Posts by amberbadger8

I strive to make sure all the theory I've gathered actually lives through my actions... I don't want it to
be just a massive pile of data or some kind of mental ego trip... I want it to be a part of me
entirely, in the present moment and always. That drive is what teaches me
to stay observant and to aim for doing the right thing, regardless of any
internal or external pressure... whatever comes my way.
I also take care of my body in various ways, working to keep it strong.

Aaron Campbell47 said:I’m just... eaten up by this. I haven't been sleeping, I can't focus on anything, and it's been going on for days now. It’s because I did something truly awful behind the back of someone I really care about. Part of me thinks telling them would be a relief—like a way to clear my own conscience—but I know it would hurt them deeply. Probably devastatingly so. Maybe I even deserve to feel this much pain, if not more. How do you quiet a guilty conscience without causing more damage?

There is zero point in torturing yourself. What matters is that you learn from this and convince yourself it will never happen again. The damage is done. You reacted the only way you knew how at the time—if you had a choice, you would have acted differently (hopefully 😍)... Pay the price for the mistake, then turn your eyes toward the future.

Samuel Davis16 said:It blows my mind how people act like you get a choice in who you fall for.
If we actually had a say, half these debates wouldn't even exist.

I’d love to say I hadn't fallen for the person I did, but here we are.

That’s why they call love blind. You don't see the addict, the gambler, or the jerk... you just don't see any of it.

That’s the whole point. ;-)

It comes down to emotion versus reason—that delicate balance, that harmony, or lack thereof. It’s the fundamental question that permeates every relationship, every action, every single moment of our existence. In love, this duality faces its ultimate test. If logic fails to keep pace with those massive waves of feeling, the relationship becomes irrational, even destructive. The goal is to fuse the two together as much as possible. Honestly? I know it's hard. But you have to try.

Amanda Stewart7 said:Ronald Rogers27, just thought I’d give you a quick heads-up since you seem a bit lost on your own here. As far as I can tell, amberbadger8 is actually a guy. All I'm saying is maybe try reading a little more closely next time—at least try not to mix up gender and number...

🙂🍿

I’m happy for you. You actually made a call to do something right by yourself, and that matters. You have to start somewhere if you want things to finally start rolling in the right direction. As they say, "Small wins and baby steps are the surest way to distance yourself from the mess," making the life you actually want feel real instead of just a dream. Making the decision is huge, but you also have to accept that change doesn't happen overnight. Just be brave, stop overthinking every little detail, and you'll be fine.😉
If you ever need some support or just want to vent about why you started turning to wine in the first place, my inbox is open or you can just post here... I'm happy to listen.👋

Peter Stewart18 said:Yeah, fine, call me a chronic alcoholic. It’s been my lifestyle for years now.
I’m not exactly sipping a cocktail at brunch; I’m talking about getting absolutely trashed every single night, all by myself.
I tried using Xanax to take the edge off, but it’s just not working. It numbs me slightly, sure, but I can’t actually fall asleep without slamming a massive dose—and then I just wake up feeling like a zombie the next day because of how late I passed out.
I really need to head out to Napa Valley for some help, but I’m terrified they’re going to force me into a multi-week residential program. I heard there might be an option for daily outpatient check-ins instead, which would be ideal because I start a new job soon and I can't be out of commission.
And Carbamazepine? Total garbage. I take it and still don't even get the urge to throw up.
What are the actual odds that I can just stick to daily "consultations" and avoid being locked up in a facility?
Also, is it even possible for someone who’s been binge drinking for years to scale back to just having a glass of wine with dinner—you know, the good old days—or am I looking at cutting this addiction off at the root?

I’m on Xanax, and obviously, I know I shouldn't mix it with booze, but I have zero self-control right now and I desperately need clinical support.

Am I looking at mandatory rehab? Please, if anyone has experience or advice, hit me up. 🙂

There is no valid reason to be afraid of Vineyard. Being scared of it is just being scared of learning about yourself and finally tackling the problem.
You’re still the one in the driver's seat when it comes to choosing your path to recovery.
Don't mix pills and booze 😵, because you're just doubling down on the addiction to both.
Your choice boils down to this:😛change immediately or keep stalling, and if you stall, it's only going to get harder.
Forget about "moderate drinking." Your current mental programming is the exact opposite of that.
You need to think long and hard about why you're running from reality.
If you say it's because being wasted feels better... you're lying to yourself.
My experience was forced hospitalization at Vineyard... a long time ago. My life is easier and better now without those attacks. When I first got there, I told them, "Look, I'm a worker, I don't belong in a place like this!" But after two weeks of getting sober, I realized it was a blessing. If I hadn't gone, everything would have gone to hell. So I rolled up my sleeves, and looking back, I'm glad I did. That experience stays with me.
I used to be frustrated and miserable if I went home just tipsy; I wanted to be absolutely trashed... that was my "sweet spot."🤣 ..but honestly, looking back, it seems ridiculous and stupid. Now, I enjoy having a clear head rather than watching the world spin.
So I'm telling you,😍 just go for it. Don't be afraid to change for the better. Along the way, you'll discover plenty of things that bring you more joy than booze ever could.👍

Hmm, it felt a bit too soon if you ask me.😕😁

Hm, if you ask me, it was all a bit too brief.😕😁

placidranger said:I didn't even ask for it. 🤷
Either you missed my point entirely or you didn't bother reading what I actually wrote. Let’s be clear—it’s indirect. Through our actions—obviously—they influence reality, life, and the people around us, but it isn't that direct, immediate impact people like to claim.

You don't need more "direct" proof. Everything else is just sensationalism designed to entertain the masses.👍

placidranger said:I'm listening. Explain.

By oversimplifying this and grouping self-help books with stage magic or cheap parlor tricks, you’re just missing the point entirely.
The reality is much more subtle—and yet, in certain ways, incredibly simple. It's easier to experience or grasp intuitively than it is to explain through math or physics.
But again, I need you to be specific. I don't know what you're actually getting hung up on—is it telekinesis, levitation, meditation, positive thinking, autosuggestion, or the power of the subconscious?...

The Law of Attraction, all its various iterations, the mystification of the subconscious, dragging quantum mechanics into it... it's all fluff in the self-help industry. It sounds great, but there's no substance behind it, and it just offers false hope.

Claiming the subconscious isn't a form of existence is essentially the same as denying the existence of the soul
as our essential self.

I'm not saying the subconscious "doesn't exist." I'm saying it's imprecise to call it a "form of existence."
Bringing the concept of the soul into this is irrelevant unless you intend to prove it somehow influences reality—and even then, you'd have to prove the soul exists first, which is a tall order.

Of course it isn't imprecise to call the subconscious our form of existence. It’s not about whether it’s some mystical entity; it’s about the fact that it permeates everything we do—arguably more than our physical selves do.
It isn't just some abstract concept used to describe stored data. It is an omnipresent, active part of who we are. Every automatic, unconscious action we take is a direct result of the interaction between the subconscious and the conscious mind in our daily lives.
That’s why our consciousness is essentially "burdened" by that unconscious side. Our reactions—physical, emotional, mental—are dictated by it. If they weren't, most psychological disorders would be trivial to fix. But it's difficult to reconcile experiences and memories with emotions and logic when everything has already solidified into a pattern that repeats automatically in similar situations, regardless of what we actually want to happen.
Now, look at how much all of that shapes the reality surrounding you.
If you’ve read my previous posts, you already know where I stand on that kind of literature. I don't think it's a universal solution, just as I don't believe any religion is the closest thing to God. We find our opportunities for change in the mundane details of everyday life, and self-discovery is an inevitable part of that journey.

placidranger said:I think you completely misread what I was getting at.
I’m not looking for answers in quantum mechanics—my point is simply that people trying to back up their theories about having "fantastic powers" to control reality are doing a pretty terrible job of it.
As for the rest of your post, I have no comment. I honestly can't see why you felt the need to write it.

There's your answer. I'm telling you that if you want to understand how thought influences reality, stop looking at quantum mechanics and look elsewhere—and I've already told you where.👍

placidranger said:Does the moon exist if nobody is looking at it? 🙂
unknown:

No, this isn't an issue of interpretation; it's the entire point of the thought experiment. The question is whether the cat is dead or alive before we look—or at the exact moment we observe it—or if there’s even a cat at all when there's no observer present. 😉

The Copenhagen (or is it Copenhagen? 🙂 ) interpretation is the standard way people wrap their heads around quantum mechanics.
Critics have pointed out various paradoxes arising from it—using a cat, the moon, or an electron as a metaphor—which sparks plenty of debate. But nowhere does anyone suggest that "consciousness" itself is the trigger; it’s the measurement.

To get back to the main point: self-help gurus love to peddle the idea that quantum mechanics proves you can manifest reality through sheer willpower. It’s nonsense. There is zero scientific basis for it.
What would happen if you dared one of those gurus to jump off a skyscraper and try to "manifest" not hitting the pavement? 😁

Don't bother looking for answers in quantum mechanics. It’s far too ambitious for the 21st century. What actually matters is understanding the human psyche—how it dictates our health, our environment, our families, and our friends. It's about the weight of our choices, both good and bad, and how those decisions ultimately shape the reality we live in. If you want to make sense of things, do yourself a favor: pick up some psychology books and start there. Study that instead. It might actually give you some clarity. 👍

placidranger said:Does the moon exist if nobody is looking at it? 🙂
unknown:

No, this isn't an issue of interpretation; it's the entire point of the thought experiment. The question is whether the cat is dead or alive before we look—or at the exact moment we observe it—or if there’s even a cat at all when there's no observer present. 😉

The Copenhagen (or is it Copenhagen? 🙂 ) interpretation is the standard way people wrap their heads around quantum mechanics.
Critics have pointed out various paradoxes arising from it—using a cat, the moon, or an electron as a metaphor—which sparks plenty of debate. But nowhere does anyone suggest that "consciousness" itself is the trigger; it’s the measurement.

To get back to the main point: self-help gurus love to peddle the idea that quantum mechanics proves you can manifest reality through sheer willpower. It’s nonsense. There is zero scientific basis for it.
What would happen if you dared one of those gurus to jump off a skyscraper and try to "manifest" not hitting the pavement? 😁

If you actually want to understand how thoughts might influence reality, you need to step outside your own narrow perspective. By engaging in shallow reasoning and tossing all self-help literature into the same bin as stage magic and cheap parlor tricks, you’re only distancing yourself from the truth.
The reality is far more subtle, yet somehow incredibly simple in certain aspects. You’ll find it easier to experience or grasp intuitively than to explain via math or physics. But again, I'm telling you to be more precise. I don't know what's bothering you—whether it's telekinesis, levitation, meditation, positive thinking, autosuggestion, or the power of the subconscious...
Claiming the subconscious isn't a form of existence is essentially the same as denying the existence of the soul.
It's a denial of our essential being.

placidranger said:I assume you were attempting a joke there. Sorry, but I honestly see zero evidence that thoughts can manipulate reality in the way those self-help gurus claim.
unknown:

Generalizing about "books" doesn't support your thesis any more than it supports mine—it just means you failed to find actual proof. You have to be resourceful; you need to know the field you're playing in and where you're headed. Reality is far more complex than what we perceive—both in the material and spiritual realms. For instance: just because you or I don't see electromagnetic waves, various radiations, or cell signals while walking through downtown Chicago, it doesn't mean a massive swarm of frequencies isn't jumping all around us.

Fine. Show me how one measures a thought, or these supposed "vibrations" that thoughts supposedly emit. Nobody sees them, hears them, or feels them...
unknown:

The easiest proof that consciousness influences matter and reality is your own body—it’s strange to me that you aren't aware of that.

So, when I think about moving my hand, it moves?
Look, I control my body via neural pathways, but those electrical impulses follow specific routes outside of the nerves—there's no "thought" driving it. I can't control anything else.

I already gave you my take on self-help literature, so I’m not sure which part of the "thoughts influencing reality" bit you want me to address from those books??

It isn't about measuring thoughts and vibrations. Are you seriously unaware of how primitive our civilization actually is? Scientists still argue over whether Vitamin C is as revolutionary as they claim, let alone anything deeper. It’s like denying bacteria exist just because you don't have a microscope to zoom in on them.
There are people who can see the human aura (that energy field) and the flow of energy within the body with their naked eyes. They are incredibly rare, but they exist. Some individuals are simply at a higher evolutionary stage than the average person. I know someone who has seen auras since childhood; he sleeps maybe an hour or two a day, is never tired, works constantly, never gets sick, and manages fifty quasi-bioenergy Reiki sessions a year to help people. Plus, he has a photographic memory—not to name a few. Certain people are just more conscious of the reality surrounding them. Throughout history, we've had people like Jesus, Buddha, (and some great scientists too, though I'll leave them out of the parentheses so nobody takes offense), but it's always the wrong crowd that twists things and turns them into something evil.
Some things are simply currently inexplicable (to explain something conventionally, you have to be smart enough to build the right instrument) and unacceptable (due to ego, massive lobbies, power, and profit—all of which prevent medicine, physics, and science from advancing as fast as they actually could).
Regardless, I'm telling you that you are your own best proof that thoughts influence reality (if that's how you want to frame it).
Thoughts and emotions have a direct impact on the human body (matter, if you prefer the term 😉). This is proven by numerous studies regarding psychosomatic illnesses, not to mention how stress, anxiety, restlessness, sadness, and worry exacerbate any other ailment.
The subconscious (our non-material form of existence) also plays a massive role in
shaping the reality around us, but I'll save that for another time if you're interested.👍

placidranger said:Of course I can change my mind, provided there's actual evidence. 🤷
unknown:

The idea that there’s zero proof that consciousness or thought influences reality is almost laughable. Don't take this personally, but I could easily imagine some wild emoji sitting at the end of that comment—I wouldn't be surprised. After all the studies, theses, experiments, books, scientists, PhDs, physicists, psychiatrists, mathematicians... you know the drill... is there even any point in discussing this further?

To be blunt, I haven't seen a single convincing shred of proof that this is true.
unknown:

There are endless books, materials, and records out there about this... it's everywhere. But skeptics always find it easiest to look for validation within themselves. Are you a puppet, or are you using your thoughts and consciousness to shape your own reality—and the reality of those around you? Even within yourself?

At one point, I actually tried looking for evidence to back up what those books claim. It isn't there. Just because you want something desperately doesn't mean it's going to manifest.

And honestly—from where I'm sitting—it seems like you've gone off the deep end. Your convictions are so set in stone that you're ignoring reality; your perception is incredibly selective. But then again—we all have that mechanism.

Look, I already mentioned the evidence, but you just refuse to accept it. 🤣But whatever, you'll figure it out eventually 😉. Using "books" as a general term doesn't support your argument, nor does my failure to find specific proof support mine. You have to be resourceful; you have to know your field and where you're headed. Reality is far more complex than what we perceive, both in the material and spiritual realms. For instance, just because you or I can't see electromagnetic waves, radiation, or cell signals bouncing around while we walk through downtown Chicago doesn't mean a massive swarm of frequencies isn't jumping all over us.
The easiest proof that consciousness influences matter and reality is your own body, and frankly, it's strange that you aren't aware of that.
Anyway, I'm not just repeating things I've read or parroting someone else's words. I'm speaking from experience.
But fine, I'm not trying to lecture you. Just ask something specific if you're actually interested, rather than just bickering. 👍

placidranger said:http://www.csicop.org/si/9701/quantum-quackery.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mysticism
I'm no physicist—thankfully, I have Google to do the heavy lifting. 😁

The bottom line? There’s zero evidence that consciousness or mere thoughts have any actual impact on physical reality.

placidranger, you aren't just off base—you are completely lost. 🙂 Honestly, your rigid skeptical stance prevents you from processing any information that doesn't fit your narrow view. It makes me think no amount of explanation will ever change your mind. To claim there is no proof that consciousness influences reality is laughably absurd. Don't get mad, but I half expected a cartoon character to pop up next to this comment because it's so unbelievable. After all the studies, theses, experiments, books, scientists, doctors, physicists, psychiatrists, mathematicians... why even bother debating this? You are surrounded by mountains of literature, data, and records on the subject. It's everywhere. But I suppose skeptics find it easier to look inward for confirmation. Are you a puppet, or are you using your own consciousness to create your reality—and everyone else's too? Even within yourself?

placidranger said:

We’re talking about the subconscious—that non-conscious layer of our total awareness that is just as real as anything else. Every single thing we've ever encountered—every sound, every scent, every lived experience in this life (and maybe others)—is tucked away in there. It's essentially how we exist. It builds our daily reality through memory, logic, emotion, and those automatic reactions we can't seem to stop. Because of this subconscious programming and those deep-seated habits, we end up inviting suffering into our lives—those endless, unresolved cycles—and, frankly, we bear some responsibility for it.

Sure, you could interpret it that way, but no matter how you slice it—thoughts don't actually pull physical objects toward us (unless we're speaking metaphorically).

How exactly do you plan on explaining that? 😉

"I'm just not buying that kind of nonsense. It’s the same tired rhetoric stretched thin across hundreds of books. That whole sentence is fundamentally meaningless—what even are these 'subconscious thoughts' people keep droning on about? And don't get me started on the Law of Attraction. If that actually worked, everyone would be personally responsible for every single tragedy that hits them."

We’re talking about the subconscious here—that non-conscious slice of our total awareness that is just as real as anything else within us. Every single thing, every experience, every sound, every scent... everything you've ever lived through in this life (and perhaps even past ones) is tucked away in the subconscious. It is a fundamental shape of our very existence. It dictates our daily lives through memory, logic, emotion, and those automatic reactions we can barely control. And because of this subconscious—because of those ingrained patterns we've picked up—we end up attracting suffering into our lives. Unresolved issues, endless cycles... honestly, in a way, we are responsible for it all.

Peter Phillips32 said:Go hunt down a book that’ll actually help you get a grip on how you act and think, something that forces you to wake up to who you really are and what you're actually capable of—you know, stuff you can actually use when life starts hitting the fan in the real world.

There you go. That sums it up perfectly. I’m with you on this. Every single person has to figure out why they’re even looking for this kind of literature in the first place; you have to tailor it to your own specific needs and your own capacity for change. I’ve burned through a mountain of books myself, and honestly? I’d bet 80% of them are garbage. They're incomplete, riddled with contradictions, inaccurate, vague, or just totally lacking any practical application. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate them—I view them positively—but that’s just the reality. You only realize how flawed they are once you've had enough time to evolve or do some actual self-work. Even the bad ones helped me scrape through certain rough patches or phases of my life. Anyone can write a book, and anyone can convince themselves they're an expert. A lot of these authors forget that we aren't carbon copies; they push a "one size fits all" approach, which is useless. There isn't a soul alive who wouldn't benefit from some high-quality guidance if they actually put in the effort. The problem is that most people refuse to let go of their old ways, and without sacrifice, there is no transformation.