Nickyy X I always sit alone in my husbands office's spare room watching Leo's videos and other enlightened being in hopes of being enlightened myself. I also meditate every day here for 2 hours because I want to be enlightened
I like his mind set but he says to not be tied to anything or go anywhere but then to go and plan meditation retreats alot. That is still getting out and doing something. Also to minimalist your life is great and lesson things that you have to go to is right. I take from his videos that you have to value your time to not wasting it on useless stuff of the world but give yourself things to do that add to your life.
Man this explains why most of the week is completely unconscious for me. It explains why I can not have insightful moments for the entire week. Two months ago I stopped listening to music completely for an entire month and a small source of frustrations and un-satisfactions have disappeared. I realized that I can still do things when there is an authentic motivation to do so. That authentic motivation is radically different from the "force yourself" mentality we have in society.
+El142 D.A Something tells me I need to watch moar Leo to see what he means for these, exactly (like the difference between meditation and enlightenment). Probably for the best as his videos seem like a great "bare-bones" spirituality with none of the attachments of Mahayana Buddhism or more mystical denominations of Christianity.
Leo, the kind of work that you are doing deserves no less than a Nobel Peace Prize !!! This is what is truly going to bring about peace in this world. I wish they taught this in schools and religious institutions. May god bless you for spreading this wonderful and profound message.
I think presence yields better results anyways. The best way I have found to leverage is to find one activity that yields results, do that one thing with presence, and then learn how to optimize it. This will reduce the doing about 50% and leaves much more time for being. Great video Leo.
+Robin Breeds. You are what is known as a low-conscious person. It's not an insult, just a fact. His more advanced videos like this one will intimidate people like you and you will resort to low-conscious activity like name-calling or personal attack. Go back and learn the basics first. You'll thank me later.
Leo, I've been watching your videos for I think around 2 years, and it all started with learning about mindfulness. Now, I keep an incredibly open mind to everything everyday. You've inspired me to become the best version of myself and have the most satisfying life. I've become so patient with my journey because I trust that I will reach enlightenment one day. Thank you for sharing this with us, leo.
Agree! I've been slowly cutting social networking out of my life and now when I think about it, I was never depressed when I was younger because I didn't realize how many people don't care. The issue with social networking is the social failure is through the roof compared to real life socializing. My generation needs to realize that there are only a few people who actually care and you really need to disconnect with all the fake people online and get back to reality. The constant rejection isn't normal and it's not realistic to be friends with everyone.
Leo i bought your book list about 4 months ago, and i invested like 500 euro's and bought a lot of these books that you put on the list. And i have to thank you so much man. Because some of these books. Are just Pure Gold man, like there are books where i just spend 2 hours reading 10 pages of, because of all the wisdom and briliancy and thought provoking stuff they contain. So to anyone reading this, you should defenitly check the list out.
+bo vas kanal lol marketing you? Go read the six pillars of self-esteem fucker, then come talk to me, or take a deep look into the wheel of time by carlos castaneda .... An other one is the success princaples. Go read em then come talk to me...
+bo vas kanal Didn't know i was copying till you clerified, seems you are a big fanboy of the man, since you know all his stuff... You probably even bought the list and even the life purpose course niggu
I've noticed that since I don't go out with friends any more, I feel more peaceful,..and my spirit is more ready to learn. whereas too much fun is kind of destroys my willing of learning. thank you for what you do, you are a great inspiration.
YES!! Less is definitely MORE! I'm SO glad you are talking about this, Leo. It's been 2 years now since I have renounced my neurotic-chaotic, materialistic life altogether. It WAS scary and hard at first to walk away from my "successful" busy lifestyle. Of course all my friends, coworkers and family thought I lost my mind! But now by simplifying my life, finding courage and eliminating 80% of "busy-ness", my life is overflowing with an abundance of peace and love I never knew was possible! I'm MUCH happier not doing much of anything... And just simply BEing. ❤️
YES! This is the first video I can confidently say I am already down the path a long way :) Back when I was in my very early twenties (after already being a pretty minimalist kind of gal) I realized my life was just 'life maintenance' - constantly chasing stuff, constant relationship drama, constant doing things that just got re-set the next day - and I got to a place where I just saw where that was headed. In that moment I decided to sell everything I owned, and move to Thailand. Back then I was totally crazy, running around going to school, working two jobs, shopping, working out like a crazy person - every MINUTE of my life was full, and exactly like you said, in the off moments I was CRAZY inside with all this SHIT. This has now been a 4 year journey of minimalizing EVERYTHING in my life - I work only on my life purpose, nothing more. I have only social activities that feed that creativity - and it is VERY RARE and far between. I have hours upon hours a day to meditate, contemplate, think, journal. Be. I have faced my shadows for 3 years, to the point now that they are few and far between - only because I have had ALL THIS TIME AND SPACE to do so. No distractions. Everything my partner and I own fits into 2 bags and we can pack up our entire lives in 20 minutes. I blissfully consume only 1 meal a day. It is CRAZY how much you realize you can release when you start to actually SEE how much of life is just a distraction from life. It is also amazing how CLEARLY you start to see your stories, and how much easier it becomes to simply let them go and come back into being and purpose once you don't have anything extra built up in your life. My relationships are few, but drama free. My life is empty but full all at once. Whats more, I no longer feel bat shit crazy. What you are saying here is 100% on the money. At first it was really scary to let all that stuff go, and have all that was being pushed down come to the surface. It felt like a long road to this place of peace when I was in it, but from here I would go back and do it again a million times over to arrive in this place. I am excited to continue on this path, knowing there is ever more. Everything done from this space of SPACE is so much more profound and effective. Saying no gets so easy. Love you man. Thank you for being and sharing this vital information. To the Monastic Life!
+Vigi Haha, in a sense I feel like the path 'pulled' me - it would have been harder NOT to go this way. Similar to Leo :) I make videos and coach people and write. Over on Perception Trainers PT - Leo if this is out of alignment to share my business here, I undertand feel free to delete!
+Ali Washington Thanks for your comment, I can really feel the happiness in you :) One thing I'm missing out (and that's the only thing that I didn't get in Leos video as well) - How is writing (or, coaching people to write, which is amazing IMO) not a "distraction"? How is anything that's not "being" - not a distraction? Leo says - focus on your life's purpose, but then makes it sound (again, IMO) like anything else other than being\meditation\contemplating is a waste of time. If I follow Leo's words to the letter (as I understood them anyway), what could be a "proper" life purpose that is not "just being"? Confused here, maybe you have an answer, maybe you don't. I'll comment to his video as well... Thanks for sharing, anyway :) It was really pleasant for me to feel that you are fulfilled :)
I worked in Glacier National Park for 5 weeks. I basically did not have phone or internet service, save for exactly one room with internet. I worked as a house keeper, I ate in community, and I feasted on unbelievable natural beauty, hiking through the park, for five weeks. At the end of it, I probably felt the healthiest and happiest I ever have. Man.
My dream job is to work my own farm entirely off grid. I would be perfectly happy never to talk to anyone again for a significant period (maybe even the rest of my life - certainly feels like that right now [and by right now I mean for the past 10years or more, lol] anyway)
I am still curious to see what your daily life is like. It doesn't have to be the popular kind of 'excitement' we see in manufactured vlogs. It might still be of worth to your specific audience.
Marian Montagnino This 50% reducer thing works! For example: Now, when I'm in traffic waiting at a red light or a stop sign and the light turns green, I am 50% slower to start moving. The people behind me honk their horns with great joy to cheer me on! When I raise my hand out the window (with only 50% of my fingers raised) to wave in acknowledgement, they honk their horns some more! They totally get it! They reciprocate my hand waving and gesture back with 50% of my 50% finger salute! This shit is TOTALLY AWESOME! But maybe it should only be Half Ass Awesome?
I have been looking for a way to "thank you" genuinely, Leo. I have been following your videos for more than two years and practising everything you mention in them. The amount of transformation that my life has incurred is enormous. I have found joy in simply doing nothing and sitting (something that is boring for others). I used to have all kinds of addictions. Just last day, after days of contemplation, I gave you the addictions of "music" and "success" (these were my biggest addictions). For me the biggest shift came from understanding that success really doesn't lead to fulfilment AT ALL. This is something I learnt from you. Nowhere in youtube anybody mentions that. I Have been "successful" (as society defines) in soooo many ways and I never found fulfilment until I started doing all the things you have asked us to do. You were the only person around who successful taught me the art of mediation. Prior to that nobody had succeeded in helping me with that. I hail from a very difficult past of watching violence at home, being beaten as a child, bullied at work, by friends, and professors. I tried committing suicide several times----your video on "Contemplating your death" helped me enormously in avoiding suicide! And today, I can honestly say, I am enjoying my life with literally whatever I have (whatever little things)....and mostly just by being, and understanding consciousness, finding beauty in mediation. I honestly wish I could thank you in person.
Leo, my God man... I first started following you a year or so ago and spent hours per day going through your material. I kinda overwhelmed myself and got burnt out trying to learn everything in such a short time. Well long story short I drifted away from your channel and back into my busy life, I actually started a car dealership all alone. Thinking that was what was gonna make me happy chasing financial riches. Well just a couple months in I was burnt out and it was making me hate cars which had been my life long love. Well open to close in 4 months I just closed up shop, it was even very profitable even the first months. I could see that the constantly stressed and busy life was going to do nothing but make me miserable even more then I already was. I've been blessed enough to have saved a stack of money to be able to take a huge step back and figure out where to go from here. And my hell I stumbled across this video when I first watched it a year ago. The first time I watched it, it didn't hit home nearly as hard as now. And I can see that I've unconsciously followed your recommendations in this video. And my life is so much better right now, I've been getting rid of all sorts of baggage material and relationships that no longer serve me. Life is getting so much better and its only been a year!! Your work is the best out there buddy, I've searched and searched and found a couple others as well. Not to boost your ego or nothing lol but your work for me is compared with eckhart, Elliott, and Alan. I'm truly blessed to have found your work and I look forward to seeing how my life is going to turn out vs had I not found my mentors. Thank you good sir!! 👍
Hey leo. I've applied this principal very well and the results it's given me these past few days are extraordinary ! just by building my awareness and simply doing nothing or very little. Easily it has completely skyrocketed my happiness (in a deeper sense) and the actions and behaviours I do. Simply by being more I no longer have the desire to do any kind of stupid activities (I have no desire to follow the desire) I can sit all day without anything, I can even Meditate for 50 minutes without the extreme resistance I had before and I can easily get myself to do things like read for a longer time etc. I've never experienced these higher states of awareness before and it's amazing. It's been nearly a week now and all the things I was struggling with before in terms of myself have just reduced by a longshot
"Just stop" is a frequent teaching! I have been forced to engage in that process for more than ten years now after an accident and illness, and all these things Leo says are true. After a while, lots of acceptance and meditation, I now can see that all exterior activities are not my true self, and don't bring me anything more. Just re enacting of old traumas and conditionning. Let's not forget about the amazing feeling of true joy that arises when you sit for a while, without thought or internal conflict.
A few semesters ago I was working three jobs and taking two classes. I ended up with panic attacks and anxiety so terrible that I was contemplating suicide. Don't try to do too much.
OMG! This came at such a perfect time, I just looked around and realized that I have downsized my physical possessions and I realized two weeks ago that I need to slow down my life. I just switched from full-time to a part-time student, and it feels good to actually have time to learn the material and not just push out assignments. I always tell my friends that I am boring because sometimes I just want to sit and think or read or have deep conversations. The thing is everyone who comes around me feels relaxed because I am.
Great video Leo. It's my birthday tomorrow (or today now !) and I've always felt as if I have to plan loads of stuff or at least something but no matter what I do I always feel unsatisfied and am left with a deep sense of sadness when the day comes to an end. I'm now beginning to understand that this day we call a 'birthday' is meaningless in reality and so I have made no plans this year. Instead I'm going to spend the day plodding about, going out into nature, and just 'being'. It's actually kind of a relief, like a whole weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I feel pretty happy about it! Thank you for sharing your wisdom once again :-)
Yeah but that's special too - it's a different kind of special. You took time to treasure yourself and your time on the planet. I'm at the stage now where I'm learning to celebrate my birthdays as a way to commemorate not just my survival (I've been thru a lot) but my progress, my learning. (This is coming from a place where I hated and resented my life so yeah, definite progress 🤗)
I can’t explain how this video showed up in my feed. I have been trying to do too many things lately and experienced a deep burn-out today and my advice to myself was all about “I need to quit this rushing and trying to finish everything at once.” Wow what a great video and a timely one at that
I want a life like yours Leo. How peaceful it sounds. It is so refreshing to hear someone who does not conform to society's belief on having kids, etc. I feel like the abnormal one in my neighborhood.
I approve this message. Ever since I've become more in touch with my being, life started to be so smooth and fulfilling. Simple things are more enjoyable right now- petting a cat, feeling sun heat and wind on your body, drinking tea from favourite cup in the morning. This realisation of futility of external action and its impotence made me look inward and liberated from doing neurotic stuff. And I'm not even enlightened! The only "problem" left is misunderstanding by other people, always asking "why aren't you doing this, why aren't you doing that, look at him, he has that, why don't you have the same". They always project on me their insecurities, even when they are trying to help me. And I can't propely explain from their paradigm same things Leo is trying to tell - silly stuff! =)
It's so refreshing to hear this! I always thought I was a weirdo growing up as a teen because pretty much all social interaction felt pointless to me while everybody looked like they were having a great time! Just need to keep convincing myself that this is the right path and stop being distracted by others! It's hard to do when you are a people pleaser!
This video is one of the most INCREDIBLE pieces of work/ART I have ever seen. Seriously, listening to you makes life seem simple again, it makes simplicity feel attainable..accessible.. I do TH-cam videos on here myself and I feel that I would be a person that would live to excess, if I were in a stable financial position.And right now 'the idea of de-cluttering and minamalising my physical world is more appealing. I wish that every person in the Western world could see this video! It is truly a pleasure to listen to. I would PAY to hear you say all this. THANK YOU. Yvonne, Ireland xx
+Mariska Brouwers If you barely get anything done you probably do a lot of shit that you don't even count as being productive:D That's certainly my problem
Leo, I want to thank you, you have helped and saved me more than once. Your videos are translated into languages, and I listen to them all the time. thanks . I am Georgian, many Georgians listen to your videos.🇬🇪.💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
I think you're getting close to the idea of a meaningful life! Modern life has become all about quantity over quality. Material minimalism scratches the surface of the issue and lifestyle minimalism goes much deeper. I think the key is in connecting to life itself.
I want inner peace Leo! You’ve been helping me a lot. Whatever I do I create my own suffer and unhappiness. How miserable it would be if i keep doing this. Glad I started watching videos, whenever I feel shit I go back to your videos to remind me of myself all you need is inner peace and awareness
Thank you so much, Leo. I've always been living a rather introverted life. Growing up and looking at some of my siblings who seemed to do much more things and meet many more people than I do, I've oftentimes felt kinda guilty for not having/making more friends and socializing more. I do have experienced the great feeling of simply being a few times but I was still feeling unsure whether I was doing the right thing, wether the way I am living was wrong or unhealthy. After listening to this video, I've come to understand and accept that this kind of lifestyle is at least equally valuable to a very active one. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and perspective about this topic, it was very interesting and helpful. Have a nice day :)
If I only talk about this based on my own personal life, I would say that this concept can take years to truly "get.. I spent years having a busy schedule, taking parts in any social activity or hobby I could participate in, thinking that having"many friends" would bring me happiness........ But then I found out I was completely neglecting my own self, the true purpose and inner peace.. now is time to filter out the bullshit
This is so true! I've been doing less and focusing on only what really matters and life is so much better. I only actually focus on meditation, music, and building my youtube channel- everything else I make a point not to fret over.
I find this a very interesting topic. But I think you could/should do a part two where you talk about ideas for how to realistically do this if you are, for instance, the main bread winner of your household and have two kids in college. Or any variety of situations were children rely on you to get it done. Because the way I see it is if you brought children into this world you owe it to them to provide what it takes for them to have a chance in this world. Such as a home in a town with a good school system. In some ways maybe I've relinquished my expectation of a tranquil, low activity life. Not to be confused with a low stress mind set.
+Actualized.org Not an excuse Leo. Since you are the sage and I the student I am asking you to delve into specific and suggestions. Such as ideas for accomplishing this for millions in my position. It's a situation...not an excuse. I am looking for suggestions not argument .
True...super grateful you realised the need to change....Having kids and a partner changed the whole scenario....it changes everything.....Now you just don't have to earn for yourself but for your those dependent on you...you cannot run away or simply ignore them.....But you can surely discuss it with your partner....you both can support each other.....and about kids you can start inculcating such superb lifestyle at super early age....today maybe they'll feel super disappointed in you, they will compare you with others and tell you that you turned out to be a super failure cause you are not cool like other dads.....but in time maybe in next 15 to 20 years, when you'll be on your death bed they'll standing right next to you, thankful for the decision you made when they were small.....I super believe you can still live a super superb minimalist lifestyle like the one described in video....it's super worth giving a try....thanks for sharing your question!!!!
For everyone watching: Using your non-dominant hand will automatically make you more aware of what you're doing. You will have to concentrate and lose your automaticity, stop thinking so much and live more in the present. So you can try using your left hand or whichever is not your dominant hand
Great vid Leo. I've been doing this intuitively for the past 10 years or so. Meditation is much deeper and life is much more fulfilling. Very few priorities and lots of "No's". Damn its a rat race out there!
brilliant video Leo! People are running around like headless chickens on meth lol.All that "success" does is make progress toward more pain.My slow paced life is deeply fullfiling to me (creating music,writing,reading,going in nature,meditation,contemplation,exercise etc).
Thank u for another great practical video. This came at the right time for me. Ive been unable to sit still and just breathe since i got back from holidays. Its almost like i feel a need to make up for the time i took off to rest by working non stop.
I appreciate that you point out that people are overlooking the lifestyle and sticking more toward just the materialistic side. Ultimately, they should go hand in hand. Great video.
This message ended up getting long, so I apologize. From my perspective, I would say that it's important to be careful not to be too rash. If the string is wound too tightly it will break, if it's wound too loosely it will not play. This is what the Buddha realized when he was walking the path of asceticism. He realized that asceticism itself is an attachment. In realizing that neither material abundance nor the complete renunciation of the material world could fulfill him, he advocated the middle path. On the mundane level, there are certainly many negative, toxic things about society. And everyone could benefit by cutting back on busy time and commitments. Definitely stop chasing money and success. So, I'm totally with you there because society works at cross purposes to many of our natural instincts. Take the time to really live, in a conscious way. Live life, don't try to win life. It's a losing game. But if you have resistance toward any aspect of reality, the resistance to what is, may block you from reaching enlightenment. Regardless of whether the content of your reality consists of a busy metropolis or the content of your reality consists of a cabin in the woods or a Buddhist monastery or a prison, there you are right in the middle of nature. Right in the middle of you. It is just as much empty of significance or value. It is just as much divine. No more right or wrong than anything else. But there you are. Each is a unique expression of yourself. Everything in your reality is you. If you have resistance to something in reality, you're saying that thing isn't me and that separation can block you from realizing your existential nature. Certainly, you could say, it's your preference to renounce material life because you believe it will aid you in becoming more fulfilled. That's totally valid. But be careful in thinking that this is what fulfillment looks like or that you can add value or fulfillment to your life by changing your surroundings or your lifestyle. My recommendation is, before making any rash moves, be sure that your decision comes from the quiet voice of wisdom and not the loud voice of fear. To hear this quiet voice, let go of fear. You often bring up the 'death bed' thought. You may want to look at your beliefs and fears relative to the ideas you ascribe to a wasted life. See if it produces any judgements about yourself, others, significance, and reality. I think you'll find some hidden beliefs there.
+The Diamond Net Yes, although the problem this video is addressing is that people don't even have the time to sit down and hear "the quiet voice of wisdom". I am not saying you should become an ascetic (at least I'm not saying it yet). What I'm suggesting is way less radical than the Buddha's Middle Way. You gotta realize that the Buddha's Middle Way was harsh as fuck in practice during his age. What the Buddha called asceticism was basically death by starvation. And what the Buddha called the Middle Way was still an extremely hardcore practice, akin to what modern Zen Buddhist monks do, but harsher. So what I advocate here, relative to that, is like a walk in the park. And yet still, most people will think it's too harsh and unreasonable. We have really become pussified as a culture.
+Actualized.org I admit. I don't know the details of the story that well. I just thought that it was a good analogy for the points that I was trying to illustrate. I totally agree with you about the fast-paced society being harmful because of the lack of ability to be present and simply be. There's little time or energy for presence, and there's no opportunity to flow with life. Definitely cutting down 50% or more on what you do is a great recommendation. But there was a point, about 3/4 through the video where you seemed to say that everyone who's self-actualizing should make a long term goal of swearing off material life altogether. You talked about people regretting being involved in the various aspects of living in society on their death bed, as though swearing off material life would be a solution to that regret somehow. But this regret only comes about through false identification with an ephemeral self. An enlightened person can live anywhere and feel fulfilled. An unenlightened person will have regrets on their deathbed and fear of death regardless of where they live or what their lifestyle looks like. Certainly, disengaging from society can help you get more in touch with being because it minimizes distractions. But demonizing society is unhelpful and can hinder progress because it gets in the way of the unconditional love aspect of enlightenment. The content in your reality is irrelevant to the level of satisfaction that you can have in life. I truly apologize for being too much in your business. It's all ego. I only know you as much as you share of yourself in your videos. That said, you seem to have a strong fear of looking back and regretting your life and seeing it as insignificant. Until you can see the beauty in the fact that you will one day die and be forgotten forever, enlightenment probably won't come to you. I think you're still trying to make your life significant... perhaps not to the eyes of others but to your own eyes. Again, I apologize for analyzing you too much. I don't really know where you're at. But I hope that what I say is helpful.
+The Diamond Net "...everyone who's self-actualizing should make a long term goal of swearing off material life..." "An enlightened person can live anywhere and feel fulfilled." Yes, and how do you think those enlightened persons got enlightened? They did it by swearing off material life. That is my point. You can live life however you want. There is no right or wrong way to live. But if you want to live the deepest life possible, it might be prudent to take a page from the sages of the world who all lived contemplative lifestyles. If you're gonna use the Buddha as an example, well... he abandoned his kingdom and his family for like 12 years to get enlightened. So yeah... In a nutshell, be more like Buddha as less like Kayne West. Society is highly unhealthy, as evidenced by how many people don't understand the concepts explained in these videos. And I will have a lot worse things to say about society in the future. The extent of social dysfunction is mind-boggling. But when I say that, it is not a demonization. I don't hate society. I don't think it is evil or wrong. It just isn't conducive to self-actualization, which you can see with your own eyes.
Actualized.org Well, it's certainly true that your best bet to become enlightened is to spend many hours pursuing it. I can see no better way to do this than hermeticism or monastic life. So, understand that I'm not trying to invalidate that path. I'd be doing just that if I had no children. But it's incorrect to say that all enlightened people became enlightened in this way. And it's also incorrect to say that all enlightened people have decided to swear off society. Many enlightened people live fully integrated with society. One example that pops out to me as fitting both of these points is Eckhart Tolle. I'm sure that there are others too. Society certainly has a lot of ails on the mundane level. But on the existential level,don't let the ails of society blind you to the fact that society and you are not separate things. It's hard to love and accept something as part of yourself when you dislike it intensely. But forget what I said about Buddha. I shouldn't have used it as an analogy, given the fact that I don't know more than the very basics of the story. It just seemed to work as a general analogy. I wasn't actually comparing disengaging with society to the intensity of asceticism that the Buddha held himself to. I was using it to illustrate the idea of 'renunciation as attachment.'
I couldn't relate to the beginning of the video, because I've been this way naturally since a child too... The sage is one who lives intrinsically, looking for satisfaction. Real satisfaction. I haven't been working on getting my life together until now... I'm 28. I've felt so damn behind all my life... but in a way, its been a step ahead. I like these videos, because they hold truth. Leo, you are awesome, not for anything you're doing for individuals in particular, but because of the contribution you give to society... I for one, have been tired of being so utterly broken inside and tired of operating from a low level mentality and awareness... Thank you. You have been instrumental... an asset and a tool we can use to pursue happy and fulfilling lives.
"One of mans biggest problems is his/her inability to stay at home alone in a room" Blaze Pascale... I think the running around is so that we can run away from ourselves...
+SUCCESS MOTIVATION: Health Wealth Love Happiness ...including the running in the mind, from which an empty room does not by default save, as proven by Descartes' faulty conclusion 'I think, therefore I am.'
Hi Leo. I am really enjoying absorbing everything you say. This video really got my attention because I recently went through a Divorce and after that, I began to do everything you mention in this video before watching it. I was trying to do a lot of this stuff before too but there were other issues in my life that were preventing my spiritual growth. (I have been on a spiritual path since 2010 and it got obstructed a couple of years ago and I tried to get back on it), and now that I am alone, I feel like I have been able to let go of a lot of things that "disrupt" what I really want, which is meditation, enlightenment, a purpose, living in the present etc. I minimized my "hanging out" with friends by 95%, don't focus on "chasing" women, money, or material gains anymore. I am feeling more and more content with my life by the day as I try to meditate as much as I can. I feel as though my sub-conscious has known this for some time now, and it is finally starting to come to the foreground. You inspire me to continue down this path. Thank you and I will continue watching your amazing teachings. You are a Guru!
Hey Leo, is it pointless if i want to create beautiful things(i want to be a filmmaker), and i want to perfect my craft. i actually dont care about the money. But i am not an idiot, i need money to make films. Should i just live basic life and only turn to self actualization? Can i find fulfillment in my craft? because i realy do enjoy making films, and seeing the final product... am i fooling myself?
+Dario Kesegi I think the point is you can do what you dreams about, like to be a great filmmaker, as it is a way to fulfill your life. Meanwhile it's other people's responsibilities and their own choices to decide to be attracted to your films or live a simple life. It's just my opinion.
Most useful video I’ve ever watched. I’d also recommend throwing out your television set; it’s highly toxic for the mind and sucks away valuable time. Get rid of clothes (donate them). Declutter yourself form useless technology and gadgets. Have simple surroundings. Learns some life skills, like making a fire, fishing, cpr. Become autodidactic. Read read read! This video is the epitome of how I live my life. You gave me much confirmation that I’m on the right path, as most of what you mentioned here is my lifestyle. It’s difficult to live this way because you feel like an alien, a cave man living off the grid. People think your lack of desire is a form of depression, no it isn’t. It’s quite the opposite, freedom. Leo I typically never comment because it takes too much time, but this video is truth, unpasteurized, non homogenized... please keep up the amazing work, thank you for sharing such valuable knowledge.
Tell him that with this idea I got 15 qualifications of 10 at university: Seizing one thing at a time, just as long as needed for making it good enough.
Just do what I did and cut your hours way the hell back. You still work as hard the days you're there but you'll find you have so much more perspective - that you're able to mentally step back from your job and to even realise that IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY DEFINE YOU (WOW)
It's actually very comforting to hear someone else say that "success" is not gonna make you happy and fulfilled in life. All this glamorous, seemingly neccesary stuff that I've been worrying about how I can attain is actually worthless.
It's funny you talked about feeling like a child again. I have had the same experience the last couple of weeks. The more the ego is leaving this experience the more memories and feelings as 'me' as a child are coming back.The sad thing is that we lose this child like being growing up, except we don't really lose it at all, we just ignore it because we are supposed to be 'responsible and intelligent adults'.
Being intelligent or responsible is not a bad thing. If you are more closer to the truth only makes you more intelligent as far as i can see. Being closer to the truth not only makes you internally pleasant but can still go out in the world and still achieve stuff. But the only difference is that you will find it meaningless and worthless which is what the truly are . Right now if you have feeling that there is anything in this world ,the truth is that its only a projection of your mind.
Bobby Mathews The point was that most people get burdened by things they are supposed to be(I know I did) and that it puts unreasonable pressure on people.
This has actually become a meditation exercise for me lately. I'm a Christian and I had an abusive childhood which has led to ISSUES with my relating to Father God. So I've been picturing myself taking my inner child and dumping her in the lap of the Father (cos it's her that has the issues with Him not me). She kicked and had a tantrum a lot initially but every day I left her there a bit longer and now she mostly just curls into his lap although she's still not very happy about (cos now that she's accepted being in His lap I'm picturing Him patting her on the back - all this is very confronting for her)
Leo, I don't agree with some points in your video. Lately I've been really focusing on studies for my final exams. I isolated my self for about a month, not really going out and I put minimal work in my online business. I understood that money or success is not important. For the past 2 years I've been working full time while studying full time to achieve 'success', but it's a trap. With all that money I would earn I would just buy shit I don't need which only brings stress to my life and all my free time would be wasted. I also understood that deep relationships and hobbies you are passionate about are the most important thing. For me it is natural bodybuilding. Sculpting my body through decades of training and eating healthy. No sugar and other shit. And that brings me fulfillment. If you master something through years of work you can then share your wisdom with other people like you share your wisdom with us. I don't understand why you say that we should minimize hobbies and relationships. Humans are social beings. It's like in this movie into the woods. This guy left everything to live in wilderness and enjoy nature, but because there was no other people to connect with and share happiness, it made him so depressed that he committed suicide. It's just human nature, basic human need. You can still balance that with meditation and contemplation and in my opinion that would be the best way to live.
+Adam Genova Allow me to to transfer what he said and apply it to you personally, if I may. Remember in the beginning he said cut the things you do in half, and with the remaining things you have to do, spend twice as much time on it. So pretty much, cut out other stuff, and spend more time in stuff that fulfills you. In your case bodybuilding and relationships :) . Keep in mind that everyone is different, so your perfect life is going to be different than anyone else's, including Leo's. So that being said, when you look for advice in videos such as these, take everything with a grain of salt, see how advice applies to YOU.
+Adam Genova into the wild*, and the guy did not commit suicide but he actually died while eating a poisoning plant(he didn't know it was toxic), but i'm actually thinking the same, like a human being is not made to live life alone, but leo's point was to minimize rather than to stop, my idea on this is to actually look for people who care about being than doing, and share the happiness and fulfilment with them, rather than living alone.
Rachael kadi Yes you and the guy above you are right. It's just the way he spoke in the video. He said it all like if it was the only way to achieve happiness and everyone should do what he did. Usually he presents an idea in different views and different circumstances, but here he didn't. Maybe that's why I interpreted it this way.
wow , this was the exact conversation that i had with my self two days back , after having sometime thinking about the time i'm wasting in things that are not authentic , and not serving me with my life purpose , and only two days back found a way to motivate my self to focus on my self and my life purpose , to reduce the distractions , and disconnect my self from obligations that only consume time , what will give me more time to do what really is worth my time helping me ..i knew that it will be very difficult to do it all alone without planning , so i had to put a motivating plan , at least to start building this habitual life style .. that includes lots of rejections .. this video timing can't be any better ..
Thank you for your honesty and sincerity Leo. I don't always like what i hear in your videos but i always come back because I know that the truth, no matter how bitter, is my only hope.
I am grateful to capture this content today. I have been working my whole 2021, creating a slow paced, minimalist life. This process is definitely challenging as there’s a lot of confusions, doubts, agitation and letting go along the way. I’m glad to have some answers through this video :)
I slowed down at work and I got fired. Then I got evicted cuz I couldn't pay rent. After that my gf dumped me cuz I was homeless and didn't have a job. You wrecked my life.
This video made me feel like I don't really need to watch any more Actualized.org videos. I'll still do it but it's like. . . this is it. . . I have all I need to know to do what I need to do to change my life.
You don't need to, but you can choose it to keep you accountable and Speed up breakthroughs (90% is about getting into the right space of mind and locking it in). Changing "your life" is a very fluid term, although I would bet you knew how to change your life situation before on the physical level, but you had to have mental breakthroughs to end self-sabotating and ending up where you started by giving in to the resistance :) good luck (mainly wrote this for myself haha)
+Extreme Z7 Wait till you see some of the new video topics in the works. It's stuff that will blow your mind that would take you 40 years to discover on your own, if at all. We are still only scratching the surface here. Although, yeah, don't get addicted to videos. And keep in mind that at some point you will probably run out of motivation and fall off track. I think the most important function of the videos is to simply keep you motivated and reminded of your intentions.
Leo's description of the retreat experience is what I experience every time I go on a week long vacation. At first I am strangely aggravated that I have to go and how there is sooo much I need to do at home. This aggravation continues to varying degrees for the first 2-3 days and then slowly, like unwinding a spring, I relax in not only a physical but mental awareness way. No matter what the family wants to do that day I am fine with it and it just seems to happen in relaxed, slow motion. It's THIS...that I need to develop in my everyday life.
For the first time, I don't totally agree with you Leo. First of all, sorry if I make a few mistakes, I'm french and english is not my language. I think that if we can find inter peace and fullfilment inside through emptiness and silence, if we don't need all that entertainement to find happiness, then, we can also enjoy all these moments (a good laugh with friends, beautiful bird song, a wonderfull smell, complicity in love and friendship, etc ....) Cause these moments will bring temporary joy (not happiness) but when they leave, we go back to happiness of our inter peace without pain. I think that in every way, the best is the middle. No extremes. And I also think that we don't have to make a choice between joy and happiness. Having to chose is a human conditionning. I think we can chose both : joy and happiness. Can we both do and be ? Do sometimes and be some other times ? What do you think ?
+Sam Bady I can't agree with you more. No extremes - just here, now. I'm happy you wrote this, it reminded me that chasing extremes is like chasing money or success. I think all the "distractions" we experience from happiness comes under the category of thinking "something is wrong here, I NEED to change this". And again - trying NOT to think "something is wrong here" is just another distraction :) Luckily we have the ability to just observe our thinking, not judging it, and being with everything that happens now, outwards and inwards. After some "just being", real changes occur. naturally and "effortlessly". (apart from the mental effort that "just being here" sometimes require :)) That takes practice, and patience and compassion towards yourself. All can be adapted :) I'm on my journey, always in the now, always changing. I wish you many many moments of just being :) Thanks again for your comment
+Sam Bady The goal isn't a one sized fits all spiritual practice. The goal is to be caught up in the rapture of being a live. I think we all have a sense of what "opening" and "deepening" vs closing and turning away means spiritually, with others and with our experience of the world. The goal is to become more open and radiant energetically, deepening our experience of life rather than caught up in our head, worries, anxieties, to dos and closing and turning away. There are two different types of spiritual practices 1) identifying with the emptiness of consciousness. 2) identifying with the fullness of life. Some people identify and grow more from practicing the emptiness of consciousness, some people through the fullness of life. examples of 1) are =, meditation, watching your thoughts, observing your feelings, not attaching just witnessing and then carrying that attitude to your every day life 2) are = opening through music, friends, children, fabrics, exploring, conversation, loving, sacred dance etc. In my experience some people suit practicing with the experience of consciousness where as some people suit practicing with the fullness of life. If you want to look further into this I recommend checking out David Deida. Particularly "david deida complete recordings volumes 1-3". Can shed a lot of light on this issue.
I have been living my life like this naturally for years but haven't seen the value in it until now. I actually thought I was being unproductive, unsociable, and going against my life purpose. Thanks for giving me a different outlook.
+neguinhodavs jesus existentially might be nothing. But what matters is the work such an enlightened being produced which can help us be enlightened. I dont take him so seriously. Which ever being who produced the teachings of enlightenment we shall call jesus
+Bobby Mathews What is the point of rushing around to find life "out there" when one is not even aware of life as it is occurring? Maybe instead of trying to deal with or - micro manage and "perfect" external circumstances the more efficient, effective way to get the most out of life is to improve one's ability to be present or aware of every moment. There's the saying - it's not the years in your life but the life in your years. If you have two lifespans of equal year length, but one of them has more life in each year, more conscious presence of each passing moment, this life has more life in it : )
+Zen there is no problem in trying to find life elsewhere.that deep rooted instinct to explore and discover new stuff is what got us alive all thought the millions of years of evolution. So continuing that might only increase our chances of making it through the future globally speaking. Lets leave that very practical tool in the domain of science. Science is mostly about manipulation of the external world to our benefit. But there is another " science " for managing the internal world ie the human mind and the human body. There was is absolutely nothing wrong with science or religion or enlightenment when you have the proper knowledge of what to where and when. All problems in the world is caused due to lack of understanding. Everyone is in a race to find fulfilment out of this life and use different ways to achieve it. But some ways work and others don't. Sorry for making it too large.
Man... your videos just blow my fucking mind. Almost nowhere else can one listen to such a profound and deep, deep meaningful stuff. When I look at other people and see how they live their lives I feel soooo much appreciation for the fact that I am following you, Leo. I can't imagine what would my life be without meditation, mindfulness, overcoming addictions, reading books, spiritual enlightenment, basically everything that you teach and preach. And about this video - it has a lot to do with what Stoicism teaches(which again I am interested in because of you and I try to practice it as a philosophy of my life). It was amazing to hear that one of your goals in life is to have a sage's lifestyle - simple, non-luxurious, free from carnal desires. Also you made me contemplate a lot about what kind of hobbies, friends, influences and relationships I allow around myself. Once again, thank you for all the free stuff, you are changing people's lives. I hope people also deeply appreciate everything that you do for us and do not take it for granted!!!
But you have to make enough to have a place to live, a car to get to the job, food, etc. That actually takes quite a bit of money to supply the basics.
Started enlightenment work about 7 years ago and so glad your sharing your knowledge and experiences. I know exactly what you are talking about. I've been saying "no" to a lot recently and it feels amazing!! Love all your videos.
So I should basically isolate myself from the world, to become "happy"? No thanks. Slow a busy life down a little, sure, but what you are saying goes way beyond that. What you are saying is that we should all become monks, and sit on a mountain owning nothing but the clothes for the rest of our lives
Help me please...I am a very social person, but not in the party every night type. i love to help people and be with them and connect. But Leo seems to say it is not okay and that being with people is wasting time. I am struggling with this guilt every day. :( What do you think? Plus I have to mention I am easily influenced and naive AND I feel guilty easily. Watching this video just made me completely destroy my sense of living life.
Well my life motto is "If it feels good, do it and if it feels bad, stop" But be sure that it actually DOES make you feel good/bad! The ego is sneaky, and will try to confuse your feelings about what feels "good" or "bad", and make you feel one way, when you are actually feeling the other. As Leo always suggest; start practising medittation. This way you can analyse how you truly feel about things in your life :-)
A lot of things today are idols and religious, including minimalism, which did serve me for a little while, until i realised all i was doing was eliminating my life away. the world offers happiness and alsorts of things but does not deliver. I am a Christian and what it offers me is truth, and to be honest thats all i really was searching for. Thank you for sharing and you are right about slowing down, we cannot maintain a fast pace of life, and i am resting more and implementing boundaries. I also think that there is too much information rammed at us from every angle, its similar to being brained washed, our brains/minds are constantly on play mode, i am sure thats why depression and anger and other mental disorders are on the increase. Take care xxxx
What if you already have a slow paced lifestyle? Are you suggesting it should be even slower? I did the visualisation and I felt bad because if I slow my time more I don't think I'd achieve anything at all, should someone like me be doing the opposite?
+emokiller907 You might have the opposite problem. You might be too laid-back and lazy. With all advice, you have to determine if it actually applies to you. Not all advice applies to everyone. There are some hippies out there who need the opposite advice: get your shit together and go hustle!
But, and I'm not saying this applies to you and your situation, but sometimes you need to go deep into yourself to find your motivation. I think that in order to be truly effective in our lives we need to have the courage to deal with our STUFF. And in order to do this we have to face ourselves. (Just cos we're living life in the slow lane doesn't necessarily mean we're living intentionally)
Simplicity is in my top 10 list of most important values. This video was a great reminder and energy boost for me! I've been changing my life a lot since I started implementing Leos advice and really feel Im on the right path. And if it turns out everyone else will look at my life and think its stupid, but me, it will still be worth it!
Well, try to think like this...There's a famous quote from Bruce Lee "Empty Your Mind, Be Formless and Shapeless Like Water...When u put water into cup, it becomes the cup, when u put into the pot, it becomes the pot...Be water my friend"...Well, what's he's trying to tell is let the Mind to be free, so that the adaptive nature becomes much easier...Furthermore, when u Free your mind, u become Transparent...That's the REAL YOU...If your mind is loaded with, it's really NOT the Real You...He's actually making all of us to realize WHO WE REALLY ARE...That's it...Very Simple...This is my Humble Opinion :-)
Nick Klause When I'm the "REAL ME" and I free my mind, nothing gets done. Leo has his life sorted out financially. I haven't. Slowing down by 50% isn't an option for me yet.
+John Ny Yeah I understand what you mean. I have this same issue aswell. There's my virginity I feel I need to lose, I don't know my life purpose yet etc. But when he's telling you to slow down and have more time to be. your fullfillment increases because getting all areas of your life is also outside the present moment. you may need to pay bills to survive and what not but you wouldn't be stressing over it all or clinging to it if you were fulfilled. and by being fulfilled you just do these things without getting too attached to expectation. you have to realize, even if your life is not setup. you can already be fulfilled regardless. This means you are not chasing a better lifestyle. you are working your way up. But enjoying the process in of itself. this means being happy now all the while setting your life up. not setting your life up to be happy. The whole point of this is to wake the fuck up ! and realize to your ego your fulfillment doesn't exist out there it exists within and you aren't stopping to realize. Your using expectation of the future to fulfill you
Kyle Barnett I see all your points, but you went off topic quite a bit. In the video, Leo made the suggestion that fulfillment comes from slowing down. And I can't afford to slow down. To take into account what you were saying...I am trying to enjoy the process, but enjoying the process is much easier, when the process is slower. And I can't afford that.
Sorry, but this form of MINIMALISM is promoting self fulfillment on being LAZY. Positive minimalism should be a tool to eliminate time spent from doing 80% of the low value activities you are mindlessly busy about and be more focused on the 20% high value activities that are really important in achieving your life's purpose. And I don't believe that your life's purpose is to spend the MAJORITY of your time on meditation or self actualization and purposely slowing things down all the time!? I don't agree on this reversal Leo... Yes you need time to meditate/self actualized, even Jesus fasted for 40 days... but majority of your life should be spent on GOOD works, on actions toward your life's purpose. There are a lot of things you can do to provide value to your loved ones and to the world. Knowing your life's purpose and MAGNITUDE of your RESPONSIBILITY should create a sense of urgency in you. Considering that you will not always have the OPPORTUNITY to do good, you need to grab it while you have it. Plan, strategize, meditate and pray but after that, you need to take paretorized actions!
you convinced me to quit what I was doing the most and a total waste of time... video games. I'm so excited to start a new life. Thank you Leo you really oppened my mind.
I wouldn't call my friends' or family's lifestyle materialistic. Also, someone who calls other people's life "shit" doesn't sound very happy to me. Why all the swearing?
because it's funny and it IS "shit" to him...(his former, miserable, "normalcy")..he's obviously put a lot of thought into what's worked for him and he's simply wanting to share it w/ those who maybe would also enjoy life differently......it was an improvement for him.....slowing down would be honestly amazing, don't you guys think so? wow! :-) I'm glad he's sharing.......Peace~ :)
As someone below said, I think people including myself would very much want to see what a day in your life looks like, Leo. For inspiration purposes, of course. I've been asked by a few people (more of comments than questions actually) if I'm having fun at all in my life or where the heck am I getting joy from. Either I couldn't really come up with something to say at that time or whoever said that thing to me didn't seem like they really wanted to know, so I couldn't be bothered. The thing is, I do feel satisfied doing my own thing (rather than BEing as Leo said, I know, but hear me out) so, when asked questions like that, on the inside (yeah, on the onside. I'm not confrontational) I'm like, "Who are you to question the quality of my life? I do have fun in my own way. I just don't get a kick out of gossiping, drinking, playing some game on my cellphone at work, and all that stuff like you are." You know what's funny, though? That being said, there's a part of me that’s like, "Shit, what if she's right? That I really am missing out on stuff while being "cooped up" at home?" It’s been over a year since I started watching Leo’s videos, and I’ve been pretty consistent with his content. Just staying on track like that has helped me enormously in terms of getting rid of or chipping away at self-doubts like the one above. This video is just.. put quite a dent on the whole “Man, am I going in the right direction?” issue I have. So, appreciate that, Leo. But, of course, I’m like.. have such a long way to go in terms of implementing all the practices he mentioned. In case anyone is thinking, “So what’s this my own thing you’re talking about here? Is this one of those stupid things that Leo says we should wean ourselves off of or what?”, English is the foreign language I’ve been learning for the past six and a half years. I’ve been trying many different ways to go about it and that’s what I call doing my own thing. I get flow moments from pursuing this interest of mine. Besides that, though, I don’t really go out much, don’t drink, no video games, and so on. Don't really do other stuff much. What I should be doing now is to make all these practices part of my daily life. Anyway, just wanted to clear that up. Man, ended up writing an essay.
"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone"
+Nickyy X
I love how true this is :)
Nickyy X I always sit alone in my husbands office's spare room watching Leo's videos and other enlightened being in hopes of being enlightened myself. I also meditate every day here for 2 hours because I want to be enlightened
I never thought of that. Well said
Well, you should praise Blaise Pascal for that quote, who wrote that in 1654.
I like his mind set but he says to not be tied to anything or go anywhere but then to go and plan meditation retreats alot. That is still getting out and doing something. Also to minimalist your life is great and lesson things that you have to go to is right. I take from his videos that you have to value your time to not wasting it on useless stuff of the world but give yourself things to do that add to your life.
Man this explains why most of the week is completely unconscious for me. It explains why I can not have insightful moments for the entire week. Two months ago I stopped listening to music completely for an entire month and a small source of frustrations and un-satisfactions have disappeared. I realized that I can still do things when there is an authentic motivation to do so. That authentic motivation is radically different from the "force yourself" mentality we have in society.
The keys things to master life:
1.Meditation
2.Enlightenment
3.Learning
4.Life Purpose
5.Slow deliberated mindful actions
6.Contemplation
7.Being
+El142 D.A Something tells me I need to watch moar Leo to see what he means for these, exactly (like the difference between meditation and enlightenment). Probably for the best as his videos seem like a great "bare-bones" spirituality with none of the attachments of Mahayana Buddhism or more mystical denominations of Christianity.
I can't believe he left health off of the list.
Leo, the kind of work that you are doing deserves no less than a Nobel Peace Prize !!! This is what is truly going to bring about peace in this world. I wish they taught this in schools and religious institutions. May god bless you for spreading this wonderful and profound message.
+Zen Master Thanks for the kind words.
+Zen Master U r absolutely right ... our schools should be teaching the kind of stuff that Leo is sharing with us thru his videos here.
I think presence yields better results anyways. The best way I have found to leverage is to find one activity that yields results, do that one thing with presence, and then learn how to optimize it. This will reduce the doing about 50% and leaves much more time for being. Great video Leo.
+Aaron Doughty That was actually covered in a recent video as well;)
+Robin Breeds. You are what is known as a low-conscious person. It's not an insult, just a fact. His more advanced videos like this one will intimidate people like you and you will resort to low-conscious activity like name-calling or personal attack. Go back and learn the basics first. You'll thank me later.
helenaville you may want to look in a mirror...
So you get on here leave a stupid comment instead of doing the work
Of course Aaron Doughty was watching Actualized.org videos three years ago. It all makes sense now lol.
Leo, I've been watching your videos for I think around 2 years, and it all started with learning about mindfulness. Now, I keep an incredibly open mind to everything everyday. You've inspired me to become the best version of myself and have the most satisfying life. I've become so patient with my journey because I trust that I will reach enlightenment one day. Thank you for sharing this with us, leo.
+xbendiistraw Sweet! :)
Most of my stress comes from feeling like I don't do enough!! I love this.
Its insanely easy to forget how fulfilling it is just to be
i recorded myself being enlightened and now when i'm going to be sad im going to listen to myself
Because i really was fullflilled when i was enlightened without doing anything
@@rothunderwizard3233 I think I can relate
Agree! I've been slowly cutting social networking out of my life and now when I think about it, I was never depressed when I was younger because I didn't realize how many people don't care. The issue with social networking is the social failure is through the roof compared to real life socializing. My generation needs to realize that there are only a few people who actually care and you really need to disconnect with all the fake people online and get back to reality. The constant rejection isn't normal and it's not realistic to be friends with everyone.
+Max Willson I agree with you 100%. I block people out of my life, literally, on social media. I don't always want to, but sometimes I need to.
Leo i bought your book list about 4 months ago, and i invested like 500 euro's and bought a lot of these books that you put on the list.
And i have to thank you so much man. Because some of these books. Are just Pure Gold man, like there are books where i just spend 2 hours reading 10 pages of, because of all the wisdom and briliancy and thought provoking stuff they contain. So to anyone reading this, you should defenitly check the list out.
+اذكى كل يوم Thanks for the testimonial :) Glad it worked out for ya.
+Actualized.org ooh don't mention it man. For all the value you have given all of us. We should be buying you fruit baskets all day man :D
+bo vas kanal lol marketing you? Go read the six pillars of self-esteem fucker, then come talk to me, or take a deep look into the wheel of time by carlos castaneda .... An other one is the success princaples. Go read em then come talk to me...
+bo vas kanal oooh damn son your pretty good at trolling :D too bad it's not really valuable skill in any way shape or form..
+bo vas kanal Didn't know i was copying till you clerified, seems you are a big fanboy of the man, since you know all his stuff... You probably even bought the list and even the life purpose course niggu
I've noticed that since I don't go out with friends any more, I feel more peaceful,..and my spirit is more ready to learn. whereas too much fun is kind of destroys my willing of learning. thank you for what you do, you are a great inspiration.
I genuinely like your face and the shape of your skull.
I also totally agree.
Hahahahahahaha
I know, right. Sort of alien like with perfect symmetry.
Its beautiful
LMFAO to all of this comments
YES!! Less is definitely MORE!
I'm SO glad you are talking about this, Leo. It's been 2 years now since I have renounced my neurotic-chaotic, materialistic life altogether.
It WAS scary and hard at first to walk away from my "successful" busy lifestyle. Of course all my friends, coworkers and family thought I lost my mind! But now by simplifying my life, finding courage and eliminating 80% of "busy-ness", my life is overflowing with an abundance of peace and love I never knew was possible!
I'm MUCH happier not doing much of anything... And just simply BEing. ❤️
I am glad you continue to maintain the old videos. This is one of my favorites that I keep coming back to it.
Your videos rock man. The content, the format, it's all class. congrats.
YES! This is the first video I can confidently say I am already down the path a long way :) Back when I was in my very early twenties (after already being a pretty minimalist kind of gal) I realized my life was just 'life maintenance' - constantly chasing stuff, constant relationship drama, constant doing things that just got re-set the next day - and I got to a place where I just saw where that was headed. In that moment I decided to sell everything I owned, and move to Thailand. Back then I was totally crazy, running around going to school, working two jobs, shopping, working out like a crazy person - every MINUTE of my life was full, and exactly like you said, in the off moments I was CRAZY inside with all this SHIT.
This has now been a 4 year journey of minimalizing EVERYTHING in my life - I work only on my life purpose, nothing more. I have only social activities that feed that creativity - and it is VERY RARE and far between. I have hours upon hours a day to meditate, contemplate, think, journal. Be. I have faced my shadows for 3 years, to the point now that they are few and far between - only because I have had ALL THIS TIME AND SPACE to do so. No distractions.
Everything my partner and I own fits into 2 bags and we can pack up our entire lives in 20 minutes. I blissfully consume only 1 meal a day. It is CRAZY how much you realize you can release when you start to actually SEE how much of life is just a distraction from life. It is also amazing how CLEARLY you start to see your stories, and how much easier it becomes to simply let them go and come back into being and purpose once you don't have anything extra built up in your life. My relationships are few, but drama free. My life is empty but full all at once. Whats more, I no longer feel bat shit crazy.
What you are saying here is 100% on the money. At first it was really scary to let all that stuff go, and have all that was being pushed down come to the surface. It felt like a long road to this place of peace when I was in it, but from here I would go back and do it again a million times over to arrive in this place. I am excited to continue on this path, knowing there is ever more. Everything done from this space of SPACE is so much more profound and effective. Saying no gets so easy.
Love you man. Thank you for being and sharing this vital information.
To the Monastic Life!
That's an amazing story! Strong of you to make it work! What's your life purpose? :)
+Vigi Haha, in a sense I feel like the path 'pulled' me - it would have been harder NOT to go this way. Similar to Leo :) I make videos and coach people and write. Over on Perception Trainers PT - Leo if this is out of alignment to share my business here, I undertand feel free to delete!
+Ali Washington That's so cool and inspiring. I think it's highly relevant to mention your self actualization on an actualized.org video. :)
+Vigi :D YES!!
+Ali Washington Thanks for your comment, I can really feel the happiness in you :)
One thing I'm missing out (and that's the only thing that I didn't get in Leos video as well) -
How is writing (or, coaching people to write, which is amazing IMO) not a "distraction"?
How is anything that's not "being" - not a distraction?
Leo says - focus on your life's purpose, but then makes it sound (again, IMO) like anything else other than being\meditation\contemplating is a waste of time.
If I follow Leo's words to the letter (as I understood them anyway), what could be a "proper" life purpose that is not "just being"?
Confused here, maybe you have an answer, maybe you don't. I'll comment to his video as well...
Thanks for sharing, anyway :) It was really pleasant for me to feel that you are fulfilled :)
I worked in Glacier National Park for 5 weeks. I basically did not have phone or internet service, save for exactly one room with internet. I worked as a house keeper, I ate in community, and I feasted on unbelievable natural beauty, hiking through the park, for five weeks. At the end of it, I probably felt the healthiest and happiest I ever have. Man.
My dream job is to work my own farm entirely off grid. I would be perfectly happy never to talk to anyone again for a significant period (maybe even the rest of my life - certainly feels like that right now [and by right now I mean for the past 10years or more, lol] anyway)
This takes minimalism to a whole new level...what a relief just by listening to you talking.Thank you so much Leo.
I am still curious to see what your daily life is like. It doesn't have to be the popular kind of 'excitement' we see in manufactured vlogs. It might still be of worth to your specific audience.
+1sr0 good point!
Okay everyone, you heard the man... now set the speed of this video to .50 and finally grasp what it is being said.
+batfly LMFAO
+Louis Fleming
Eckhart Tolle tells a joke
th-cam.com/video/gPstEm-x2GU/w-d-xo.html
+batfly Hahaha!!!!
Marian Montagnino This 50% reducer thing works! For example: Now, when I'm in traffic waiting at a red light or a stop sign and the light turns green, I am 50% slower to start moving. The people behind me honk their horns with great joy to cheer me on!
When I raise my hand out the window (with only 50% of my fingers raised) to wave in acknowledgement, they honk their horns some more!
They totally get it!
They reciprocate my hand waving and gesture back with 50% of my 50% finger salute!
This shit is TOTALLY AWESOME!
But maybe it should only be Half Ass Awesome?
Well, I took his ideas and applied it to my job. Now my boss is complaining, but who cares, I'm more fulfilled and that is all that matters :-D
I have been looking for a way to "thank you" genuinely, Leo. I have been following your videos for more than two years and practising everything you mention in them. The amount of transformation that my life has incurred is enormous. I have found joy in simply doing nothing and sitting (something that is boring for others). I used to have all kinds of addictions. Just last day, after days of contemplation, I gave you the addictions of "music" and "success" (these were my biggest addictions).
For me the biggest shift came from understanding that success really doesn't lead to fulfilment AT ALL. This is something I learnt from you. Nowhere in youtube anybody mentions that. I Have been "successful" (as society defines) in soooo many ways and I never found fulfilment until I started doing all the things you have asked us to do.
You were the only person around who successful taught me the art of mediation. Prior to that nobody had succeeded in helping me with that.
I hail from a very difficult past of watching violence at home, being beaten as a child, bullied at work, by friends, and professors.
I tried committing suicide several times----your video on "Contemplating your death" helped me enormously in avoiding suicide!
And today, I can honestly say, I am enjoying my life with literally whatever I have (whatever little things)....and mostly just by being, and understanding consciousness, finding beauty in mediation.
I honestly wish I could thank you in person.
I really enjoy your channel Leo, the content is always practical, unconventional, and "spiritual" rather than "material"
Leo, my God man... I first started following you a year or so ago and spent hours per day going through your material. I kinda overwhelmed myself and got burnt out trying to learn everything in such a short time. Well long story short I drifted away from your channel and back into my busy life, I actually started a car dealership all alone. Thinking that was what was gonna make me happy chasing financial riches. Well just a couple months in I was burnt out and it was making me hate cars which had been my life long love. Well open to close in 4 months I just closed up shop, it was even very profitable even the first months. I could see that the constantly stressed and busy life was going to do nothing but make me miserable even more then I already was. I've been blessed enough to have saved a stack of money to be able to take a huge step back and figure out where to go from here. And my hell I stumbled across this video when I first watched it a year ago. The first time I watched it, it didn't hit home nearly as hard as now. And I can see that I've unconsciously followed your recommendations in this video. And my life is so much better right now, I've been getting rid of all sorts of baggage material and relationships that no longer serve me. Life is getting so much better and its only been a year!! Your work is the best out there buddy, I've searched and searched and found a couple others as well. Not to boost your ego or nothing lol but your work for me is compared with eckhart, Elliott, and Alan. I'm truly blessed to have found your work and I look forward to seeing how my life is going to turn out vs had I not found my mentors. Thank you good sir!! 👍
You remind me a lot of myself, would you be interested in connecting? I want to see how it turned out for you
Hey leo. I've applied this principal very well and the results it's given me these past few days are extraordinary ! just by building my awareness and simply doing nothing or very little. Easily it has completely skyrocketed my happiness (in a deeper sense) and the actions and behaviours I do. Simply by being more I no longer have the desire to do any kind of stupid activities (I have no desire to follow the desire) I can sit all day without anything, I can even Meditate for 50 minutes without the extreme resistance I had before and I can easily get myself to do things like read for a longer time etc.
I've never experienced these higher states of awareness before and it's amazing. It's been nearly a week now and all the things I was struggling with before in terms of myself have just reduced by a longshot
+Kyle Barnett Sweet! Don't get sucked back into your old unconscious habits.
Actualized.org j
This is something that I have been advocating and living for a couple years. Thrilled that you made a video on it. Keep up the great work!
"Just stop" is a frequent teaching! I have been forced to engage in that process for more than ten years now after an accident and illness, and all these things Leo says are true. After a while, lots of acceptance and meditation, I now can see that all exterior activities are not my true self, and don't bring me anything more. Just re enacting of old traumas and conditionning. Let's not forget about the amazing feeling of true joy that arises when you sit for a while, without thought or internal conflict.
A few semesters ago I was working three jobs and taking two classes. I ended up with panic attacks and anxiety so terrible that I was contemplating suicide. Don't try to do too much.
OMG! This came at such a perfect time, I just looked around and realized that I have downsized my physical possessions and I realized two weeks ago that I need to slow down my life. I just switched from full-time to a part-time student, and it feels good to actually have time to learn the material and not just push out assignments. I always tell my friends that I am boring because sometimes I just want to sit and think or read or have deep conversations. The thing is everyone who comes around me feels relaxed because I am.
Great video Leo. It's my birthday tomorrow (or today now !) and I've always felt as if I have to plan loads of stuff or at least something but no matter what I do I always feel unsatisfied and am left with a deep sense of sadness when the day comes to an end. I'm now beginning to understand that this day we call a 'birthday' is meaningless in reality and so I have made no plans this year. Instead I'm going to spend the day plodding about, going out into nature, and just 'being'. It's actually kind of a relief, like a whole weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I feel pretty happy about it! Thank you for sharing your wisdom once again :-)
Yeah but that's special too - it's a different kind of special. You took time to treasure yourself and your time on the planet.
I'm at the stage now where I'm learning to celebrate my birthdays as a way to commemorate not just my survival (I've been thru a lot) but my progress, my learning. (This is coming from a place where I hated and resented my life so yeah, definite progress 🤗)
I can’t explain how this video showed up in my feed. I have been trying to do too many things lately and experienced a deep burn-out today and my advice to myself was all about “I need to quit this rushing and trying to finish everything at once.”
Wow what a great video and a timely one at that
I want a life like yours Leo. How peaceful it sounds. It is so refreshing to hear someone who does not conform to society's belief on having kids, etc. I feel like the abnormal one in my neighborhood.
Less is more.
Jefferson Lerias yes sir
Yes
I approve this message. Ever since I've become more in touch with my being, life started to be so smooth and fulfilling. Simple things are more enjoyable right now- petting a cat, feeling sun heat and wind on your body, drinking tea from favourite cup in the morning. This realisation of futility of external action and its impotence made me look inward and liberated from doing neurotic stuff. And I'm not even enlightened!
The only "problem" left is misunderstanding by other people, always asking "why aren't you doing this, why aren't you doing that, look at him, he has that, why don't you have the same". They always project on me their insecurities, even when they are trying to help me. And I can't propely explain from their paradigm same things Leo is trying to tell - silly stuff! =)
It's so refreshing to hear this! I always thought I was a weirdo growing up as a teen because pretty much all social interaction felt pointless to me while everybody looked like they were having a great time! Just need to keep convincing myself that this is the right path and stop being distracted by others! It's hard to do when you are a people pleaser!
i hate it that everyone is so busy. i think everyone is extremely distracting themselfes, where is the quality time? rush rush rush
This video is one of the most INCREDIBLE pieces of work/ART I have ever seen. Seriously, listening to you makes life seem simple again, it makes simplicity feel attainable..accessible.. I do TH-cam videos on here myself and I feel that I would be a person that would live to excess, if I were in a stable financial position.And right now 'the idea of de-cluttering and minamalising my physical world is more appealing. I wish that every person in the Western world could see this video! It is truly a pleasure to listen to. I would PAY to hear you say all this. THANK YOU. Yvonne, Ireland xx
I'm already so Slow that I barely get anything done. If I Slow Down 50% of that. I stand still, or maybe dead even xD
+Mariska Brouwers Sounds like a real chill lifestyle.
I envy you.
+ScottakuHaggisNRice Thankyou. Never looked at it that way ^^
+Mariska Brouwers If you barely get anything done you probably do a lot of shit that you don't even count as being productive:D That's certainly my problem
I feel the same way, I'd feel guilty if I were to slow things down even more, I'd accomplish nothing.
+AnyThing whahaha thanks for the compliment
Leo, I want to thank you, you have helped and saved me more than once. Your videos are translated into languages, and I listen to them all the time. thanks . I am Georgian, many Georgians listen to your videos.🇬🇪.💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
I think you're getting close to the idea of a meaningful life! Modern life has become all about quantity over quality. Material minimalism scratches the surface of the issue and lifestyle minimalism goes much deeper. I think the key is in connecting to life itself.
I want inner peace Leo! You’ve been helping me a lot. Whatever I do I create my own suffer and unhappiness. How miserable it would be if i keep doing this. Glad I started watching videos, whenever I feel shit I go back to your videos to remind me of myself all you need is inner peace and awareness
Thank you so much, Leo.
I've always been living a rather introverted life. Growing up and looking at some of my siblings who seemed to do much more things and meet many more people than I do, I've oftentimes felt kinda guilty for not having/making more friends and socializing more. I do have experienced the great feeling of simply being a few times but I was still feeling unsure whether I was doing the right thing, wether the way I am living was wrong or unhealthy. After listening to this video, I've come to understand and accept that this kind of lifestyle is at least equally valuable to a very active one.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and perspective about this topic, it was very interesting and helpful.
Have a nice day :)
If I only talk about this based on my own personal life, I would say that this concept can take years to truly "get.. I spent years having a busy schedule, taking parts in any social activity or hobby I could participate in, thinking that having"many friends" would bring me happiness........
But then I found out I was completely neglecting my own self, the true purpose and inner peace.. now is time to filter out the bullshit
Thank you, Leo. What you do with these lessons, is truly, truly and deeply life changing.
This is so true! I've been doing less and focusing on only what really matters and life is so much better. I only actually focus on meditation, music, and building my youtube channel- everything else I make a point not to fret over.
Love this! Starting the steps to minimalism and changing my entire mentality. I'm definitely learning that I need to be patient as I progress.
Leo, your channel is one of the most amazing channels I've come across till date on TH-cam. Keep up the awesome work. Cheers!
I find this a very interesting topic. But I think you could/should do a part two where you talk about ideas for how to realistically do this if you are, for instance, the main bread winner of your household and have two kids in college. Or any variety of situations were children rely on you to get it done. Because the way I see it is if you brought children into this world you owe it to them to provide what it takes for them to have a chance in this world. Such as a home in a town with a good school system. In some ways maybe I've relinquished my expectation of a tranquil, low activity life. Not to be confused with a low stress mind set.
+67NewEngland Yeah, notice how reproduction creates the perfect excuse for authentic life.
+Actualized.org Not an excuse Leo. Since you are the sage and I the student I am asking you to delve into specific and suggestions. Such as ideas for accomplishing this for millions in my position. It's a situation...not an excuse. I am looking for suggestions not argument .
+67NewEngland you're basically screwed because you put yourself into a trap by reproducing. now you have to wait for you to get your time back
True...super grateful you realised the need to change....Having kids and a partner changed the whole scenario....it changes everything.....Now you just don't have to earn for yourself but for your those dependent on you...you cannot run away or simply ignore them.....But you can surely discuss it with your partner....you both can support each other.....and about kids you can start inculcating such superb lifestyle at super early age....today maybe they'll feel super disappointed in you, they will compare you with others and tell you that you turned out to be a super failure cause you are not cool like other dads.....but in time maybe in next 15 to 20 years, when you'll be on your death bed they'll standing right next to you, thankful for the decision you made when they were small.....I super believe you can still live a super superb minimalist lifestyle like the one described in video....it's super worth giving a try....thanks for sharing your question!!!!
+Akash N -Thank you for your supportive reply. It's a work in progress.
For everyone watching:
Using your non-dominant hand will automatically make you more aware of what you're doing. You will have to concentrate and lose your automaticity, stop thinking so much and live more in the present. So you can try using your left hand or whichever is not your dominant hand
Good idea! I've found this to be true at work recently haha
since i punch with my left... i do it so much more conciously! it realy works ;)
I'm right handed. And whenever I'm studying something I follow the lines or the shapes with my left hand. It really helps me focus better ^-^
What if you’re ambidextrous
Happiness does not consist in gaining more, but in enjoying less.
Great vid Leo. I've been doing this intuitively for the past 10 years or so. Meditation is much deeper and life is much more fulfilling. Very few priorities and lots of "No's". Damn its a rat race out there!
brilliant video Leo!
People are running around like headless chickens on meth lol.All that "success" does is make progress toward more pain.My slow paced life is deeply fullfiling to me (creating music,writing,reading,going in nature,meditation,contemplation,exercise etc).
Thank u for another great practical video. This came at the right time for me. Ive been unable to sit still and just breathe since i got back from holidays. Its almost like i feel a need to make up for the time i took off to rest by working non stop.
Thank you bro! Already shared! greetings from Tunisia!
Watched it 5 years ago. Watched it again today. More relevant than ever. Thank you Leo !
3:42 I wish I had a gf with a fetish for minimalism too :DDDD
I appreciate that you point out that people are overlooking the lifestyle and sticking more toward just the materialistic side. Ultimately, they should go hand in hand. Great video.
This message ended up getting long, so I apologize. From my perspective, I would say that it's important to be careful not to be too rash. If the string is wound too tightly it will break, if it's wound too loosely it will not play. This is what the Buddha realized when he was walking the path of asceticism. He realized that asceticism itself is an attachment. In realizing that neither material abundance nor the complete renunciation of the material world could fulfill him, he advocated the middle path.
On the mundane level, there are certainly many negative, toxic things about society. And everyone could benefit by cutting back on busy time and commitments. Definitely stop chasing money and success. So, I'm totally with you there because society works at cross purposes to many of our natural instincts. Take the time to really live, in a conscious way. Live life, don't try to win life. It's a losing game.
But if you have resistance toward any aspect of reality, the resistance to what is, may block you from reaching enlightenment. Regardless of whether the content of your reality consists of a busy metropolis or the content of your reality consists of a cabin in the woods or a Buddhist monastery or a prison, there you are right in the middle of nature. Right in the middle of you. It is just as much empty of significance or value. It is just as much divine. No more right or wrong than anything else. But there you are. Each is a unique expression of yourself. Everything in your reality is you. If you have resistance to something in reality, you're saying that thing isn't me and that separation can block you from realizing your existential nature.
Certainly, you could say, it's your preference to renounce material life because you believe it will aid you in becoming more fulfilled. That's totally valid. But be careful in thinking that this is what fulfillment looks like or that you can add value or fulfillment to your life by changing your surroundings or your lifestyle. My recommendation is, before making any rash moves, be sure that your decision comes from the quiet voice of wisdom and not the loud voice of fear. To hear this quiet voice, let go of fear.
You often bring up the 'death bed' thought. You may want to look at your beliefs and fears relative to the ideas you ascribe to a wasted life. See if it produces any judgements about yourself, others, significance, and reality. I think you'll find some hidden beliefs there.
+The Diamond Net Yes, although the problem this video is addressing is that people don't even have the time to sit down and hear "the quiet voice of wisdom".
I am not saying you should become an ascetic (at least I'm not saying it yet). What I'm suggesting is way less radical than the Buddha's Middle Way. You gotta realize that the Buddha's Middle Way was harsh as fuck in practice during his age. What the Buddha called asceticism was basically death by starvation. And what the Buddha called the Middle Way was still an extremely hardcore practice, akin to what modern Zen Buddhist monks do, but harsher. So what I advocate here, relative to that, is like a walk in the park.
And yet still, most people will think it's too harsh and unreasonable. We have really become pussified as a culture.
+Actualized.org I admit. I don't know the details of the story that well. I just thought that it was a good analogy for the points that I was trying to illustrate.
I totally agree with you about the fast-paced society being harmful because of the lack of ability to be present and simply be. There's little time or energy for presence, and there's no opportunity to flow with life. Definitely cutting down 50% or more on what you do is a great recommendation.
But there was a point, about 3/4 through the video where you seemed to say that everyone who's self-actualizing should make a long term goal of swearing off material life altogether. You talked about people regretting being involved in the various aspects of living in society on their death bed, as though swearing off material life would be a solution to that regret somehow. But this regret only comes about through false identification with an ephemeral self. An enlightened person can live anywhere and feel fulfilled. An unenlightened person will have regrets on their deathbed and fear of death regardless of where they live or what their lifestyle looks like.
Certainly, disengaging from society can help you get more in touch with being because it minimizes distractions. But demonizing society is unhelpful and can hinder progress because it gets in the way of the unconditional love aspect of enlightenment. The content in your reality is irrelevant to the level of satisfaction that you can have in life.
I truly apologize for being too much in your business. It's all ego. I only know you as much as you share of yourself in your videos. That said, you seem to have a strong fear of looking back and regretting your life and seeing it as insignificant. Until you can see the beauty in the fact that you will one day die and be forgotten forever, enlightenment probably won't come to you. I think you're still trying to make your life significant... perhaps not to the eyes of others but to your own eyes. Again, I apologize for analyzing you too much. I don't really know where you're at. But I hope that what I say is helpful.
+The Diamond Net "...everyone who's self-actualizing should make a long term goal of swearing off material life..."
"An enlightened person can live anywhere and feel fulfilled."
Yes, and how do you think those enlightened persons got enlightened? They did it by swearing off material life. That is my point.
You can live life however you want. There is no right or wrong way to live. But if you want to live the deepest life possible, it might be prudent to take a page from the sages of the world who all lived contemplative lifestyles.
If you're gonna use the Buddha as an example, well... he abandoned his kingdom and his family for like 12 years to get enlightened. So yeah... In a nutshell, be more like Buddha as less like Kayne West.
Society is highly unhealthy, as evidenced by how many people don't understand the concepts explained in these videos. And I will have a lot worse things to say about society in the future. The extent of social dysfunction is mind-boggling. But when I say that, it is not a demonization. I don't hate society. I don't think it is evil or wrong. It just isn't conducive to self-actualization, which you can see with your own eyes.
Actualized.org Well, it's certainly true that your best bet to become enlightened is to spend many hours pursuing it. I can see no better way to do this than hermeticism or monastic life. So, understand that I'm not trying to invalidate that path. I'd be doing just that if I had no children.
But it's incorrect to say that all enlightened people became enlightened in this way. And it's also incorrect to say that all enlightened people have decided to swear off society. Many enlightened people live fully integrated with society. One example that pops out to me as fitting both of these points is Eckhart Tolle. I'm sure that there are others too.
Society certainly has a lot of ails on the mundane level. But on the existential level,don't let the ails of society blind you to the fact that society and you are not separate things. It's hard to love and accept something as part of yourself when you dislike it intensely.
But forget what I said about Buddha. I shouldn't have used it as an analogy, given the fact that I don't know more than the very basics of the story. It just seemed to work as a general analogy. I wasn't actually comparing disengaging with society to the intensity of asceticism that the Buddha held himself to. I was using it to illustrate the idea of 'renunciation as attachment.'
+Actualized.org Leo, I realized this recently. There's a difference between "being enlightened" and having enlightenment experiences.
I couldn't relate to the beginning of the video, because I've been this way naturally since a child too... The sage is one who lives intrinsically, looking for satisfaction. Real satisfaction. I haven't been working on getting my life together until now... I'm 28. I've felt so damn behind all my life... but in a way, its been a step ahead.
I like these videos, because they hold truth. Leo, you are awesome, not for anything you're doing for individuals in particular, but because of the contribution you give to society... I for one, have been tired of being so utterly broken inside and tired of operating from a low level mentality and awareness...
Thank you. You have been instrumental... an asset and a tool we can use to pursue happy and fulfilling lives.
"One of mans biggest problems is his/her inability to stay at home alone in a room" Blaze Pascale... I think the running around is so that we can run away from ourselves...
Love this.. So true!
Sounds about right
+SUCCESS MOTIVATION: Health Wealth Love Happiness ...including the running in the mind, from which an empty room does not by default save, as proven by Descartes' faulty conclusion 'I think, therefore I am.'
Hi Leo. I am really enjoying absorbing everything you say. This video really got my attention because I recently went through a Divorce and after that, I began to do everything you mention in this video before watching it. I was trying to do a lot of this stuff before too but there were other issues in my life that were preventing my spiritual growth. (I have been on a spiritual path since 2010 and it got obstructed a couple of years ago and I tried to get back on it), and now that I am alone, I feel like I have been able to let go of a lot of things that "disrupt" what I really want, which is meditation, enlightenment, a purpose, living in the present etc. I minimized my "hanging out" with friends by 95%, don't focus on "chasing" women, money, or material gains anymore. I am feeling more and more content with my life by the day as I try to meditate as much as I can. I feel as though my sub-conscious has known this for some time now, and it is finally starting to come to the foreground. You inspire me to continue down this path. Thank you and I will continue watching your amazing teachings. You are a Guru!
Hey Leo, is it pointless if i want to create beautiful things(i want to be a filmmaker), and i want to perfect my craft. i actually dont care about the money. But i am not an idiot, i need money to make films. Should i just live basic life and only turn to self actualization?
Can i find fulfillment in my craft? because i realy do enjoy making films, and seeing the final product... am i fooling myself?
+Dario Kesegi
I think the point is you can do what you dreams about, like to be a great filmmaker, as it is a way to fulfill your life. Meanwhile it's other people's responsibilities and their own choices to decide to be attracted to your films or live a simple life. It's just my opinion.
You should seek professional advice. Read the Way of the Superior Man.
If this is your true will, go for it.
leo is in no way choosing your wills. If leo loves to be an guru moron without doing nothing, this is his passion. not yours.
37signals.com/rework
Sometimes I listen to your videos just to hear your soothing, calming and comforting voice.
Most useful video I’ve ever watched. I’d also recommend throwing out your television set; it’s highly toxic for the mind and sucks away valuable time. Get rid of clothes (donate them). Declutter yourself form useless technology and gadgets. Have simple surroundings. Learns some life skills, like making a fire, fishing, cpr. Become autodidactic. Read read read! This video is the epitome of how I live my life. You gave me much confirmation that I’m on the right path, as most of what you mentioned here is my lifestyle. It’s difficult to live this way because you feel like an alien, a cave man living off the grid. People think your lack of desire is a form of depression, no it isn’t. It’s quite the opposite, freedom. Leo I typically never comment because it takes too much time, but this video is truth, unpasteurized, non homogenized... please keep up the amazing work, thank you for sharing such valuable knowledge.
love the fact that someone finally did a video on this. I have been doing this for years
I proposed the idea to my boss. Apparently he isn't a minimalist, because he was not at all on board with the idea of working 50% slower.
Lol
Tell him that with this idea I got 15 qualifications of 10 at university:
Seizing one thing at a time, just as long as needed for making it good enough.
hahaha i like it
Just do what I did and cut your hours way the hell back. You still work as hard the days you're there but you'll find you have so much more perspective - that you're able to mentally step back from your job and to even realise that IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY DEFINE YOU (WOW)
It's actually very comforting to hear someone else say that "success" is not gonna make you happy and fulfilled in life. All this glamorous, seemingly neccesary stuff that I've been worrying about how I can attain is actually worthless.
It's funny you talked about feeling like a child again. I have had the same experience the last couple of weeks. The more the ego is leaving this experience the more memories and feelings as 'me' as a child are coming back.The sad thing is that we lose this child like being growing up, except we don't really lose it at all, we just ignore it because we are supposed to be 'responsible and intelligent adults'.
+vizuz Yup
Sad. Children these days are going to have hard time having those being moment when they are always plugged to their iPods
Being intelligent or responsible is not a bad thing. If you are more closer to the truth only makes you more intelligent as far as i can see. Being closer to the truth not only makes you internally pleasant but can still go out in the world and still achieve stuff. But the only difference is that you will find it meaningless and worthless which is what the truly are .
Right now if you have feeling that there is anything in this world ,the truth is that its only a projection of your mind.
Bobby Mathews The point was that most people get burdened by things they are supposed to be(I know I did) and that it puts unreasonable pressure on people.
This has actually become a meditation exercise for me lately. I'm a Christian and I had an abusive childhood which has led to ISSUES with my relating to Father God. So I've been picturing myself taking my inner child and dumping her in the lap of the Father (cos it's her that has the issues with Him not me). She kicked and had a tantrum a lot initially but every day I left her there a bit longer and now she mostly just curls into his lap although she's still not very happy about (cos now that she's accepted being in His lap I'm picturing Him patting her on the back - all this is very confronting for her)
"A fulfilled person doesn't need to be hyperactive."
~Leo Gura
Leo, I don't agree with some points in your video. Lately I've been really focusing on studies for my final exams. I isolated my self for about a month, not really going out and I put minimal work in my online business.
I understood that money or success is not important. For the past 2 years I've been working full time while studying full time to achieve 'success', but it's a trap. With all that money I would earn I would just buy shit I don't need which only brings stress to my life and all my free time would be wasted.
I also understood that deep relationships and hobbies you are passionate about are the most important thing. For me it is natural bodybuilding. Sculpting my body through decades of training and eating healthy. No sugar and other shit. And that brings me fulfillment. If you master something through years of work you can then share your wisdom with other people like you share your wisdom with us.
I don't understand why you say that we should minimize hobbies and relationships. Humans are social beings. It's like in this movie into the woods. This guy left everything to live in wilderness and enjoy nature, but because there was no other people to connect with and share happiness, it made him so depressed that he committed suicide. It's just human nature, basic human need. You can still balance that with meditation and contemplation and in my opinion that would be the best way to live.
good question!
+Bernardo Fantini sounds good as balanced. peace
+Adam Genova Allow me to to transfer what he said and apply it to you personally, if I may. Remember in the beginning he said cut the things you do in half, and with the remaining things you have to do, spend twice as much time on it. So pretty much, cut out other stuff, and spend more time in stuff that fulfills you. In your case bodybuilding and relationships :) . Keep in mind that everyone is different, so your perfect life is going to be different than anyone else's, including Leo's. So that being said, when you look for advice in videos such as these, take everything with a grain of salt, see how advice applies to YOU.
+Adam Genova into the wild*, and the guy did not commit suicide but he actually died while eating a poisoning plant(he didn't know it was toxic), but i'm actually thinking the same, like a human being is not made to live life alone, but leo's point was to minimize rather than to stop, my idea on this is to actually look for people who care about being than doing, and share the happiness and fulfilment with them, rather than living alone.
Rachael kadi Yes you and the guy above you are right. It's just the way he spoke in the video. He said it all like if it was the only way to achieve happiness and everyone should do what he did. Usually he presents an idea in different views and different circumstances, but here he didn't. Maybe that's why I interpreted it this way.
wow , this was the exact conversation that i had with my self two days back , after having sometime thinking about the time i'm wasting in things that are not authentic , and not serving me with my life purpose , and only two days back found a way to motivate my self to focus on my self and my life purpose , to reduce the distractions , and disconnect my self from obligations that only consume time , what will give me more time to do what really is worth my time helping me ..i knew that it will be very difficult to do it all alone without planning , so i had to put a motivating plan , at least to start building this habitual life style .. that includes lots of rejections .. this video timing can't be any better ..
"Share this video with a friend"... that will later unfriend you after watching this video haha.
Thank you for your honesty and sincerity Leo. I don't always like what i hear in your videos but i always come back because I know that the truth, no matter how bitter, is my only hope.
I have no idea how I got to this video but I'm glad I did. Great stuff!
Leo, you have no idea how important and uplifting your videos have become to me. Thank you !
wow this is gona be totally easy for me cos ive got no life allready! lol
lol
jim 😂
I am grateful to capture this content today. I have been working my whole 2021, creating a slow paced, minimalist life. This process is definitely challenging as there’s a lot of confusions, doubts, agitation and letting go along the way. I’m glad to have some answers through this video :)
I slowed down at work and I got fired.
Then I got evicted cuz I couldn't pay rent.
After that my gf dumped me cuz I was homeless and didn't have a job.
You wrecked my life.
hilarious!
Exactly. He wrecked your old life so that you may find a new life of fulfillment. Now you have plenty of time for meditation and contemplation.
You were predestined to end up like that. That's not his fault... and maybe someday you'll thank him
Robert Keith That’s what the ego thinks:)
I realized now, that doing doesn't have any value in itself, doing only has value when it leads to being
this was fucking awesome, everytime I meditate feels 100x better than any external bullshit thank you Leo
I love you man.... this is indeed the real definition of minimalism. Not some other thing to do, to talk about, another role to play.
This video made me feel like I don't really need to watch any more Actualized.org videos. I'll still do it but it's like. . . this is it. . . I have all I need to know to do what I need to do to change my life.
You don't need to, but you can choose it to keep you accountable and Speed up breakthroughs (90% is about getting into the right space of mind and locking it in). Changing "your life" is a very fluid term, although I would bet you knew how to change your life situation before on the physical level, but you had to have mental breakthroughs to end self-sabotating and ending up where you started by giving in to the resistance :) good luck (mainly wrote this for myself haha)
Vincent Life I didn't say I was going to stop watching, though. I just said I've almost lost the feeling that I need to keep watching more.
+Extreme Z7 Wait till you see some of the new video topics in the works. It's stuff that will blow your mind that would take you 40 years to discover on your own, if at all. We are still only scratching the surface here. Although, yeah, don't get addicted to videos.
And keep in mind that at some point you will probably run out of motivation and fall off track. I think the most important function of the videos is to simply keep you motivated and reminded of your intentions.
Actualized.org
Very well said and I've noted it down. :)
Leo's description of the retreat experience is what I experience every time I go on a week long vacation. At first I am strangely aggravated that I have to go and how there is sooo much I need to do at home. This aggravation continues to varying degrees for the first 2-3 days and then slowly, like unwinding a spring, I relax in not only a physical but mental awareness way. No matter what the family wants to do that day I am fine with it and it just seems to happen in relaxed, slow motion. It's THIS...that I need to develop in my everyday life.
For the first time, I don't totally agree with you Leo. First of all, sorry if I make a few mistakes, I'm french and english is not my language.
I think that if we can find inter peace and fullfilment inside through emptiness and silence, if we don't need all that entertainement to find happiness, then, we can also enjoy all these moments (a good laugh with friends, beautiful bird song, a wonderfull smell, complicity in love and friendship, etc ....)
Cause these moments will bring temporary joy (not happiness) but when they leave, we go back to happiness of our inter peace without pain.
I think that in every way, the best is the middle. No extremes.
And I also think that we don't have to make a choice between joy and happiness. Having to chose is a human conditionning.
I think we can chose both : joy and happiness. Can we both do and be ? Do sometimes and be some other times ? What do you think ?
+Sam Bady
I can't agree with you more. No extremes - just here, now.
I'm happy you wrote this, it reminded me that chasing extremes is like chasing money or success.
I think all the "distractions" we experience from happiness
comes under the category of thinking "something is wrong here, I NEED to change this".
And again - trying NOT to think "something is wrong here" is just another distraction :)
Luckily we have the ability to just observe our thinking, not judging it,
and being with everything that happens now, outwards and inwards.
After some "just being", real changes occur. naturally and "effortlessly".
(apart from the mental effort that "just being here" sometimes require :))
That takes practice, and patience and compassion towards yourself.
All can be adapted :)
I'm on my journey, always in the now, always changing.
I wish you many many moments of just being :)
Thanks again for your comment
+Sam Bady The goal isn't a one sized fits all spiritual practice.
The goal is to be caught up in the rapture of being a live.
I think we all have a sense of what "opening" and "deepening" vs closing and turning away means spiritually, with others and with our experience of the world.
The goal is to become more open and radiant energetically, deepening our experience of life rather than caught up in our head, worries, anxieties, to dos and closing and turning away.
There are two different types of spiritual practices
1) identifying with the emptiness of consciousness.
2) identifying with the fullness of life.
Some people identify and grow more from practicing the emptiness of consciousness, some people through the fullness of life.
examples of
1) are =, meditation, watching your thoughts, observing your feelings, not attaching just witnessing and then carrying that attitude to your every day life
2) are = opening through music, friends, children, fabrics, exploring, conversation, loving, sacred dance etc.
In my experience some people suit practicing with the experience of consciousness where as some people suit practicing with the fullness of life.
If you want to look further into this I recommend checking out David Deida. Particularly "david deida complete recordings volumes 1-3". Can shed a lot of light on this issue.
i never had a father for my entire life. I'm now 18, and you helpin me very well gettin my life together. Thank you
I wish I was watching this at 18! Continue the amazing work
Sensei... * bows *
I have been living my life like this naturally for years but haven't seen the value in it until now. I actually thought I was being unproductive, unsociable, and going against my life purpose. Thanks for giving me a different outlook.
Is this what jesus meant when he said those who wish to save his life will lose it and those who are willing to lose his life will gain it.
Yup
jesus is a myth. the is a NOTHING. why do you should take him seriously? we need.tofuck everything bexause everyone is a NOTHING.
+neguinhodavs jesus existentially might be nothing. But what matters is the work such an enlightened being produced which can help us be enlightened. I dont take him so seriously. Which ever being who produced the teachings of enlightenment we shall call jesus
+Bobby Mathews What is the point of rushing around to find life "out there" when one is not even aware of life as it is occurring? Maybe instead of trying to deal with or - micro manage and "perfect" external circumstances the more efficient, effective way to get the most out of life is to improve one's ability to be present or aware of every moment. There's the saying - it's not the years in your life but the life in your years. If you have two lifespans of equal year length, but one of them has more life in each year, more conscious presence of each passing moment, this life has more life in it : )
+Zen there is no problem in trying to find life elsewhere.that deep rooted instinct to explore and discover new stuff is what got us alive all thought the millions of years of evolution. So continuing that might only increase our chances of making it through the future globally speaking.
Lets leave that very practical tool in the domain of science. Science is mostly about manipulation of the external world to our benefit. But there is another " science " for managing the internal world ie the human mind and the human body.
There was is absolutely nothing wrong with science or religion or enlightenment when you have the proper knowledge of what to where and when. All problems in the world is caused due to lack of understanding. Everyone is in a race to find fulfilment out of this life and use different ways to achieve it. But some ways work and others don't. Sorry for making it too large.
Man... your videos just blow my fucking mind. Almost nowhere else can one listen to such a profound and deep, deep meaningful stuff. When I look at other people and see how they live their lives I feel soooo much appreciation for the fact that I am following you, Leo. I can't imagine what would my life be without meditation, mindfulness, overcoming addictions, reading books, spiritual enlightenment, basically everything that you teach and preach. And about this video - it has a lot to do with what Stoicism teaches(which again I am interested in because of you and I try to practice it as a philosophy of my life). It was amazing to hear that one of your goals in life is to have a sage's lifestyle - simple, non-luxurious, free from carnal desires. Also you made me contemplate a lot about what kind of hobbies, friends, influences and relationships I allow around myself. Once again, thank you for all the free stuff, you are changing people's lives. I hope people also deeply appreciate everything that you do for us and do not take it for granted!!!
My pleasure
But how can people quit their fast paced job? They must be financially free to live like this.
I agree with this
Whit Juan's comment or with mine?
Juan bro
if you spend less, you will need to work less. that's a general rule.
But you have to make enough to have a place to live, a car to get to the job, food, etc. That actually takes quite a bit of money to supply the basics.
Started enlightenment work about 7 years ago and so glad your sharing your knowledge and experiences. I know exactly what you are talking about. I've been saying "no" to a lot recently and it feels amazing!! Love all your videos.
So I should basically isolate myself from the world, to become "happy"? No thanks.
Slow a busy life down a little, sure, but what you are saying goes way beyond that.
What you are saying is that we should all become monks, and sit on a mountain owning nothing but the clothes for the rest of our lives
Help me please...I am a very social person, but not in the party every night type. i love to help people and be with them and connect. But Leo seems to say it is not okay and that being with people is wasting time. I am struggling with this guilt every day. :( What do you think? Plus I have to mention I am easily influenced and naive AND I feel guilty easily. Watching this video just made me completely destroy my sense of living life.
Well my life motto is "If it feels good, do it and if it feels bad, stop"
But be sure that it actually DOES make you feel good/bad! The ego is sneaky, and will try to confuse your feelings about what feels "good" or "bad", and make you feel one way, when you are actually feeling the other.
As Leo always suggest; start practising medittation. This way you can analyse how you truly feel about things in your life :-)
Santa San Thank you for the insight! You really helped me! I'm grateful.
A lot of things today are idols and religious, including minimalism, which did serve me for a little while, until i realised all i was doing was eliminating my life away. the world offers happiness and alsorts of things but does not deliver. I am a Christian and what it offers me is truth, and to be honest thats all i really was searching for. Thank you for sharing and you are right about slowing down, we cannot maintain a fast pace of life, and i am resting more and implementing boundaries. I also think that there is too much information rammed at us from every angle, its similar to being brained washed, our brains/minds are constantly on play mode, i am sure thats why depression and anger and other mental disorders are on the increase. Take care xxxx
What if you already have a slow paced lifestyle? Are you suggesting it should be even slower? I did the visualisation and I felt bad because if I slow my time more I don't think I'd achieve anything at all, should someone like me be doing the opposite?
+emokiller907 You might have the opposite problem. You might be too laid-back and lazy.
With all advice, you have to determine if it actually applies to you. Not all advice applies to everyone. There are some hippies out there who need the opposite advice: get your shit together and go hustle!
+Actualized.org Ok Leo, I'll get my shit together
But, and I'm not saying this applies to you and your situation, but sometimes you need to go deep into yourself to find your motivation. I think that in order to be truly effective in our lives we need to have the courage to deal with our STUFF. And in order to do this we have to face ourselves.
(Just cos we're living life in the slow lane doesn't necessarily mean we're living intentionally)
Simplicity is in my top 10 list of most important values. This video was a great reminder and energy boost for me! I've been changing my life a lot since I started implementing Leos advice and really feel Im on the right path. And if it turns out everyone else will look at my life and think its stupid, but me, it will still be worth it!
Slowing down is hardly an option for someone who tries to improve all areas of his/her life.
Well, try to think like this...There's a famous quote from Bruce Lee "Empty Your Mind, Be Formless and Shapeless Like Water...When u put water into cup, it becomes the cup, when u put into the pot, it becomes the pot...Be water my friend"...Well, what's he's trying to tell is let the Mind to be free, so that the adaptive nature becomes much easier...Furthermore, when u Free your mind, u become Transparent...That's the REAL YOU...If your mind is loaded with, it's really NOT the Real You...He's actually making all of us to realize WHO WE REALLY ARE...That's it...Very Simple...This is my Humble Opinion :-)
Nick Klause
When I'm the "REAL ME" and I free my mind, nothing gets done. Leo has his life sorted out financially. I haven't. Slowing down by 50% isn't an option for me yet.
+John Ny Yeah I understand what you mean. I have this same issue aswell. There's my virginity I feel I need to lose, I don't know my life purpose yet etc. But when he's telling you to slow down and have more time to be. your fullfillment increases because getting all areas of your life is also outside the present moment. you may need to pay bills to survive and what not but you wouldn't be stressing over it all or clinging to it if you were fulfilled. and by being fulfilled you just do these things without getting too attached to expectation.
you have to realize, even if your life is not setup. you can already be fulfilled regardless. This means you are not chasing a better lifestyle. you are working your way up. But enjoying the process in of itself. this means being happy now all the while setting your life up. not setting your life up to be happy.
The whole point of this is to wake the fuck up ! and realize to your ego your fulfillment doesn't exist out there it exists within and you aren't stopping to realize. Your using expectation of the future to fulfill you
Kyle Barnett
I see all your points, but you went off topic quite a bit.
In the video, Leo made the suggestion that fulfillment comes from slowing down. And I can't afford to slow down.
To take into account what you were saying...I am trying to enjoy the process, but enjoying the process is much easier, when the process is slower. And I can't afford that.
Exactly
Perfect set up for how you integrate what you're doing now, making videos and running a successful business, with the enlightened lifestyle.
Sorry, but this form of MINIMALISM is promoting self fulfillment on being LAZY. Positive minimalism should be a tool to eliminate time spent from doing 80% of the low value activities you are mindlessly busy about and be more focused on the 20% high value activities that are really important in achieving your life's purpose. And I don't believe that your life's purpose is to spend the MAJORITY of your time on meditation or self actualization and purposely slowing things down all the time!? I don't agree on this reversal Leo... Yes you need time to meditate/self actualized, even Jesus fasted for 40 days... but majority of your life should be spent on GOOD works, on actions toward your life's purpose. There are a lot of things you can do to provide value to your loved ones and to the world. Knowing your life's purpose and MAGNITUDE of your RESPONSIBILITY should create a sense of urgency in you. Considering that you will not always have the OPPORTUNITY to do good, you need to grab it while you have it. Plan, strategize, meditate and pray but after that, you need to take paretorized actions!
you convinced me to quit what I was doing the most and a total waste of time... video games. I'm so excited to start a new life. Thank you Leo you really oppened my mind.
I wouldn't call my friends' or family's lifestyle materialistic. Also, someone who calls other people's life "shit" doesn't sound very happy to me. Why all the swearing?
Because they can't stand you not joining the wagon.
because it's funny and it IS "shit" to him...(his former, miserable, "normalcy")..he's obviously put a lot of thought into what's worked for him and he's simply wanting to share it w/ those who maybe would also enjoy life differently......it was an improvement for him.....slowing down would be honestly amazing, don't you guys think so? wow! :-) I'm glad he's sharing.......Peace~ :)
the lives of many others.. Is shit... most people are simply apart of a rat race. Driving next to the same ppl everyday on their way to work.
As someone below said, I think people including myself would
very much want to see what a day in your life looks like, Leo. For inspiration purposes,
of course.
I've been asked by a few people (more of comments than questions actually) if
I'm having fun at all in my life or where the heck am I getting joy from.
Either I couldn't really come up with something to say at that time or
whoever said that thing to me didn't seem like they really wanted to know, so I couldn't be bothered.
The thing is, I do feel satisfied doing my own thing (rather than BEing as Leo said, I know, but hear me out) so,
when asked questions like that, on the inside (yeah, on the onside. I'm not confrontational) I'm like,
"Who are you to question the quality of my life? I do have fun in my own way. I just don't get a kick out of gossiping, drinking, playing some game on my cellphone at work, and all
that stuff like you are." You know what's funny, though? That being said, there's a part of me that’s like, "Shit, what if she's right? That I really am missing out on stuff while being "cooped up" at home?"
It’s been over a year since I started watching Leo’s videos,
and I’ve been pretty consistent with his content. Just staying on track like
that has helped me enormously in terms of getting rid of or chipping away at self-doubts
like the one above. This video is just.. put quite a dent on the whole “Man, am
I going in the right direction?” issue I have. So, appreciate that, Leo. But,
of course, I’m like.. have such a long way to go in terms of implementing all
the practices he mentioned.
In case anyone is thinking, “So what’s this my own thing you’re
talking about here? Is this one of those stupid things that Leo says we should
wean ourselves off of or what?”, English is the foreign language I’ve been
learning for the past six and a half years. I’ve been trying many different
ways to go about it and that’s what I call doing my own thing. I get flow
moments from pursuing this interest of mine. Besides that, though, I don’t really go
out much, don’t drink, no video games, and so on. Don't really do other stuff much.
What I should be doing now is to make all these practices part of my daily life.
Anyway, just wanted to clear that up. Man, ended up writing an essay.