Stay vigilant!

Paul Campbell3 said:One more thing: what does it actually mean to be "self-aware"?

It means you stop peeing on the floor and start using the toilet properly.

Ryan Wilson2 said:So you're telling me you don't just pee around the toilet, you actually go right in it?

Look, that’s just a learned behavior pattern—it doesn't mean there's any actual consciousness behind it.

Ryan Wilson2 said:If you’re making paper, you don't need to know what kind of book it's going into.

Same goes for chips—you don't care what kind of potato they used.

Or a burger—who cares what kind of beef is in there?

Even with beer, you don't need to worry about the hops.

blah
blah
blah

A fish is a living thing, this is just some nonsense from Ryan Wilson2.
Come on, you can do better than that.

When it comes to combat sports; do you actually perform better when you're overthinking every single move, or is it better to just lose yourself in the fight and go purely on instinct?

Witch said:Being aware???

Is it just something that happens along the way?

Or is it... the most important thing of all?

V.

Just along the way...

Paul Campbell3 said:When it comes to combat sports, do you get better results if a fighter stays hyper-aware of every single move, or is it better to just get lost in the zone and fight purely on instinct?

I don't follow martial arts much myself, but honestly? I think the best fighters are the ones who win the match before they even step into the ring.

Paul Campbell3 said:A fish is a living creature, whereas this is just some nonsense from Ryan Wilson2.
Surely you can come up with a more sophisticated argument than that.

And here I was, actually believing the comparison was meant to be symbolic.

masterblaster said:I’m no MMA expert, but I honestly think you win the fight before you even step into the cage.

This reminds me of Number 1.
"If you want to win, you can't afford to lose."😁

Morgan Cook10 said:This totally reminds me of Number 1.
"If you’re planning on winning, you can't afford to lose."😁

😁 😁

Witch said:Being aware???

Just a side note?

Or is it actually the most important thing of all?

V.

Awareness is everything. Without it, we wouldn't even be able to tell right from wrong.

It’s easily the top priority because when we're conscious, we're always acting on our own intentions. The only time we aren't is when we're out of it due to alcohol or drugs.

Ryan Wilson2 said:And here I was thinking the comparison was just symbolic.

then you've got Ryan Wilson2 times two!

Quincy:

Jack Harris3: Consciousness is everything. Without it, we wouldn't even have the capacity to decide what's right or wrong. It’s the most important thing there is. When we're conscious, we're making actual choices about what we want to do. The only time that changes is when someone's wasted on booze or drugs—then you're just dealing with unconscious impulses.

But where do those desires even come from? The ones you think you're perceiving so clearly?

Maybe once you answer that, you'll start looking at that "unconscious" stuff—the stuff that takes over when people are high or drunk—in a whole different light.😁

Being truly mindful of your body and its movements—specifically those parts involved in mastering any skill—feels like an absolute prerequisite if you ever want to actually "dive in" and just let go... completely.
First, there’s the work, the grind, the constant awareness, until you finally hit that stage where you don't have to think anymore. It becomes second nature; your body starts carrying itself naturally, executing moves that used to require intense focus and manual control. You have to listen to your body, and more importantly, teach it how to listen to you. It isn't a one-way street—it can't be. It’s about awareness and continuous self-correction... in real-time.
It’s this ongoing process of becoming conscious of your body—or specific muscle groups—as they relate to a craft, until something that felt totally unnatural or even foreign to your physical makeup becomes effortless. It might even feel like reclaiming something forgotten. And then, there's that feedback loop.
Interesting.
I think Zoroaster touched on something similar once.

Witch said:Being aware???

Is that just a side note?

Or is it the absolute core of everything?

V.

Which "layer" are we even talking about?
If you ask me, there are several layers at play here, and trying to grasp all of them simultaneously is an incredibly difficult feat.

Frankly, it might not even be necessary to do so every single time.

And if a person actually manages to be "aware of every possible layer"... does that not simply turn life into a purely "earthly existence"?

😕

Paul Campbell3 said:So, where exactly do those desires you’re so consciously aware of actually come from?

Maybe once you tackle that, you’ll start seeing the whole "unconscious" side of things—the stuff that bubbles up when you've had a few drinks or are using substances—in a completely different light.😁

The desires I’m talking about stem from my dreams. They get analyzed in my subconscious, and then I just try my best to make them a reality in my waking life.

Paul Campbell3 said:So, where do those desires you’re so consciously aware of actually come from?

Maybe once you figure that out, you'll see "the subconscious" acting up under the influence of alcohol or drugs in a whole different light.😁

My desires stem from my personal philosophy and how I choose to live my life; I just try to chase them in the best way possible.
At the very least, I know how to make them feel real for a moment.

Dragonfly said:And then you just double down on the nonsense!

Well, here is a triple dose of reality for you.

Consider this my response to your mindless rambling whenever you find yourself unable to provide an actual answer.

Ryan Wilson2 said:One could argue they're just some kind of Buddhist, Taoist, or Tantric practitioner... anything, really. If that's the case, then what exactly is their specific connection to Satanism?

It seems to me that one of the core pillars of Satanism is the pursuit of extending consciousness beyond the threshold of death.

However, this raises a fundamental question regarding how we actually define that concept. For instance, if I were to view it through the lens of extreme individualism, the perspective shifts entirely.

If we actually want to hit our goals, we have to be present. We need that level of focus.

Honestly, I feel like the more aware we are of ourselves and everything happening around us, the more fully we’re actually living. Though, let's be real—staying that mindful all the time is incredibly tough...