys think about that?

You can—and honestly, you should—seek forgiveness even if the other person never finds out. It’s about finding peace within yourself to settle your conscience and lift that weight. Of course, if you really hurt someone through your actions, there's no guarantee they'll forgive you even if you go to them directly. That part is up to them. But regardless, we can work on forgiving ourselves more often, much like how we need to let go of the grievances we carry against others.
We end up becoming our own heaviest burden because of everything we've been through. We have to give ourselves permission to release those old impressions. We need to do whatever is necessary to move forward. In fact, it's often smarter for others to forgive us too, just so they can find that same relief. Healing from the past requires a spiritual mindset—it means serving others, or rather, serving God through others. Since God is in everyone and in us, developing true love and understanding for every person is a lifelong pursuit that is difficult enough to occupy a person's entire existence.

This definitely falls under the umbrella of spirituality.

Nancy Wilson2 said:There are just so many endless "theories" and endless streams of speculation floating around out there—it’s enough to make you want to throw yourself out a window.

Honestly, the best move is to just toss it all aside, take some advice from Alan Watts, and start meditating on the void.

A lot of people claim they’re speaking the Truth, but our imperfect level of perception messes everything up. It makes us feel like one thing is close while another is far away, or this is the Truth while that is just nonsense. In reality, the only real issue is that we aren't even capable of perceiving it right now.

Someone who actually sees—someone who has realized the Truth—doesn't need to keep circling back to things that try to point out "where" the Truth is located. Personal experience transcends that, even if you catch glimpses of it through someone else's fragments of wholeness. If someone were to reject something as a total delusion, they’d really just be rejecting a tiny sliver of someone else's existence. But if you tie yourself to an opinion, you're stuck in that purely mental realm which is practically nothing, even though it sits behind the entirety of existence—an existence that doesn't need thoughts or words.

So, I don't know if there's anything worth discarding entirely besides the theories in our heads and how we interpret them; everything else simply stands where it always has and will always be. On the flip side, all experiences are essentially illusions until you reach wholeness. They're like a strip of film, playing along until the movie ends—revealing and hiding everything the "film" itself was masking: the whole picture. There is no such thing as half a whole. It's like the soul is wrapped in this "film strip" that hides its true, eternal, and all-encompassing nature. Concepts like "youth" or "old age" only exist within those film strips; what actually happens is the realization of the Soul as a complete entity. These are old concepts regarding the separation of Souls. Meditation is definitely useful for this, but not in a way that creates more divisions—like: "this is meditation," "that is physical life," "this is my thought about meditation and life," and "this is my thought about my thoughts on both." That's not it.

Every single soul is an equal part of Nancy. There’s only one Soul, period. No one is older or younger than anyone else—the only thing that actually changes is the specific experience a soul is having right now, or the particular shape and sensations it happens to be wearing at the moment.

"A man lives while a stone just exists—and neither one has any clue about the Truth."

jadegardener12 said:So you're saying this isn't something we can just tackle on our own—that we actually need a specialized therapist? Who even handles this kind of work, and what's the damage to my wallet?

Murphy doesn't mention anything like that in the book... he focuses on solo work through affirmations and visualization. If I'm following you correctly, you're saying doing it alone is basically useless?

REBT

From everything I know, out of all the psychological therapies out there, REBT provides incomparably better results than anything else currently being used. Plus, there are plenty of workbooks available so anyone can follow the instructions and use the method on their own.

If it works for someone, great—thank God. If it doesn't, then I honestly don't know what else these types of methods could possibly offer. You'll have to do some digging online to find more info.

Nicholas Gonzalez73 said:I didn't truly discover the power of gratitude until this year... it's an emotion that genuinely lifts your vibration and shifts your energy, provided that the thankfulness is sincere and comes straight from the heart. From what I've experienced, life really does start to improve once you weave gratitude into the fabric of your daily existence.😉

"What is the core of prayer? Among those who love God, there are countless prayers because they come from so many different cultural backgrounds. Many of these prayers usually include asking for something, whether it's physical needs or spiritual ones. But God is so incredibly merciful and generous that He gives far more than His followers could ever even ask for, even without them requesting it. He understands their true needs better than they do themselves. Because of that, asking for things is actually unnecessary. In fact, it can sometimes distract from the actual love and worship that prayer is meant to express.

The kind of prayer God truly hears is the prayer of the heart; it's that raw emotional outpouring, that deep ache of the soul, that God pays attention to. The ideal way to pray to the Lord is nothing less than a spontaneous celebration of who He is. You aren't just reciting lines; you're lost in a moment of pure reverence for His essence... In the entire spiritual landscape of space, there is nothing higher than spontaneous prayer. It surges from a human heart overflowing with thankful joy... It is a homecoming to one's own true self."

"In the vast spiritual landscape of the universe, nothing carries more weight than a spontaneous prayer. It’s that raw, unfiltered moment when joy and gratitude just overflow from the heart."