I feel like I'm meant for something more...

Benjamin Taylor6 said:You've got a boyfriend and you love to travel. Honestly, what could be better? Tell everyone trying to nag you or force you into their little mold to just go jump in a lake!

I do, actually. And I love him immensely—I’d do absolutely anything for him. He truly is the finest
human being I have ever encountered; he possesses such a youthful soul and is just an incredibly sincere, loving person.

But this isn't really about him, it's about me. Though, I suppose no one would be happier
than if he were right there by my side during this search for... "that certain something." 🙂

steelnomad84 — owls are quite brilliant, I'll give you that. 😁 Personally, though, I'm more of a cat person; they possess the most colorful
range of expressions; they're just top-tier. 😍

edit: for instance—this face I make whenever my mother reminds me that my biological clock is going to start ticking much faster
over the next few years...

driftingraven122 said:I used to get hit by those feelings too, though rarely. But back then, I was having visions constantly, which actually made the meditation quite interesting. Nowadays, as a result, I have this profound silence, mental focus, and a pretty stable mood. I guess I'm mostly glad I dedicated so much time to it.

Tantra isn't really my thing, but hey, you never know. 😁

Meditation relaxes me, too. Though, I have to say, there's a limit—if I overdo it, it actually starts to make me feel more irritable than anything else.

I'm not really much of a tantra person, but hey, you never know. 😁

When I saw Stančić on Latin America, I almost crossed my fingers under the table—not out of fear, but because the whole topic was centered on aphrodisiacs. 😢😲😂

Benjamin Taylor6 said:Just switch up the routine and grab a box of those fancy chocolates instead. You know, the ones filled with sweet liqueur.😁

I don't think that'll do much, given that I'm not exactly thrilled with the ishod😁

coastalhound58 said:At this point, I’m finding that neither sex nor chocolate provides any real fulfillment—honestly, I might be a lost cause😲😁

Maybe give ayahuasca a shot. Just make sure you really nail down what you're asking before you dive in.

Amanda Jackson5 said:Maybe give ayahuasca a shot. Just make sure you really nail down what you're asking before you dive in.

I guess I'll just head over to Google; I haven't the slightest clue what this even is.🙂

edit: Does anyone here actually have experience with this? Not that I'm typically one for any kind of substances, mind you.

Amanda Jackson5 said:Maybe give ayahuasca a shot. Just make sure you really nail down what you're asking before you dive in.

It’s way too expensive and the travel is a nightmare.😁 A psychedelic trip is more than enough. If someone finds that too intense, they can always go meditate. Though, just a heads up—after extended meditation, the ego tends to get pretty irritable if it isn't aligned with the higher self.😛

electricdriver33 said:Maybe that little shred of satisfaction is called "Use, nase i podase?"🤔 😬

That’s just too much... pick one option!

coastalhound58 said:I guess I'll just head over to Google; I haven't the slightest clue what this even is.🙂

edit: Does anyone here actually have experience with this? Not that I'm typically one for any kind of substances, mind you.

I don't have any firsthand experience with it, but I've spent enough time talking to people who do. It's true that we're technically talking about a "substance," but it's a pretty mysterious one if you ask me. If you want a solid starting point for some actual info, I'd suggest looking into this:
Benny Shanon: "The ANTIPODES of The MIND : Charting The Phenomenology of The Ayahuasca Experience", Oxford University Press, 2002.

Chris Kilham - Medicine Hunter

http://www.bothefilm.com/

More on the Ayahuasca experience here.

electrictiger25 said:I honestly don’t even know where to begin. On paper, my life looks absolutely flawless—I’m young, I’ve got my head on straight, I’m nearly wrapping up my degree, I look decent enough, I’ve been in a stable relationship for several years now, and I have plenty of hobbies to keep me busy... Yet, for the last year or two, this creeping sense of emptiness and anxiety has started to settle in. I suspect it’s tied to the fact that I’m rapidly approaching that stage of life where society expects you to land a career, settle down, start a family, and just slide effortlessly into some "happily ever after" script. It is particularly grating when my parents start their usual litany of expectations: "Well, in two or three years, you'll probably have a baby, so you should start preparing... We need to start saving up for your wedding... You really need to find a job in your field," and so on and so forth. My best friend is following the exact same trajectory; she’s finishing up college and we spend our coffee dates discussing wedding guest lists, the struggle of the job hunt, and how she’ll likely have kids within the next couple of years...

🙂

It makes me wonder, what exactly are we? Are we just some kind of pre-programmed biological machines? Does anyone actually bother to ask if *I* want any of this? Why am I supposed to have a child just because it’s considered "normal" or because "that's what everyone does"? Why am I expected to marry and "settle down"? Whenever I pose these questions to my family, they look at me as if I’ve completely lost my mind—most of the time they just ignore me entirely and steamroll ahead with their lectures about how things "must" be done. Even when I was a little girl, I never played with baby dolls, I never spent my time daydreaming about a white wedding, and I never harbored any desire for children (and I certainly don't have any now). So why on earth should I suddenly undergo this transformation just to satisfy an external expectation? This is my life, and mine alone. Don't get me wrong, my parents don't have much sway over my actual decisions—I'll ultimately do whatever I want regardless of whether they disown me or not—but these constant expectations are profoundly disorienting...

Please don't take this the wrong way; I’m not trying to offend anyone. There are people who find genuine bliss in marriage and parenthood, who truly love that lifestyle, and more power to them. But I crave something more substantial than that; I refuse to live my life according to a cookie-cutter template. Find a job, work a standard 9-to-5, pick up the kids from school, prep breakfast and dinner, have intimacy with a spouse in the evening... and repeat that loop for thirty years? Then eventually get some grandkids, retire, and spend my mornings picking out produce at the local supermarket... Is that it? Is that the entirety of a human existence? 😲

Tell me, am I losing my mind for wanting something more (even if I can't quite articulate what that "something" is)? I feel a profound sense of pity for myself when I realize that at only 23, I already feel this utterly miserable... if this is how it feels now, what does the future hold? I've become disillusioned with people, too; I only have one true friend left (though even with her, I don't feel I can truly open up), and I simply lack the energy to invest in building relationships with anyone else. I find I only truly connect with animals; at least they are honest and instinctual. Perhaps I should just pop a few antidepressants. Then I could just fake a smile, wear a mask, retreat into my own little shell, and pretend to be fulfilled and happy just like everyone else. 🤷

...

The absolute key here is freedom—true, inner freedom. You have to decide whether you want to live life to its fullest or just play it safe and surrender to that rusty, societal stagnation. It doesn't matter if it's through education, religion, politics, or some "scientific" standard—everyone seems obsessed with chasing external objects they think will bring happiness, when those things are actually just endless cycles of social dependency and ego-driven slavery!
You're young, and you're still consciously noticing the things that might threaten your autonomy. It isn't really about whether you decide to get married or have children or not—it's about nurturing that sense of internal liberty. Someone who truly loves you won't try to set conditions on what you should or shouldn't do! In the end, they'll leave the choice up to you—which is actually a sign of genuine respect, don't you think?

Before they move in on you, your own mind might start playing tricks on you with all sorts of nonsense—basically, fear. They'll use it as an argument, asking, "Wouldn't it be better if you did this?" because let's face it: it's much easier to control people when you tap into that built-in fear of uncertainty!

electrictiger25 said:Since we’re already on the subject of "spamming," I feel like this video actually fits the vibe of this discussion quite well...

I wouldn't exactly call myself a social butterfly; I've always been more of a lone wolf...which leads to the strange irony that the larger the crowd, the
more isolated I tend to feel..it's a bit of a paradox, I know..

You really have to muster up the courage just to walk to the kitchen... let alone out to the backyard.

That crisis you hit right before finishing college is a real beast. Everyone navigates it differently. Some people definitely choose the safe, well-trodden path... they just give in. Others might say you're just giving up.

But once you've been a little bit "burned" by a positive experience—to go back to my kitchen analogy—you start feeling this massive imbalance compared to everything else going on around you.

Searching for that equilibrium, balancing...walking right along the edge...

It's not dangerous to walk on a treadmill, or jump off a building, or climb a skyscraper while hanging onto THAT. 👍

I'm not really convinced there are any radical, instant methods for finding what I call equilibrium (or maybe it's purpose). Often, those quick fixes actually do the opposite—like how too much light hitting you all at once just blinds you. It's like those many unique examples from Benjamin Taylor6, which always serve as great reminders.

But you can't be a "skeptic" either... because then there's no progress... and that's exactly what we're aiming for.

(You just have to roughly toss in some chunks of raw courage) and toward the end, really, really (you can do this a few more times) season it with fresh Will, let it settle for a bit... sprinkle on some petals of determination... decorate however you like.

I've heard people talk about simpler versions, but even this is a pretty "rustic," basic way of doing things... I'm sure my colleagues would refine it even further.

Cheers!

electrictiger25 said:I do, actually. And I love him immensely—I’d do absolutely anything for him. He truly is the finest
human being I have ever encountered; he possesses such a youthful soul and is just an incredibly sincere, loving person.

But this isn't really about him, it's about me. Though, I suppose no one would be happier
than if he were right there by my side during this search for... "that certain something." 🙂

steelnomad84 — owls are quite brilliant, I'll give you that. 😁 Personally, though, I'm more of a cat person; they possess the most colorful
range of expressions; they're just top-tier. 😍

edit: for instance—this face I make whenever my mother reminds me that my biological clock is going to start ticking much faster
over the next few years...

Tell them it’s never too late to make love passionately—and even better, to stay in that state: http://www.nytimes.com/lifestyle/health-kids
😁



The data suggests that adults whose mothers gave birth to them between the ages of 35 and 44 aren't any less healthy in their 40s or 50s than those born to mothers who were between 25 and 34 at the time of delivery.

NEW YORK CITY – It appears children of older mothers aren't facing an increased risk of health issues later in life, according to a recent study published in the journal Demography.

I went through a bit of a crisis like that myself back when I was 26: finished college, got married, landed a job at a solid corporation, wife gets pregnant = "Well, there goes my exciting life, looks like a boring future ahead." But it wasn't boring. Not by a long shot. Before I knew it, the early '90s hit, and instead of things looking up, everything went south: the war broke out.
Now, I look back at it through a different lens: life was incredibly dull, and the future is looking even more tedious!!! Let's just keep it that way—keep it hellishly boring! Because if life suddenly stops being "boring," it’s probably for some absolutely miserable reasons: your kid is on drugs, your spouse is cheating on you, you've been diagnosed with cancer, or the world is falling apart around you... 😲 😁

There's an old Chinese proverb for when you actually WISH SOMEONE ILL: "May you live in interesting times!!"
For some, those are heroic, legendary times; for most of us, it means a stray grenade might fly through your window, or your car gets torched during a protest. 😲

coastalhound58 said:I don't think that'll do much, given that I'm not exactly thrilled with the ishod😁

We really need to drag this process out:
😁

Honestly, whether a kid arrives or leaves is really just a matter of what's worked out 😉 between them and the folks they're staying with.

Benjamin Taylor6 said:Tell them it’s never too late to make love passionately—and even better, to stay in that state: http://www.nytimes.com/lifestyle/health-kids
😁



The data suggests that adults whose mothers gave birth to them between the ages of 35 and 44 aren't any less healthy in their 40s or 50s than those born to mothers who were between 25 and 34 at the time of delivery.

NEW YORK CITY – It appears children of older mothers aren't facing an increased risk of health issues later in life, according to a recent study published in the journal Demography.

I went through a bit of a crisis like that myself back when I was 26: finished college, got married, landed a job at a solid corporation, wife gets pregnant = "Well, there goes my exciting life, looks like a boring future ahead." But it wasn't boring. Not by a long shot. Before I knew it, the early '90s hit, and instead of things looking up, everything went south: the war broke out.
Now, I look back at it through a different lens: life was incredibly dull, and the future is looking even more tedious!!! Let's just keep it that way—keep it hellishly boring! Because if life suddenly stops being "boring," it’s probably for some absolutely miserable reasons: your kid is on drugs, your spouse is cheating on you, you've been diagnosed with cancer, or the world is falling apart around you... 😲 😁

There's an old Chinese proverb for when you actually WISH SOMEONE ILL: "May you live in interesting times!!"
For some, those are heroic, legendary times; for most of us, it means a stray grenade might fly through your window, or your car gets torched during a protest. 😲

We really need to drag this process out:
😁

It doesn't necessarily mean that avoiding boredom requires something bad to happen.

Take an artist, for instance. If they have inspiration, time, and the right resources, they aren't bored because they're busy creating. They aren't suffering through some tragedy just to find interest.

Sure, maybe when boredom just vanishes on its own, it's usually because something went wrong. But that just means we should try to create our own excitement rather than waiting around for a disaster to shake things up. 😉

Drew Flores3 said:Honestly, whether a kid arrives or leaves is really just a matter of what's worked out 😉 between them and the folks they're staying with.

I bet a lot of folks would push back on that for pretty simple reasons—especially if you're looking at it from the kid's perspective—but honestly, getting into why we disagree is just a tangent we don't need right now.

steelnomad84 said:I bet a lot of folks would push back on that for pretty simple reasons—especially if you're looking at it from the kid's perspective—but honestly, getting into why we disagree is just a tangent we don't need right now.

I get where you're coming from. On a spiritual or energetic level, things don't really follow standard common sense logic because those forces operate on a completely different plane.

We aren't exactly talking about "most people" here anyway. 😛

Drew Flores3 said:I get where you're coming from. On a spiritual or energetic level, things don't really follow standard common sense logic because those forces operate on a completely different plane.

We aren't exactly talking about "most people" here anyway. 😛

This is getting pretty far off-topic, though. 😛

steelnomad84 said:This is getting pretty far off-topic, though. 😛

Look at how you're clinging to structure, all in the name of "staying on topic"...

That rigid way of thinking just doesn't fit. It's searching for something, isn't it? She showed up here, and I'm sure it wasn't by accident. Being here actually makes things easier for her.

So why don't you explain the Spirit to us... just let it flow in your own free style. 😉

Drew Flores3 said:Look at how you're clinging to structure, all in the name of "staying on topic"...

That rigid way of thinking just doesn't fit. It's searching for something, isn't it? She showed up here, and I'm sure it wasn't by accident. Being here actually makes things easier for her.

So why don't you explain the Spirit to us... just let it flow in your own free style. 😉

She isn't looking for spiritual enlightenment through this thread; she's just looking for a way to actually live her life freely. 😉

steelnomad84 said:She isn't looking for spiritual enlightenment through this thread; she's just looking for a way to actually live her life freely. 😉

It looks like spirituality—whatever that means to you—isn't exactly your calling, yet here we are in the Spirituality subforum... 😁