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[NOLA]

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
That the feeling of being separate from other beings and from nature itself is an illusion.

What are you looking for at LU?
I guess really just a greater experience of connection to all that is. I have had teachers with profound nature connection and I've had an awakening experience of my own. Just looking to keep growing.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
It seems like a very simple process of being asked questions and to guided to do simple things in response like reflect and notice. I certainly don't expect anyone to give me answers. Looking forward to being with the questions.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
A channeler told me several years ago that I had developed my mind to a great degree but I'd separated my emotions and put them behind a locked door and that - until I was willing to integrate my emotions back into my life - I would never progress as a human, a parent, a friend, anything. I knew the truth of it so I started putting myself in situations that would challenge me to be vulnerable and let the emotions come. I attended a personal growth workshop and, after some very powerful visualization exercises, I got interested in hypnosis. I realized the mind doesn't distinguish between things that have actually happened and things we've just visualized. I thought I could erase or change painful experiences I'd had. I became a hypnotist and start listening to holosync audios while I slept. Then listening to affirmations I created for myself. I have visualized meeting my inner child/myself as a child and I've given that little girl care and nurturing that I starved for as an actual little girl. After doing many things over a couple years, I woke up one morning and looked around my room and everything looked the same but was utterly different. I suddenly had such clarity about my life. I saw my father who I'd been angry at my whole life because I didn't feel he accepted me and I blamed him for all the negative feelings I had toward myself. And I saw that morning the sad difficult circumstances of his life and why he was the way he was. My anger at him was instantly gone and I felt a flood of compassion. I then saw my great love of animals and I saw right next to it that I was eating them. And I became a vegetarian in that instant. It was really powerful. Things shifted. I don't assume I'm done. I was guided here and I want to continue the journey.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how willing are you to question any currently held beliefs about 'self? 10

[ilazmit]

Hello Nola,

My name is Sandra. What are your expectations from seeing through the concept or illusion of there being a separate self

[NOLA]

Hi Sandra, I find myself here so I'm going with it. I have no real expectation. I feel a lot less judgmental and judged since my awakening experience. Since I don't feel judged - or don't care about it - it's helped me feel less anxious and fearful. The bolder and more forgiving I've become, the more success and satisfaction I'm having. I just want to keep following the path. I'm not in pursuit of more or greater success. I feel like I'm in a state of being where success is normal and doesn't have to be "striven for." I'm just curious to see where we're going.

[ilazmit]

Hello Nola,

Since you are familiar with Liberation Unleashed perhaps we can just jump right in. I am so glad to hear that you feel less anxious and bolder since your awakening experience. I have an exercise for you, please answer as honestly as possible, there are no wrong answers. Given that we come from diverse ethnic backgrounds at Liberation Unleashed should you misunderstand anything I write please feel free to ask me to reiterate.
The exercise is; when the sensation of anxiety arises look to see if it is a thought about a sensation labeled anxiety happening to someone, or is it a sensation that is happening?
Sandra

[NOLA]

Hi, I just saw your response yesterday. I am generally only anxious upon awakening in the morning. So this morning I observed. and when I feel anxious, it's always tied around a thought - the thought is fear about not having enough money. My husband and I were affluent when we first got together 35 years ago - we both had good careers. But starting with 9/11, our freelance work in marketing disappeared overnight and we continued to struggle up until about a year ago. We never came close to a big loss like losing our house, but my husband was totally panicked and our relationship really suffered. My peace of mind has suffered too. I'm now obsessed with achieving financial security and have a plan in place to get there that is very doable. It's helped both of us relax. The anxiety is a residue.