Becoming The Solution

As regular listeners of this podcast know, we’re fascinated by how AI can articulate timeless pieces of life wisdom that humanity has explored for millennia. In today’s episode, we feature an interview that delves into Gina Lake’s book Love and Surrender. Remarkably, this 23-minute conversation was generated by AI after it read the book in mere seconds.

The interview explores the profound themes in Love and Surrender, a book that discusses universal love and the spiritual practice of letting go. Lake claims to have channeled this wisdom from the Larger Consciousness System (LCS), using Jesus as a metaphor. As we’ve discussed in previous episodes, the LCS offers metaphors to channelers in a way that aligns with their beliefs, helping them receive and interpret the information effectively.

Lake offers profound perspectives on concepts of love, fear, ego, and the true self. The central theme is a type of love beyond personal affection—an all-encompassing, universal love that connects all beings.

To access this love, Lake emphasises “surrender,” not as giving up, but as a spiritual release of ego-driven fears, desires, and beliefs. She compares this to moving from a limited rowboat to a majestic ship, symbolising the expansive potential of our true selves. The interview further discusses how fear and ego keep us confined, while surrendering these limitations allows the emergence of our authentic selves—peaceful, loving, and joyful.

In relationships, Lake advocates for forgiveness, letting go of the need to control, and recognizing our partner’s humanity. By doing so, we foster deeper connections. Ultimately, Love and Surrender suggests that true fulfillment comes from within, and that surrendering ego-driven desires reveals the inner peace and wisdom of our true selves.

The interview concludes by inspiring listeners to apply these ideas in their own lives, suggesting that even small acts of love and openness can contribute to meaningful change in the world.

At the end of the podcast, I’ve included a song I recently released called Let It Be Real. It’s a piece about the lessons we learn through relationships, and I hope you enjoy it.

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/

5 Minute Read:

As we grow, one prevailing theme becomes increasingly evident: our quest for financial security often leads us down a path of acquiring more expensive possessions rather than true fulfilment. While it’s true that, in our youth, we had limited financial resources, we often look back on those times with nostalgia, recalling them as happy and carefree. However, as we age and become financially independent, we might find ourselves no happier and, in fact, often less content than we were in our younger, less affluent days. This essay explores why this paradox exists and how the pursuit of material possessions can impact our well-being.

As we transition into adulthood, we enter the workforce, earning salaries and accumulating financial resources. It is at this juncture that many of us fall into the materialism trap. According to a study by the American Psychological Association (APA), the more money we earn, the more our desires expand, leading us to crave more expensive and luxurious items: a better car, a bigger house, multiple vacations, designer clothing, and so on. This insatiable desire for more often pushes us to take on credits and debt, or work even harder to gain promotion in the workplace, all in the name of maintaining a particular lifestyle.”

However, what ensues is not an increase in happiness but rather a heightened level of stress. According to the concept of ‘Affluenza,’ the pressure to earn more money to sustain our lifestyles weighs heavily on our lives and relationships.

Fears of job insecurity, financial crises, and rising interest rates add to our anxieties. We become slaves to our desires, chained to a lifestyle that, paradoxically, often diminishes our sense of contentment.

In various cultures around the world, the approach to materialism and its consequences may differ significantly. For example, in Eastern cultures like Japan and many parts of Southeast Asia, there is a strong influence of philosophies such as Zen Buddhism, which emphasise simplicity, minimalism, and the pursuit of inner peace. These cultures often place a greater emphasis on relationships, community, and the intangible aspects of life rather than material wealth.

In contrast, Western societies, particularly in the United States and Europe, have often embraced consumerism and the pursuit of material success as central values. The accumulation of possessions, career achievements, and financial prosperity are frequently prioritized, contributing to a culture where desires for material gain are heavily emphasised.

This cultural perspective highlights how societal values can shape individual attitudes toward materialism. It shows that the materialism trap can be especially challenging to break free from in cultures that place a strong emphasis on consumerism and the pursuit of material wealth.

Understanding the trap of materialism and the fleeting happiness it offers can be the first step towards building a more meaningful life. The concept of the hedonic treadmill reveals our human tendency to quickly adapt to changes in circumstances, including the acquisition of material possessions. It suggests that while we may initially experience a surge in happiness when we attain something we desire, this boost is transient. As we become accustomed to our new possessions or circumstances, our baseline level of happiness reverts to its original state. This phenomenon underscores the idea that the relentless pursuit of material wealth often leads to a never-ending cycle of desire, ultimately failing to provide long-lasting contentment. Recognising the hedonic treadmill encourages us to seek fulfilment in more enduring sources like experiences and relationships.

While it’s true that material possessions can provide a sense of comfort and security, it’s essential to recognise that they may offer only a temporary and limited form of solace. Many studies indicate that there is a threshold beyond which additional income or possessions have diminishing returns in terms of happiness and well-being.

Moreover, placing excessive emphasis on material wealth as a source of comfort can lead to a misplaced sense of security, particularly when one’s happiness becomes overwhelmingly tied to the accumulation of possessions or job promotions. In contrast, focusing on building a more fulfilling life through experiences, relationships, and personal growth often yields a more lasting and profound sense of security. Embracing simplicity and mindfulness can help individuals find a balance that prioritises both security and true fulfilment in a world that is ever-changing and unpredictable. Ultimately, true happiness may be found not in the accumulation of material possessions or workplace promotions, but in the experiences and connections that enrich our lives.

In conclusion, our pursuit of wealth often leads us into the materialism trap. However, by incorporating – statistics, historical and cultural perspectives, psychological insights, and addressing counterarguments – we can build a more compelling and engaging argument. By recognising the pitfalls of materialism, we can seek a more fulfilling and meaningful life, unburdened by the never-ending desire for possessions and status.

Written by Stephen Griffin and ChatGPT

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/

4 Minute Read / Listen :

It’s easy to become disheartened by the apparent rise of negative forces and the pervasive presence of what we perceive as evil. We grapple with this age-old question of good versus evil, and often find ourselves struggling to make sense of it all. It’s easy to be consumed by negativity and dysfunction. We see people engaged in self-centred and destructive behaviours, and it can be disheartening. However, we must understand that this is all part of the process of growth and evolution.

In seeking to address this issue from a larger perspective, we can draw insights from a perspective that offers valuable insights on evolving beyond self-centeredness. This perspective, which aligns with a concept of growth and learning, suggests that the world is not perfect in the sense of being without flaws, but it is perfect in terms of providing the necessary challenges for our growth and evolution.

Just as individuals cannot instantly jump from one state to another, from fear to fearlessness, the same principle applies to society as a whole. People are where they are in their journey of self-discovery and growth. They are high-entropy individuals doing high-entropy things, driven by fear and the desire for control and power. They will continue down this path until they encounter enough pain or receive the right guidance to prompt a change.

Attempting to force others to change and conform to our expectations is futile. It’s akin to being upset with the weather when it’s not as we desire. People must go through their individual processes of growth and maturity, just as we all have in our own lives. This is the essence of evolution – a gradual process that unfolds at its own pace.

Maturity, in this context, is measured by the degree of self-centeredness one has relinquished. Children are inherently self-centred, and that’s natural. However, growing up and evolving involves gradually giving up this self-centeredness and learning to care for others, to be kind, and to act with empathy.

It’s essential to realise that people are not the way we want them to be, but they are where they need to be in their personal evolution. Trying to make them act differently before they are ready is an exercise in frustration and ego-driven self-centeredness. Everyone has their unique journey, and they will grow and evolve when they are prepared to do so.

When we look back at history and see how humanity has progressed, we can recognise the positive changes that have taken place. Despite the many challenges we face, there are individuals who strive to do good, to care for others, and to contribute positively to society. This group is growing, and as it does, the negative forces diminish. It’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of the world, but we must not lose sight of the positive changes that are happening.

In summary, the idea that “everything is perfect just the way it is” does not imply that everything is ideal or without flaws. Instead, it emphasises that the world is perfect in the sense that it provides the necessary challenges for individual and collective growth. People are on their unique paths, learning and evolving at their own pace. We should strive to let go of our self-centeredness, focus on the positive changes occurring, and maintain hope for a better future. As we continue to evolve and grow, the world around us will reflect these positive changes.

Written by Stephen Griffin and ChatGPT

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/

4 Minute Read / Listen :

Force, while seemingly effective in the short term, frequently yields suboptimal results. One may, by sheer determination, compel their desires into being, but the unforeseen consequences often outweigh the initial success. The endeavour to force change can inadvertently create multitudes of adversaries, making a situation worse than before. An excess of force, as the saying goes, can indeed dig a deeper pit rather than offering a solution to the problem.

It is not uncommon for our egos to deceive us into believing that we can bend the world to our will. This misconception often stems from our fears, which compel us to believe that force is the sole means to attain our objectives. However, a historical perspective reveals a different truth. Societies and institutions built upon the foundation of force eventually sow the seeds of their self-destruction. Their existence is often short-lived, marked by the creation of deeper problems that become insurmountable.

In essence, force is a myopic perspective that fails to consider the broader repercussions of one’s actions. It operates on the principle of short-term gain at the expense of long-term harmony. Just as attempting to force a solution mirrors digging oneself into a pit, the gains from force often prove transitory, and the long-term consequences are deeply detrimental.

The key to understanding this fundamental lesson lies in recognising the power of influence, the antithesis of force. Influence, rooted in organisation, nurturing, service, helping, and love, operates on the principles of unity and compassion. It is the realisation that cooperation and empathy yield sustainable growth, while force and coercion lead to disarray and conflict. Those who grasp this subtle but profound truth come to appreciate that the bedrock of a prosperous and harmonious existence lies not in overpowering others, but in empowering them to flourish.

The pervasive understanding that force is not the way is a universal truth that transcends words. It underscores the importance of harmonising with the interconnected web of life, where true power is derived from cooperation, empathy, and a commitment to the greater good.

In the grand symphony of existence, we must tune ourselves to the melodies of influence and relinquish the discordant notes of force. By doing so, we can create a harmonious and enduring composition, one that reverberates not only in the short term but also in the long-term resonance of our existence.

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/

4 minute read/listen.

Tom Campbell questions in his book whether humanity’s traditional approach of stumbling blindly into the future will work in the face of increasing power to make history-wrenching changes. He highlight’s that power is a double-edged sword and that knowledge is power. As we pursue various high-potential adventures, the author asks if our wisdom is growing as quickly as our knowledge and power.

The decisions we make in these critical times will alter the course of humanity for centuries to come. He urges individuals to be ready to negotiate the curves and be part of the solution, as big decisions always turn on the knowledge and wisdom of ordinary people.

‘Humanity has successfully used the strategy of stumbling more or less blindly into the future for thousands of years. Will this approach continue to work as our power to implement history-wrenching change accelerates dramatically?

Power is a two edged sword. It can cut for better or for worse, depending on the wisdom guiding the blade. Knowledge is power. With every major discovery the stakes grow increasingly higher. Do you think the wisdom of our species has been growing as quickly as our knowledge and power? 

I am not talking only about computers here. They are but one of several high potential adventures that we as a species are energetically pursuing. Great opportunity usually travels hand in hand with great risk. 

You have the good fortune to be living in one of those critical times when history is balanced precariously on the edge. We and our children will be led to the brink experiencing watershed events and making momentous decisions that will alter the course of humanity for centuries to come. Will our institutions and leaders be ready to meet that challenge? Will you be ready to meet the challenge and help negotiate the curves, or simply ready to deal with whatever happens? Or will you, like the majority of your species, be caught unaware – frozen by the glare of the oncoming headlights? 

Once the roller coaster is pushed over the edge, you are committed to ride it to its final conclusion. Contrary to popular belief, big decisions always turn on the knowledge and wisdom of ordinary individuals. In the end, it is the ordinary people who must consent to follow their leaders. No great mischief is likely to be committed by leaders without a following. The people and their leaders invariably get what they deserve. You are in a position to make a difference. Is your plan to hope for the best, or are you part of the solution? ‘

Tom Campbell

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/

7 minute listen / read

In this section of MBT Tom Campbell discusses the potential consequences of misunderstanding life’s complexities and being unable to distinguish between beneficial and detrimental experiences. It highlights how such confusion can lead to purposelessness, frustration, and a lack of progress. Using the analogy of rats in a maze, it suggests that individuals who cannot discern between positive and negative outcomes may resort to destructive coping mechanisms and become driven by immediate needs and fears.

Furthermore, it implies that evolution operates without sentimentality, pushing individuals towards growth and adaptation regardless of their struggles. Campbell emphasises the importance of understanding the game of life, making informed choices, and evolving consciousness to navigate challenges effectively. Ultimately, it suggests that while evolution is indifferent to individual suffering, there is potential for growth and support from nonphysical entities for those who seek it.

Click on book cover to find text in MBT
P312 Chapter 36 Minute 22:00 to 27:17

You can be confused and non productive (perhaps fail) if: (1) you do not understand the game and therefore do not know that your reality is actually an amazing maze of many choices that is driving the evolution of your consciousness – therefore remaining purposeless, pointless and without focus

– not even trying. (2) your taste buds are so twisted and confused because of beliefs, self-absorption, attachments, needs, and fears (ego) that you cannot, or will not, taste the difference between miserable, arrogant, unproductive pudding, and loving, growth inducing, delicious and satisfying pudding. In other words, you cannot differentiate between electric shocks and fine white-cheddar cheese. You therefore lose your sense of direction and have no means to distinguish up from down, dark from light, or progress from regression.

If an individual rat in the maze sees no point in exploring and cannot differentiate between electrical shocks and cheese, it is in for a long and difficult training experience. Poor rat! What a miserably frustrating life! Not much progress is expected. Shocks become an ordinary accepted part of life and are no big deal! “That’s life,” says this rat with resignation. To this particular rat, the world (life within its local reality) may seem random, existential, nihilistic, mystical, or driven by an unfathomable, jealous, vengeful, or demanding god.

To a collection of such rats, cynicism, self-pity, anger, victim-hood, resignation, escapism, recreational drug use, as well as a fascination and obsession with sex and the symbols of power (including vicarious violence and domination through entertainment, competition and sport; conspicuous consumption; macho-vehicles and aggressive driving; and the ownership of weapons) become common personal strategies to deal with the anxiety (inadequacy, insecurity, and powerlessness) generated by fear. Value, purpose, objectives, and goals of being are lost in a confusing whirl of fine shades of relative, meaningless gray, while the original concepts of black and white are lost.

These hapless rats will be driven and animated by their ego – their immediate needs, wants, desires, fears, and beliefs. Does this description (driven and animated by immediate needs, wants, desires, fears, and beliefs) remind you of anyone you know – a distant acquaintance, a least favorite relative, or perhaps your evil twin? You might be tempted to surmise that these rats are obviously too dumb to play the game and that it is cruel and unusual punishment to put these stupid, lost, and confused creatures in such a complex maze in the first place. Unfortunately, evolution shows little compassion and weeps no tears for its failures or slow learners. Goodbye dodo birds, adios dinosaurs, so long trilobites. Your concept of “fair” is a function of your ego and belief systems and mostly irrelevant.

Reasons and excuses for not making it or getting it fall on the deaf ears of the Fundamental Process of evolution. Making it and getting it, within your given set of possible interactions, are the non-negotiable requirements of evolutionary progress. An evolving system is either unprofitable (say goodbye if that condition is not turned around in time), profitable (progress is being made), or neither (an astable condition that is hanging around waiting to see which way it will go).

Cruel and unusual? Too difficult? Do you sometimes feel that unreasonable conditions for growth are forced upon you? Sure, like bad weather at a picnic is forced upon you by mean old Mother Nature. The Fundamental Process, as it applies itself to an individuated consciousness, is not personal regardless of how helpless resignation, ego, anger, paranoia, cynicism, or self-pity might construe it.

If you think it is personal, you are probably placing yourself” too high up on the consciousness chain. Bacteria are extremely important to us, our life depends on them, but what we do that affects bacteria is usually not intended to be a personal affront or reward to any individual bacterium. I am describing the general case – there are always exceptions, but they are much, much fewer than a poll would indicate.

Nevertheless, evolution is patient. Patient enough to let that rat suffer in confused discomfort until it eventually progresses its awareness and ambition to the point it can evolve a solution. The rat has free will and some basic intelligence, while evolution has all the time in the world. This rat is on its own to sink or swim by its choices. It does have one advantage, however: It gets (as most rats do) all the help it can profitably use from its nonphysical friends who do care and understand the significance of individual progress.

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/

4 Minute Read /Listen.

As our lives develop and we evolve many of us encounter moments and decisions that we later come to regret deeply. Regret and self-blame have a way of casting a long shadow over our existence, preventing us from fully embracing the present and the promise of the future. In the pursuit of personal growth and the desire to shed the weight of past transgressions, one must learn to navigate the intricate path that leads away from the clutches of regret without dwelling on it. Here we will explore the art of dealing with one’s past, offering insights into how to overcome regrets and the burden of self-blame.

When we find ourselves grappling with a multitude of regrets and burdened by the weight of past selfish and fearful decisions, the path to redemption might seem daunting. It’s important to recognise that personal growth is a gradual process, and progress often unfolds at a pace slower than we’d like. The initial step in this transformative journey is to embrace the concept of acceptance.

Acceptance does not imply approval of past actions, but rather a recognition that the choices we made in the past were the ones we were capable of at the time. Self-reflection is a powerful tool for personal growth. It allows us to understand the motivations behind our past actions and make sense of the circumstances that led us down certain paths. It is only through self-reflection that we can identify the need for change and growth.

To release the grip of regret, one must reframe the past. It’s crucial to understand that those past actions, as regrettable as they may be, served as stepping stones in our journey of self-discovery. They were essential for our personal growth, as it took the pain and dysfunction of those moments to awaken our desire for change and self-improvement.

By reframing the past, we acknowledge that we have evolved and transformed as individuals. We would not make the same choices today, and that is a testament to our growth. These past actions are not who we are now, but rather a chapter in our story that has served its purpose.

The feeling of guilt that often accompanies regret can be counterproductive and stifle our growth. Guilt is a negative emotion that hampers the positive atmosphere required for personal development. It’s essential to release the grip of guilt and look at the past through a positive lens.

Recognise that the path you took in the past was necessary for your growth, even if it was painful. The dysfunction and pain of those moments pushed you to seek change, to become a better version of yourself. Embrace this as a positive transformation, and let go of the negative emotions that tether you to the past.

Ultimately we must accept that our past is a complex mosaic of experiences and choices, some of which we may come to regret deeply. However, to dwell on regret and self-blame is counterproductive and can hinder our personal growth. Instead, we should accept our past as a necessary part of our evolution, a stepping stone on the path of self-discovery. While the path may be slow and filled with challenges, every step taken brings us closer to becoming the best version of ourselves. So, embrace your transformation, and let the past be just a road you had to travel to reach your present self.

Written by Stephen Griffin and ChatGPT

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/

4 minute read / listen.

The dynamic between masculinity and femininity is a profound and intricate aspect of human interaction and personal growth. These complementary forces operate on multiple levels, from the individual to the societal, and play a crucial role in our collective well-being.

At their essence, masculinity and femininity are not rigidly defined constructs; rather, they are fluid and multifaceted. Their interplay involves the convergence of intellect and being, with the goal of optimising growth and harmony. This partnership, when in balance, fosters a healthy and thriving environment within families, workplaces, governments, and society at large.

The harmonious coexistence of these energies is a beacon of unity and cooperation. When fear and ego do not overshadow the relationship between masculinity and femininity, they work seamlessly as a team, contributing their unique strengths to the whole. Their collaboration is powerful, nurturing, and beautiful.

In a healthy context, the connection between masculine and feminine energies thrives on love and peace, not conflict. It’s not about gender warfare, but rather gender love and gender harmony. The impediments to this harmony are rooted in the fear, ego, and beliefs that hinder our personal growth. Therefore, personal growth is the key to enhancing one’s ability to partake in this balanced relationship.

Cultural misconceptions have distorted our understanding of masculinity and femininity. These distortions have led us astray from the fundamental, natural essence of these qualities. We have reached a point where many individuals no longer grasp the true meanings of being a man or a woman. This disconnect from the essence of masculinity and femininity is at the heart of the challenges we face in modern society.

The workplace is a prime example of where this disconnect is evident. Rather than embracing the unique contributions of both genders, we often expect individuals to conform to pre-existing gender roles, which were established in a different era. The result is a failure to recognize and value the feminine and masculine aspects in their true form.

For example In a typical corporate setting, women might be expected to handle tasks like organising meetings or taking notes, reflecting outdated gender roles. Men, on the other hand, may be pressured to take on more aggressive leadership roles, regardless of their personal strengths or preferences. This rigid expectation stifles the unique talents both genders bring to the table. A woman with strong leadership skills or a man who excels in collaborative tasks may not be recognised for their true potential. By forcing individuals into these outdated moulds, organisations miss out on the diverse perspectives and abilities that could drive innovation and success.

Our ever-evolving society is transitioning away from the historically violent and hostile environment in which humanity has developed. As this change unfolds, we must adapt our social understanding of gender. This process, like any significant societal change, is rife with challenges and growing pains. We are in a state of flux, still learning to navigate the new landscape of gender dynamics.

In essence, the coexistence of masculinity and femininity is a complex, multifaceted topic that requires deeper exploration and consideration. It calls for a cultural shift, where we learn to appreciate and honour the inherent qualities of both genders. By promoting personal growth, nurturing loving relationships, and letting go of rigid expectations, we can collectively move toward a more harmonious coexistence of these energies. The essence of masculinity and femininity lies within all of us, and by embracing these aspects, we can pave the way for a healthier, more balanced society.

Written By Stephen Griffin and ChatGPT

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/

12 minute Read / listen.

In this conversation Tom Campbell discusses a recent painful break-up discussed by a MBT fireside companion and reflects on the importance of being authentic and not having expectations in relationships. It also references a quote from Bruce Lipton that suggests one must get their own act together before pursuing big love. Campbell advises engaging in relationships but not pushing or avoiding them, letting them develop naturally, and being open to wherever they may go. It is emphasised that authenticity is key and that trying to be someone else or projecting an image will ultimately lead to disappointment. He concludes by stating that being true to oneself and encouraging authenticity in others is crucial for successful relationships.

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This question is about a recent really really painful breakup.  I rose into love with this love of my life with nothing less than Paradise on Earth. And with that girl as my objective.  And then it went to a dark place. It really reflected my insecurities fierce child trauma I think. Could you comment on that quote from Bruce Lipton. I learned again and again in my life until you get your own act together you’re not ready for big love. What you’re ready for is one of those codependent relationships where you desperately need a partner.

I’m not familiar with that quote, but it was a wise quote. I think that’s probably true. But that doesn’t mean you avoid relationships. It basically means that you don’t push relationships.  It doesn’t mean that you avoid them. You say, Well, okay, I must not be ready yet, so I should avoid a relationship.

You let relationships go however they go.  If a relationship just starts and it buds and it develops, then you should explore it. See where it goes. Relationships are good things. They’re learning things.  Sometimes they turn out to be very painful. Sometimes they turn out to be very beautiful.nSometimes they start out beautiful and then go painful and sometimes the other way around. But you should always engage and connect in a relationship. If it starts to build and go somewhere positive, then engage it and see just see where it goes.

But don’t have an expectation of where it’s going. don’t have an expectation, Oh, this is going to be the love of my life. All right, I finally found the one. Just let it go wherever it goes. So then it is what it is. And if it turns out to be really beautiful, then it is beautiful and you enjoy it.

If it turns out not so much, well, then it doesn’t work out so well and that maybe Fizzles and goes away. But you just have to be who you are. Don’t try to be the perfect person for them. You have to be who you are.  If you’re acting, if you’re in a role,  if it’s about your image, you’re making an image  that somebody likes, that’s not going to work. You’ll try that and it’ll crash and burn, which is part of what makes Bruce’s quote accurate. If it’s your image you’re working through, if you’re acting a role, then it’s probably gonna crash and burn because that’s really not you. So just be you. And if it doesn’t work out when you’re you, well that’s good because if you tried to push that through and make it work and it’s not you, it’s just gonna get worse and worse.

 You can’t be somebody else. So one, be authentic, be yourself, be who you are. If you’re sensitive, if you’re frightened, if you’re this, if you’re that just be it. open. And then when you run into people who care for somebody who’s just like you and there are people out there like that, then it works really well. And you don’t have to worry about them, you know, about finding out later that that was an image. And they need to do the  same thing. They need to be this partner of yours needs to be authentic. So that if you’re like them, then there’s an authentic connection there, authentic likeness. If all you do is like their image, oh, they were so swab and devine air in this and that and sexy and cool and nice and so much fun to be with and so on. But that’s all an image. Then that turns out not to be the case. It’s devastating. So you need not to have not get wrapped around expectations.  Don’t have any expectations just let a relationship develop as it does without pushing it forward, without holding it back.

Just let it naturally go. If you want more than go for more. If you want less than let it be a while, just let it go to its own natural pace and see what happens. No sense of what it might be. Let it developed. That’s the way you do relationships. And that means that you won’t ever be disappointed because you never had any expectations.

You will have relationships and you say, well, this looks kind of good. But it didn’t work out. And you’ll always come to the conclusion. Well, it’s a good thing it didn’t work out because it we push that on and we really weren’t connected It would have been worse better to find out early on that it doesn’t work out, then to find that out later after a lot of investments been put into it. So being authentic relationships are wonderful.Follow them, but let them unfold naturally. Don’t push at them. Don’t make them go. Don’t stampede there because you’re anxious to have what you have in your mind as the expectation that then creates a problem. And as Bruce said, you will create these problems for yourself until you get your own head straight. And then you’ll stop creating these problems for yourself and getting your head straight means you’d like go to the expectations. You stop trying to make it go anywhere in particular. You just let it go wherever it goes. And that you always be authentic and encourage the other person to always be authentic because you want really to interact with who they really are. not with some image that they give you for a while.

But can’t maintain forever because that’s not who they are. Some people who are really very cranky can seem very sweet for a while. But if cranky is what they are cranky is what you’re going to eventually end up with. So better than that in the beginning, somebody’s cranky. Well, you may be alright with that. You may say, Hon a little cranky too. Alright, I can deal with cranky.

And that’s fine. So relationships need to be natural and they need to be embraced but not pushed and not made into something that you have the image of is what you want. Don’t have any image of what it is you want, Just take what you get and enjoy it.

 But have lots of relationships with lots of people. Most relationships are just friends interactions, coworkers and things, but get down people, get down, get to understand people, listen a lot, talk a little, that’s these are the kinds of advice I would give about relationship, and you’ll find that each relationship you have will get better than the last one. The next one will be better than the last one.

 If you learn something from the last one, if you don’t learn anything, then you keep repeating the same mistakes and having the same problem. But if you learn from each one, you’ll know that okay, gee, I’m generally kind of self-centered and that tends to get in the way. So I’ve learned that. I need to stop doing that, it has to not just be about me. And now the next one, it isn’t because you’ve grown up or maybe you said, Oh, I just made it all about her needs and her wants. And then I’ve anything to do with me in which case I wasn’t being honest. I wasn’t being sincere because I was hiding my needs and wants and all those things that were staying hidden. I wasn’t just upfront with everything. Well, then that was a problem too. So then you stop.

However it goes, there’s lessons in it, whether it goes happy on your end or say it on your end or whatever, there’s always lessons to learn about improving how you interact with people, improving who you are, and then the next one will be better. All the relationships that I had before I met Pamela were all just kidding me, ready to meet Pamela.

I hadn’t had all those ones before that. I wouldn’t have been ready and I probably would have blown it. You know, it wouldn’t have done well. So, you know, I look at them all as I had all the series of relationships and each one helped me get to the next one, to get to the next one and eventually I finally got good enough to deal with Pamela in a positive way. Not, you know, stick my foot in it or, you know, make it crash and burn. So that’s the nature of relationships which is, you don’t just have one, you have as many as you need.

 That’s okay.  Have as many as you need. And it’s time, you grow a little. And eventually, you’ll grow up enough that the relationships that you continually have are all really, really good. Because you’re being truthful and honest with yourself and your partner’s being truthful and honest with you.

As long as everything is out there, then nothing’s gonna blow up later on because it’s already out there right in the beginning. So that’s the thing. Relationships are wonderful. Don’t stay away from them because you feel like you’re not ready. Go right back in the relationship. Embrace people connect with people, but let it take its own course. Don’t have any preconceived notions. Don’t feel the need to impress or the need to be impressed. Just be and when you just are and it feels good now you’re under something real.

Thank you Tom Very nice way to end our 75th session. Thank you to all of you who came today with such great questions.

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/

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Delusion, much like an addiction, can be an ingrained habit that is challenging to overcome. We often believe we possess a keen ability to distinguish between facts and opinions, a skill honed by our experiences and perceptiveness. We tend to think of ourselves as immune to deception, equipped with finely-tuned BS detectors that protect us from the snares of New Age charlatans and defenders of the status quo. However, the reality is far more complex, as the trap of belief often ensnares even the most seasoned minds.

One might wonder why discerning the truth from falsehood proves to be such a formidable task. The first obstacle to this clarity is our unconscious incompetence – the things we don’t even realise we don’t know. This blind spot in our awareness can be a breeding ground for delusion. Furthermore, the ego plays a significant role in perpetuating this self-deception. It is the ego’s crafty responsibility to convince us that our belief-based pseudo-knowledge is genuine wisdom. The ego, ever eager to preserve itself, acts as a cunning manipulator, weaving intricate narratives that validate our existing beliefs.

It is crucial to recognise that the intellect, often considered a beacon of reason, is merely a servant to the ego. This subservience to the ego’s desires can lead us down the path of delusion as we become unwitting pawns in the game of self-deception. Our so-called solid grasp of reality, whether it be profound universal truths or everyday occurrences, is all too frequently tainted by the distorting lens of our ego.

The complexity of this delusion is compounded by the fact that nearly everyone, including teenagers, falls prey to the same trap. Believing ourselves to be exceptions to this rule is, in itself, a delusion we should be wary of. In this intricate web of self-deception, we must accept that we are not alone in our struggles, and there are no shortcuts to true understanding.

In the evolving landscape of technology, where artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping our world, the importance of this wisdom becomes more apparent than ever. As AI systems continue to advance, it is our responsibility to remain discerning and vigilant, ensuring that we do not become passive consumers of information but active participants in the quest for genuine knowledge. Delusion, in this context, can have far-reaching consequences, as our reliance on AI and technology often amplifies our beliefs and biases. It is imperative that we equip ourselves with the ability to critically evaluate the flood of information and data that surrounds us, allowing us to harness the power of technology for the betterment of humanity while avoiding the pitfalls of self-deception in an increasingly interconnected and technologically-driven world.

Breaking free from the clutches of delusion requires a deliberate and conscious effort. The first step towards this liberation is self-awareness – acknowledging our inherent limitations and recognising the unconscious gaps in our knowledge. As we confront our ego’s relentless manipulation, we can begin to separate fact from fiction. It is essential to question our own beliefs, subjecting them to scrutiny and critical evaluation.

To kick the habit of delusion, we must embark on a lifelong journey of self-discovery, challenging the self-justifying intellect and the ego’s artful deceptions. By doing so, we open ourselves to the possibility of genuine wisdom, unburdened by the shackles of delusion. While exceptional individuals may occasionally see through the veil of self-deception, the path to true understanding is one that requires vigilance, humility, and a commitment to breaking free from the illusions that perpetuate our self-constructed realities.

Written By Stephen Griffin and ChatGPT

Becoming The Solution is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://evolvingtogether1.wordpress.com/