Paradoxes Of Personal Development

Summary

In this enlightening video, Leo from Actualised.org explores the significance of paradoxes in the journey of self-actualization. He argues that embracing life's contradictions is not only beneficial but essential for personal growth. Leo discusses various paradoxes encountered in personal development, such as the duality of being perfect yet needing to improve, and the balance between problem-solving and recognizing the illusory nature of problems. He encourages viewers to maintain an open mind, accept the complexity of life, and not to fear cognitive dissonance. Leo's message is to build an ongoing, flexible mental model of reality that can accommodate paradoxes, fostering wisdom and a deeper understanding of life.

Takeaways

• 🧩 Embrace Paradox: The video emphasizes the importance of accepting and embracing paradoxes as a part of the self-actualization journey.
• 🚀 Personal Growth: Paradoxes are presented as a necessity for personal development, rather than a hindrance, and can lead to advanced results.
• 🤔 Open-Mindedness: Encourages viewers to keep an open mind towards seemingly contradictory ideas, which is essential for deeper understanding and growth.
• 🧐 Understanding Reality: The script suggests that a comprehensive understanding of reality is key to living a virtuous and fulfilling life.
• 🧩 Lifelong Process: The speaker highlights that resolving and understanding paradoxes is an ongoing, lifelong process, not a one-time event.
• 💡 Intellectual Challenge: Paradoxes are intellectually challenging and can lead to a reevaluation and reconfiguration of one's understanding of life.
• 🌐 Broad Topics: Paradoxes exist in various fields such as science, mathematics, linguistics, and personal development, indicating their universality.
• 🤝 Balance and Resolution: The video discusses the need to balance seemingly opposing ideas and find personal resolutions to paradoxes.
• 💭 Cognitive Dissonance: The discomfort experienced when faced with paradoxes is attributed to cognitive dissonance and a need for certainty.
• 🌟 Self-Actualization: The ability to tolerate and embrace paradoxes is linked to self-actualization and is a trait of self-actualized individuals.
• 🔍 Exploration and Experimentation: The speaker encourages viewers to explore paradoxes actively, experiment with ideas, and trust their intuition over time.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed by Leo in the video?

The main topic discussed by Leo in the video is the importance of embracing paradoxes in one's self-actualization journey.

Why does Leo believe paradoxes are a necessity of life?

Leo believes paradoxes are a necessity of life because they challenge our preconceived notions and help us in the process of self-actualization and personal development.

What does Leo suggest about the relationship between paradoxes and personal development?

Leo suggests that paradoxes are not problems but assets in personal development, as they can lead to a deeper understanding of reality and help in achieving advanced results.

Why does Leo emphasize the importance of having a big picture understanding of reality?

Leo emphasizes the importance of having a big picture understanding of reality because it provides wisdom to create the kind of life one wants and to live a virtuous life, rather than a shallow one.

What is the 'meta paradox' that Leo mentions in the video?

The 'meta paradox' that Leo mentions is the idea of embracing paradoxes while also trying to create a perfect, coherent model of reality, which on the surface seems contradictory.

How does Leo describe the process of assembling a mental model of reality?

Leo describes the process as a lifelong, ongoing endeavor, similar to assembling an infinite jigsaw puzzle, where one is always discovering new pieces and possibly reconfiguring existing ones.

What does Leo suggest is the typical reaction to paradoxes that hinders personal development?

Leo suggests that the typical reaction to paradoxes is to use them as an ego defense to avoid looking deeper into resolving contradictions, which blocks personal development.

What is the paradox related to relationships that Leo discusses in the video?

The paradox related to relationships Leo discusses is that relationships can provide fulfillment and happiness, yet true happiness must come from within and should not rely on others.

What is the 'paradox of happiness' according to Leo?

The 'paradox of happiness' according to Leo is that to be happy, one should not be overly focused on happiness itself, as this focus can distract from the actual experience of being happy.

How does Leo recommend approaching the study of paradoxes?

Leo recommends approaching the study of paradoxes with an open mind, exploring them without the immediate need to resolve them, and trusting that over time, understanding will emerge.

What is the assignment Leo gives to his viewers to help them get comfortable with paradoxes?

Leo's assignment is to explore various paradoxes listed on a Wikipedia page provided in the video description, encouraging viewers to delve into different paradoxes across various fields.

Outlines

00:00

🧩 Embracing Paradox in Self-Actualization

Leo from Actualised.org introduces the video's theme of paradoxes in self-actualization. He emphasizes that paradoxes are not only intriguing but essential to life and personal growth. Leo aims to clarify misconceptions about paradoxes, arguing that they are beneficial when embraced. He shares his passion for studying paradoxes across various fields and promises to present a list of personal development paradoxes. The video seeks to help viewers who struggle with advanced personal development concepts that may seem contradictory, suggesting that the inability to accept such contradictions can hinder personal growth. Leo encourages viewers to develop a comprehensive understanding of reality to live virtuous and fulfilling lives.

05:02

🎯 Navigating Personal Development Paradoxes

The paragraph delves into specific paradoxes found within personal development. Leo presents several examples where seemingly contradictory advice is given, such as being perfect yet needing self-improvement, solving problems while recognizing their illusory nature, and finding happiness through relationships versus generating it internally. He also discusses the paradox of making wise decisions versus learning from mistakes, the balance between being attractive to others and being independent, and the tension between being present and planning for the future. Leo challenges viewers to reconcile these paradoxes and suggests that the discomfort they cause is an opportunity for growth rather than a barrier.

10:02

💡 The Challenge of Contradictions in Personal Growth

Leo continues to explore the nature of paradoxes, discussing the advice given in personal development circles that can seem contradictory, such as the need for independence in relationships, the balance between being present and delaying gratification, and the trustworthiness of one's own mind. He points out the paradox of perseverance versus knowing when to quit, and the tension between pursuing happiness and living in the moment. Leo emphasizes that these paradoxes are not inherent flaws in reality but arise from the limitations of our language and conceptual models. He encourages viewers to embrace these contradictions as part of the journey towards a deeper understanding of life.

15:03

🌐 The Nature of Reality and the Mind's Model

In this paragraph, Leo discusses the limitations of our mental models and the inherent challenges in trying to simulate reality within our minds. He argues that reality is a complex and rich tapestry that cannot be fully captured by our simplified models and theories. Leo suggests that the contradictions we perceive, or paradoxes, are a result of our minds' attempts to make sense of an incomprehensibly vast and intricate reality. He invites viewers to consider the limitations of our understanding and to be open to the idea that our mental models are always a work in progress, akin to an infinite jigsaw puzzle that can never be fully completed.

20:03

🕵️‍♂️ Developing Tolerance for Paradox and Contradiction

Leo emphasizes the importance of developing a tolerance for paradox and contradiction as a key aspect of self-actualization. He explains that self-actualized individuals are more comfortable with paradoxes, which contributes to their wisdom and open-mindedness. Leo contrasts this with the average person's need for certainty and the problems that arise from clinging to beliefs and ego. He encourages viewers to embrace paradoxes, experiment with them, and trust that over time, their intuition will help resolve them. Leo suggests that the inability to reconcile certain ideas is not a failure but a natural part of the ongoing process of understanding reality.

25:04

🚀 Embracing Paradox for Spiritual Enlightenment

The final paragraph focuses on the importance of embracing paradox for those seeking spiritual enlightenment. Leo presents an assignment for viewers to explore various paradoxes listed on a Wikipedia page, encouraging them to become comfortable with not knowing. He stresses that not knowing is not a negative but a positive, as it opens the mind to new ideas and exploration. Leo concludes by inviting viewers to sign up for his newsletter at Actualised.org for weekly videos on self-actualization and to engage with the content consistently to experience personal growth and transformation.

Keywords

💡Paradox

A paradox is a statement or concept that contains conflicting ideas, yet can be true in real life or logic. In the context of the video, paradoxes are presented as an inherent part of life and self-actualization, challenging the viewer to embrace contradictions as a means to deepen their understanding of reality. The script discusses various personal development paradoxes, such as being perfect yet needing self-improvement, indicating the complexity of personal growth.

💡Self-actualization

Self-actualization refers to the process of realizing one's full potential and achieving self-fulfillment. The video's theme revolves around the importance of embracing paradoxes in this journey. The speaker, Leo, uses the term to discuss the advanced personal development topics covered by Actualized.org and how understanding and accepting paradoxes can lead to more profound personal growth.

💡Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. In the video, Leo explains that when people encounter paradoxes, they may feel cognitive dissonance due to their desire for certainty and aversion to contradictions. This discomfort is not a problem with reality but with one's own mindset and insecurities.

💡Ego Defense

Ego defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that protect an individual from anxiety or psychological conflict. In the script, Leo mentions that some people use the appearance of contradictions as an ego defense to avoid confronting deeper issues or accepting the reality of paradoxes, which can hinder personal development.

💡Contradictions

Contradictions are statements or ideas that are opposed to one another. The video discusses how people often view contradictions as problems to be resolved. However, Leo argues that the discomfort arising from contradictions is more about one's own mindset and the limitations of one's understanding rather than an issue with the concepts themselves.

💡Personal Development

Personal development refers to the process of improving one's skills, abilities, and knowledge to enhance personal and professional growth. The video emphasizes that personal development involves not only learning new concepts but also embracing paradoxes and contradictions that can lead to a more profound understanding of oneself and the world.

💡Spiritual Enlightenment

Spiritual enlightenment is a state of profound understanding or awareness that transcends ordinary human knowledge. Leo mentions that as Actualized.org delves into more advanced topics, including spiritual enlightenment, viewers may encounter paradoxes that challenge their conventional understanding of reality. Embracing these paradoxes is key to achieving higher levels of personal development.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity is the quality of being true to one's own personality, spirit, or character. In the video, Leo discusses the paradox of authenticity, suggesting that to be the most authentic, one might need to let go of the ego, which is itself driven by the desire to eliminate the ego, creating a paradoxical situation.

💡Neurosis

Neurosis is a term that describes a mental disorder characterized by anxiety, fear, or obsession, without any apparent physical cause. Leo uses the term to describe the reaction of people who cannot accept or hold paradoxes in their mind, leading to agitation and discomfort due to their need for certainty.

💡Intuition

Intuition is the ability to understand or know something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. In the script, Leo suggests that by embracing paradoxes and trusting one's intuition, individuals can over time resolve or come to terms with the contradictions they encounter in their personal development journey.

💡Worldview

A worldview is a person's overall perspective and understanding of the world. The video emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind and being able to hold contradictions within one's worldview. Leo encourages viewers to build their mental models of reality as an ongoing process, acknowledging that it is never fully complete.

Highlights

Embracing paradox is crucial in the self-actualization journey.

Paradoxes are not problems but assets in personal development.

The importance of accepting contradictory notions in advanced personal development.

The role of paradoxes in spiritual enlightenment and basic personal development.

The value of a big picture understanding of reality for wisdom and virtuous living.

The lifelong process of assembling the 'jigsaw puzzle' of reality.

The challenge of fitting new information into our existing worldview.

The necessity of open-mindedness in personal development.

The paradox of being perfect yet needing to work on self-actualization.

The dilemma of solving problems versus accepting their illusory nature.

The balance between seeking fulfillment from relationships and inner happiness.

The contradiction between making wise decisions and embracing failure for growth.

The tension between contemplation and action in life planning.

The challenge of being attractive without being needy or trying too hard.

The irony of not needing a relationship to attract one.

The debate between being present and planning for the future.

The paradox of trusting oneself despite the mind's potential for deception.

The choice between perseverance and knowing when to quit.

The paradox of happiness: not thinking about it to be truly happy.

The dilemma of being selfless by being more selfish.

The challenge of being authentic by eliminating the ego.

The ultimate paradox of spiritual enlightenment: existing and not existing.

The meta paradox of embracing paradox while building a coherent worldview.

The experiment of getting present and observing reality without contradictions.

The realization that paradoxes are a function of language and modeling, not reality.

The assignment to explore various paradoxes to increase comfort with uncertainty.

The advice to consistently engage with self-actualization content for personal growth.

Transcripts

hey this is Leo for actualised org and

in this video I'm going to talk about

the importance of embracing paradox in

your self-actualization journey we learn

from history that we do not learn from

history

paradoxes are cool not only are they

cool but they're also a necessity of

life if you're going to be going through

and you're going to be self actualizing

and they're really not the problem that

some people make them out to be so here

we're going to talk about what we mean

by paradoxes why paradoxes are not a

problem why in fact they're a great

asset to you if you're able to embrace

them we're going to talk about how to go

about embracing some of these paradoxes

personally I love studying paradoxes

there's paradoxes that I've discovered

in science in mathematics and

linguistics and in personal development

and I'm going to give you a whole list

of personal development paradoxes in

this video so that you get a really good

idea of what I mean by paradox the

reason I wanted to shoot this video is

because as now that we are getting into

more advanced personal development stuff

with actualized org covering more

advanced topics what I'm seeing is that

some people are having difficulty with

accepting kind of contradictory notions

especially when we're starting to talk

about spiritual enlightenment and then

how that connects back to the bait more

basic personal development work that we

do that we do and and when you're

looking at both of these things they

seem contradictory and when this happens

what then happens after that is that

basically you use this as an ego defense

to avoid looking deeper into resolving

these contradictions or even just

accepting that these contradictions are

are there as a part of reality and then

this blocks you and prevents you from

achieving the most advanced results that

you can achieve with personal

development just to put everything into

perspective for you I talked about this

theme a lot of my other videos but

basically what I'm hoping you're getting

from everything that you're getting from

my videos is that you're getting this

big picture understanding of reality and

to me this is like an endeavor that you

do and you undertake in your life is you

say okay I'm really interested in

figuring out how all the pieces fit

together on a big picture a lot

I want to know how my psychology works I

want to know how life works and I need

to know every little facet of that so I

can put them all together I can create

this giant jigsaw puzzle and each little

piece that I put into place helps me see

the larger picture that's what we're

trying to do here because the value of

having this big picture understanding is

that you have the wisdom then to create

whatever kind of life you want and you

have the wisdom then also to live a

virtuous life rather than living a

shallow life when I see people living

shadow lives it's mostly because I see

that they don't have this entire jigsaw

puzzle assembled or at least even a good

chunk of it and so what they do is they

waste a lot of time and their life they

go down a lot of dead ends because they

don't really see what's happening in

life what life is they don't understand

they don't ascend themselves so to

resolve that what we do is we piece by

piece start putting it together now as

you start doing this one of the problems

is that you get pieces that don't seem

to fit or you get a piece you try to fit

it in this corner over here

but then you see that it doesn't fit in

this corner so you scratch your head and

you wonder and mmm where should this

piece go and maybe you try the other

corner and it doesn't fit there either

and then you have to try in the middle

and maybe it doesn't fit that either and

then you just have to put it off to the

side for a while until more the puzzle

gets complete and then maybe you'll see

oh it was supposed to go right here the

whole time see but it this is like a

process this is a multi-year long

process this is really a lifelong

process of doing this the puzzle is

never fully complete

you always keep discovering new stuff

and sometimes the stuff you discover is

very challenging intellectually it

challenges you it jostles your

pre-existing notions maybe it means you

have to rearrange certain aspects of

this puzzle maybe you thought that all I

had this part figured out you get this

new piece and you're like oh well that

means that this whole part is wrong I

have to reconfigure it some people

really have problem with this they don't

like doing this because their ego likes

to be certain likes to be concrete but

if you are not

able to go through this investigative

process and keep your mind open to the

possibility that all maybe I don't have

it quite right maybe these two pieces

don't fit because there's something in

my understanding that I'll figure out

three years later if you don't have that

kind of open mindedness then you're

going to get stuck and I find that this

is not only necessary for the advanced

work in personal development but it's

also necessary for even sometimes the

entry-level work and I'll show you what

I mean by that in a second when I start

telling you all these paradoxes of

personal development I actually wanted

to create a whole video series of like

20 or 30 videos that just focus on the

paradoxes of personal development cuz I

find them so fascinating and also

because understanding this stuff and

understanding these paradoxes and

accepting these paradoxes I think

creates much better results for you in

your life maybe I'll do that in the

future but right now I want to go

through and just give you a taste of

what some of these paradoxes are so here

they are the first example is something

like this it goes like this on the one

hand in personal development we tell you

that you're perfect you're perfect as

you are you're already complete yet on

the other hand you must do self help you

must do personal development you need to

work really hard to actualize yourself

so which is it am i perfect or do I need

to work my ass off to self actualize how

do you resolve that here's another one

we tell you in personal development yes

you have real problems in your life that

need to be fixed

maybe health problems business problems

career problems whatever and we try to

go to problem-solving mode and help you

solve all these problems that you have

helped you diagnose them and understand

them on the other hand we also tell you

but really your problems are ilusory

they're not real problems and that in

fact problem solving is not the best way

to go about living a good life so which

is it

should I be solving problems or

shouldn't I be solving problems how do i

reconcile that

about this next one one we tell you that

relationships can give you lots of

fulfillment and happiness and that

relationships are one of the highest

quality happiness's that you can have is

deep relationships on the other hand we

also tell you that relationships can

never make you truly happy and that you

have to make yourself happy from the

inside and that you can't rely on other

people to make you happy so how do you

resolve that which one of those is true

another paradox goes like this we tell

you be wise

don't make any unwise decisions in your

life make sure that you're making proper

choices so that you're not making the

kind of mistakes that a lot of other

people make in society on the other hand

we tell you but some of the greatest

people we know in history entrepreneurs

business people whoever that their lives

are constructed around their biggest

mistakes and that failure is good then

in fact the more you fail the better you

become the stronger you become so which

is it should I be worrying about making

perfect decisions or should I be making

more mistakes to avoid failure what

should I be doing another one goes like

this on the one hand we tell you think

about your life contemplate about your

life live a contemplative life where

you're examining your life and you're

planning on the other hand we tell you

thinking creates neuroses don't think so

much stop thinking how do you reconcile

that what should I do

should I think more or should I think

less about my life about this one work

hard to make yourself more attractive

for the opposite sex so if you want that

great girlfriend or that great boyfriend

work on yourself to be more attractive

than you'll attract that person that you

really want on the other hand to be the

most attractive don't work at it at all

who will be detached be independent from

outcome don't rely on to the person

don't be needy don't even try to act

attractive don't even think about being

attractive so how do I resolve that

should I be thinking about being more

attractive and working hard on that or

shouldn't I be how about this next one

to get into a relationship don't need

the relationship which basically say

states that if you really need a

relationship badly you're desperate for

one then you probably won't get one

because no one wants to be in a

relationship with you on the other hand

if you're very independent and you don't

need a relationship at all and you don't

want one then everyone wants to be in a

relationship with you because you're not

needy about this one be present how many

times do you hear be present in personal

development circles be present be in the

moment be in the now the power of now so

we have people telling us to be present

and then also people telling us but

delayed gratification is good don't

focus on the present people who focus on

the present are hedonistic instead focus

on the long-term perspective plan

prioritize your life properly don't live

in the present moment live for the

future how do you reconcile these two

here's another one on one hand we tell

you be very careful with your mind and

your ego because it's very deceptive so

you can't trust yourself because you're

deceiving yourself all the time with

stories and philosophy you create in

your mind on the other hand we also tell

you but trust yourself in fact if trust

yourself completely to be successful and

really fulfilled in life so which is it

am i deceiving myself and should I not

trust myself or should I trust myself

completely how do I resolve that

another one goes like this never quit

persevere we like to champion

perseverance and personal development so

never quit on the other hand prioritize

and cut your losses early so that you're

not going down a dead-end so which is it

should I never quit and persevere all

the time

or should I quit the things that aren't

working for me how do i resolve that how

about this one the paradox of happiness

to be happy don't think about happiness

if you're thinking about happiness then

you're not actually happy to be happy

you need to be happy in the moment so

what should i do should I not worry and

think about happiness at all if I do

that won't I be like the rest of the

people in the world who are not happy or

should I think and plan and strategize

about happiness in which case I'm

thinking about happiness so much how can

I be happy what do I do about this next

one be selfless right that's a virtue to

be selfless to not be selfish but to be

selfless work on yourself really hard so

if you want to be selfless be more

selfish and if you're selfish you won't

be selfless so what should i do should I

be more selfish or be most be more

selfless how do I resolve that about

this next one to be the most authentic

self that you can be eliminate yourself

eliminate the ego you want to be the

most authentic human being you can be

well eliminate your ego and aren't you

using your ego to want to eliminate the

ego bit of a paradox there

and then the mother of all paradoxes

which is the paradox of spiritual

enlightenment

which goes like this on the one hand you

exist on the other hand you do not exist

literally so what is true do I exist or

don't I exist how do I make sense of

this and then I like this last paradox

which is what I call the mayor of the

meta paradox and the meta paradox goes

like this well on the one hand Leo

you're telling me to embrace paradox

which means that I should be open to

certain contradictions in my worldview

on the other hand you're telling me to

create this perfect worldview this

jigsaw puzzle of understanding which

every piece fits together perfectly

so how can I do both how can I accept

paradox and also build my model of

reality at the same time and yeah that's

an additional meta paradox so you can

see we have a lot of paradoxes here

these are just the paradoxes of personal

development there's more this is just

kind of the tip of the iceberg there's

also paradoxes in Sciences in the

physical sciences and mathematics and

linguistics I encourage you actually go

out there and not read up on these

paddocks and just embrace them and study

them and kind of immerse yourself absorb

some of them into your system rather

than what I see a lot of people doing

which is kind of getting standoffish as

soon as they see a contradiction or a

parent paradox and then they can't hold

the paradox they're not able to hold it

in their mind and what this actually

says is it doesn't say so much about the

quality of the information or the the

error in the ideas that you're being

presented but it actually speaks to your

closed mindedness and your neuroses now

you might say but Leo shouldn't

paradoxes be resolved after all we don't

want contradictions in our worldview

right and that's generally true but you

also got to understand that when you are

hung up on a paradox

usually it's because you're coming from

an insecure place and so this is not a

problem with the inherent ideas or the

theories but it's mostly a problem with

you and your insecurities and you need

to feel certain most people really

really really like to feel certain in

their mind and in their worldview and

when your mind doesn't feel certain

about something its agitated this is

called cognitive dissonance but this is

not like a science problem this is not a

problem with reality this is the problem

the ego so yes in general you want to be

correcting contradictions and you want

to be trying to understand as much as

you can with your mind kind of grasp

stuff but also you have to recognize

kind of the limits of your mind and you

have to recognize that this process of

grasping at stuff this is a lifelong

ongoing process so it's not like you

just hear some ideas and everything is

great some of these paradoxes that I

just listed off to you has taken me

years of personal development work and

experience and study and reading a bunch

of books and listening to seminars and

thinking about it on my own

to finally get a resolution of it years

and some of them for me are still not

totally resolved so what does this mean

this means you have to treat your mental

model building kind of like a ongoing

process like it's always under

construction you can never put up a sign

and say okay I'm done it's completed

there's always more maintenance work

that's being done there's always new

pieces that you're putting into place

basically it's kind of like you're

assembling an infinite jigsaw puzzle

there's not a hundred pieces not a

thousand pieces there's an infinite

number of pieces and so in your entire

lifetime you'll never piece everything

together and in your entire lifetime you

probably won't resolve every

contradiction in fact I want you to do a

little experiment with me right now in a

second I'm going to ask you to just

pause and I want you to just look around

pause the video if you'd like just look

around but I'm going to be looking

around too so you can do it with me

while you're watching the video just

take like 10 or 15 seconds to do

with me get very present in the moment I

want you to take your focus off the

video and what I was saying just look

around and just get in touch with

reality reality is happening around you

right now but a lot of times we get out

of touch with the moment just get in

touch with the moment and I'll tell you

why it's important all right

ready go

okay good did you look around you get

InTouch present in the moment

well what happened there when you were

looking around did you see any paradoxes

happening in reality were there any

glitches in the matrix

were there any discontinuities were

there any contradictions floating around

you are there any contradictions

actually inside of reality if you look

around and you're honest with yourself

then the answer is no there's no real

contradictions anywhere in reality so

then where are the contradictions and

what are paradoxes if paradoxes don't

really exist what are they well

paradoxes are a function of language and

they're a function of your minds desire

to conceptualize and model reality

inside the brain so as you're going

around you're looking at life life is

very rich very complex there's so much

happening in life that even the most

advanced supercomputer could not

simulate it in fact if you think about

it then you could not simulate reality

inside of another system because that

system would be itself a part of the

reality so you can't simulate reality

reality is like the ultimate simulation

of itself so when your brain is trying

to run a simulation of reality the

problem there is just fundamental the

problem is that there's always going to

be a lack and what we naively assume is

that well because we have science and

because we have mathematics and because

we have all this fancy technology

nowadays and we you know we're human

beings now we feel like we're masters of

the world we've pretty much taken over

the world our technology is so awesome

we can send people into outer space

successfully so because of that we know

all reality but actually that's not

what's going on what's going on is like

we have a very limited understanding of

reality based on certain concepts that

we've created certain models and these

models are very very simplistic so you

look at reality and then you basically

take all this

vast richness and then you draw it in a

little schematic form on the back of a

cocktail napkin and then you tell

yourself look I figured out reality it's

right here on this little cocktail

napkin in this little equation or in

this little theorem or in this little

formula but that's that's very very

limited and we need to recognize the

inherent limitations in that process and

so while conceptualizing and modeling

stuff might be helpful in certain

situations we don't want to go all out

and just assume that oh well then this

is the end-all be-all and that our

models and our cocktail napkins are

somehow actual reality we don't to make

that mistake and so basically when you

recognize all this then you start to

recognize that mmm you know I probably

shouldn't be taking my concepts too

seriously this jigsaw puzzle that I'm

assembling is not the end-all be-all

it's probably not the actual truth it's

not not the actual reality it's just an

approximation and even in the best

imaginal imaginable case it's probably a

very very loose very poor approximation

of reality and so any kind of

contradictions that I find any kind of

difficulty I have in combining two ideas

or reconciling a couple of ideas or

fitting everything together and some

grand theory of everything those are

really problems of my own mind and of my

own ego not problems of of nature and so

let me just kind of chill out and not be

so serious about it let me embrace the

paradox let me look at these paradoxes

and say cool let me just play around

with them let me experiment with them

let me go try out both sides of the

paradox and just see what happens what

the results are and then I'll trust that

over time stuff will click for me my

intuition will kind of figure stuff out

and even if there's something that I

can't quite reconcile that's okay it's

not the end of the world reality is

still whole reality is not affected or

threatened by this in any way

that's very natural and you want to be

able to keep these contradictions in

your worldview for potentially years on

end without needing to find that

security and that certainty see so many

people claim to security uncertainty

this is kind of like the default

operation of the human mind the human

wat mind likes to be certain when it's

uncertain it feels afraid it feels

insecure it gets angry it gets

frustrated this is called neurosis right

self-actualized people have an increased

tolerance for paradox and contradiction

rather than a decreased one sometimes

they're irrational people as rational

people we get hung up on this idea that

everything needs to be very rational and

we take our rationality so seriously but

as Abraham Maslow talks about when you

describe self-actualization you double

up did a lot of study on self actualized

people what he discovered is that

they're they're more comfortable with

accepting paradox and the average person

more comfortable this is what makes them

wiser this is what makes them more

open-minded more open to new ideas more

willing to explore the intellectual

landscape whereas the people who are

more like normal people they're the ones

that cling to beliefs and they're the

ones that wrap up their ego in their

worldview and then this creates all

sorts of problems down the road

the most important reason that you want

to start getting cool of paradox is

because if you want to be following

along with some of my spiritual

enlightened this will be a massive

massive theme and all those videos that

there's going to be lots of paradox very

deep seeming paradoxes which are going

to boggle your mind and instead of

shying away from them I want you to be

like oh this is cool this is exciting a

new paradox let me go explore

in fact what I want to leave with you

with is I want to leave you with an

assignment in the the bottom in the

video description I'm going to leave a

link to a Wikipedia page which has a

bunch of different paradoxes and you can

go and you can start exploring like I

said there's paradoxes within

mathematics within science linguistics

and all sorts of other areas of life so

it's cool to just go in there and start

to dig around and just to see what are

the paradoxes what have other people

said about these paradox because there's

been a lot of great thinkers throughout

history that have faced these paradoxes

from the ancient Greeks and Romans all

the way to modern physicists

mathematicians and philosophers really

hard-nosed guys so you can go through

and take a look at all those that will

be a good kind of homework assignment

for you to help you to get comfortable

and be cool with your not knowing not

knowing is not a bad thing not knowing

is a good thing alright that's it I'm

signing off go ahead post me a comments

down below click the like button please

also share this video with a friend and

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videos every single week videos on self

actualization topics I'm really excited

to be talking about more advanced topics

paradoxical topics topics that will

really challenge your understanding of

life and yourself and of course help you

to create that kind of fulfilling

extraordinary life that you want so this

is not just philosophy but we tie the

philosophical and abstract concepts in

with actual practical reality so even

when we're talking talking about stuff

like spiritual enlightenment all of that

will tie back in with your own happiness

your own fulfillment your own success in

life so it's all coming together if you

really want to create a powerful self

actualized life then my advice for you

is to do it on a consistent basis if you

like this video watch the next one watch

the next one watch one every week watch

a couple every week do this for a few

years and you'll keep shocked at how

different your life is how much you've

grown on the inside and then how much

your outside circumstances reflect the

new inner development that you acquired

alright go ahead and

up right now

you