Aristotle said: For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.

Example: Tying your shoes was easy to say and hard to do, until you started doing it. Then it got easy. Driving, same thing. Talking to someone you are attracted to, same thing.

Patrick,

In every moment you have a choice about what you will do next, you can choose to make this information conscious, and make it easy to choose to talk to someone, or you can remain unconscious and not see your choice and freeze when something happens that is outside of how you expect reality to be (like a cute girl talking to you.) Take an improv class. It will help loosen you up.

For me, I am good at uplifting people and encouraging them in whatever they are endeavoring or if they just need a kind word or someone to listen to them for a minute. Recently I had a LOT of people come in my life that needed something and I admit it was overwhelming but I kept my commitment to being positive and open to people. The outcome was that I made a few friends and I helped others in some way. That made me feel good and helped build my energy! I feel so much better since these people came rushing into my life and really look forward to the next time I can help a person in some way!

You aren’t really working as a problem solver, just a motivator to help people solve their own problems or to get unstuck from their situation. Isn’t that wonderful to help a person like that? Or to talk to people as you go by them? What would have happened if you didn’t talk to the lady in the post office and uplifted her day by some little conversation? Maybe that was the only time she got out of the house that week and you talked to her.

If you are feeling depleted, you can always set some time aside for yourself to work on your goals too or reconnect with yourself! You need some “me” time to focus your thoughts and you do need to be selfish sometimes and think about things that YOU want also just like you listed! You have to go after the things that you want because no one is going to give it to you. At the same time, build your network and things will come easier for you. It sounds like you are a giver but you have learn to receive as well as give! This is where karma comes into play because what you do for others, will come back around to you in some form.

That is interesting what you said: ” the reason why a lot of leader/guru types have a lot of energy is that their students (disciples or whatever) have actually tied their third chakras (power distribution center) to the object in front of them… usually it’s their guru or master. These are sometimes called cords of energy”

I haven’t studied this, but this is very interesting. Where do you look that information up at? I have heard of chakras but never really studied it before.

I am sure that David does have a lot of energy and personal strength. It certainly seems so because I can feel his positive energy when I listen to him on the mp3s. For some reason, he relaxes me and really helps me clear my mind and realize that I can do this. I can talk to people – I don’t have to stay in the mindset that other people set for me through their ways or words – you know what society thinks you should do – blah, blah. I had it within me all along, I just needed someone like him to tell me that and wake me up! I guess he is my guru but I have no expectations placed on him. I haven’t even met him – I just know that I am learning from him and I am being totally freed from the block of mental mindset that was put upon me before and I conformed to. I am now able to know that I can truly live in freedom and enjoy playing on this earth everyday!

“The mere fact that you said that “you’re trying to increase your personal power, not disperse it” tells me that very clearly”

I guess you’d never read Carlos Castaneda or other Shamanistic works because when you start to heal others, you deplete your own energy. That’s why the Huna in Hawaii have extensive Qi gathering practices; it’s more for them than their students or heal-ees. This depletion happened throughout my twenties so yes, while I was attracting the opposite gender (the theme of this board), getting promoted at the workplace, and all that good stuff (100+ active friends), I was also getting drained by all the people who I’d helped. By 32, I was burnt out and needed to be alone.

“David has more personal strength and power than most people”

Without necessarily referencing Dave, the reason why a lot of leader/guru types have a lot of energy is that their students (disciples or whatever) have actually tied their third chakras (power distribution center) to the object in front of them… usually it’s their guru or master. These are sometimes called cords of energy. That’s partly why you periodically see a meteoric rise of let’s say a Rajanesh fellow, followed by a collapse when their students later turn on them for not living up to their original expectations. I’m not sure about the blog originator, since that’s not my place but these things can happen in that way.

It is possible to grow personally while simultaneously being able to give parts of yourself to others. The two things don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

In fact if you believe that your energy (positive or negative) has an absolute effect on those around you, then you could not feel as you do about your personal power. David has more personal strength and power than most people, yet he also gives a huge amount of himself to others.

When I’m in a slow line, people tend to grumble, so I grumble along but slowly change the topic to something more neutral. The context is the key, the line/the post office/the mailing/etc, not the lady’s ear rings, watch, her perm, etc. All and all, if a person wants to be cheered up, they’ll invite the conversation. That part is easy ’cause everyone wants their day to go by smoothly and that’s a good way to start a conversation.

“See my reality is to bring out the beauty in everyone that I meet”

What some (perhaps not you) will find in time is that one’ll end up becoming everyone’s problem solver, consciously or unconsciously. And that can be a huge energy drain; realize, you’re trying to increase your personal power, not disperse it. I didn’t like it when that was my life. Along with the beauty (which I agree, is in everyone even if it’s obscured) there’s a lot of ugliness in humanity.

Now, I’m more circumspect than before on this matter. I still have a slew of platonic friends, a *steady* girlfriend, and a few married ladies (but let’s not go there since its complicated).

“What is the meaning of life to you?”

LOL! Now there’s a start for a treatise. I think it has to do with clearing karma, achieving true freedom, power from within, financial independence, etc.

The last four questions are a bit tricky in responding to but overall, I’m content, happy as I am, and will make intermittent changes as needed.

This is a terrible example (but it’s the best I can think of right now) – you remind me of that exercise they used to do at big corporate “vision” seminars where they tell you to see how high you can jump, then they tell you to visualize yourself jumping twice as high and inevitably on the second try everyone was able to jump between 25 to 50 percent higher.

I think your grim outlook as to what’s possible is manifesting itself in the reality you experience. If you changed your mindset, you might be shocked at all the great things (and great women) you would start to find …