I just wanted to start with saying this will be quite a long post, and I will come back and reply to the other posts in this thread after I've taken some time to digest them
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 amMy Answer (that I was sure I would have sent, and even quoted it -see above- after it was posted) seems to have completely gone out of the window. I just found an early draft, and hope it will do:
Yes, I saw your first reply and just had time to read some of it, until something else came up and I thought I was going to continue read it later, and then I noticed that your post was gone too. I see no traces of any removed posts in this thread, so it's weird. But anyway, I am so glad you found a earlier draft so it wasn't all gone.
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 am
I quite recently found out that I have "Aphantasia" and I also don't have an inner monologue.
Exactly like the woman in this video (and don't think you have to watch it of course):
https://youtu.be/8tQ2KcOhHiU
I watched it, as otherwise I would not have been able to make sense of the medical terms!
While I listened, I realized that I am certainly on a spectrum of the same, and it helps me to see this now! Wow!!
Thanks for wanting to take of your valuable time to watch it. It's interesting that you also cound relate to it. When I watched it and realized I had that which they label Aphantasia, I imagined it being a very rare thing, but I have no idea if that's actually true. There must be so many people having it that doesn't know about it, just like you and me before we heard about it. Not that it really matters. We work the way we work and have to make peace with that and do the best we can with it. Comparisons with others isn't beneficial if it's in a negative way.
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 am
Before that I found this out, I thought everyone had the same experience as me, as for to me, it's the only thing I know, it's how it is for me so I assumed it's how everyone experience their "inner world".
Abe and before them, Seth, have made very clear that NOBODY has the "same experience" as anybody else!
We decipher/translate vibration all in very different ways. But, because it is quite impossible to compare what we experience "inside", as we have no way to really know what others do inside, we tend to think that all others work at least a lot as we do, ourselves. Which, as I said above, never is the case. As soon I had realized this, I was hooked on typologies as the Enneagram that explain that even generally, we all have very different "soul-landscapes" and chose very different approaches to life. Some mostly can use their thoughts, to understand. Some need to HEAR things before they can make sense of it.Some need to physically touch, aka "handle" things to understand them. I am somebody who FEELS things out mostly. Some are introvert and need solitude. Some need to talk with people to "get it". Some are a mix of all. ...What one feels as bliss, would be torture to others.
Seth per example, pointed out that we always (!) look completely different to different people- on different times. People translate the vibration that most (!) of us can "see", based upon what they think or believe about us, and also, based upon where they are on the EGS in the very moment. Per example, when someone thinks you are intelligent, they might see you with a much higher forehead than someone who believes you would be stupid.
People who are colorblind usually dont know that they are- they naturally cope with what they are able to "translate". A man once told me, that he learned to know that others call a certain shade of grey "red", and another shade of grey "orange", and another still, "blue". In some cases he can't find a difference, but he soon learned not to care too much about it... Normally, we simply don't notice or don't care- until someone comes along and points out that we would lack something, or do something wrong. This woman in the clip seemed to have been quite happy with who she was- until she learned that she would have a deficit, and that broke her heart. I think, this could tell us, that it really doesn't serve us when we do this.
According to Abe, all comparing is a sure way to be miserable! We really are not MEANT to be all the same!
Thanks for sharing all this. I never read about Enneagram and that is very interesting. What you explained that Seth has said also lines up with what Abraham says. What you see depends on what vibrational frequency you are on. And yes you are right that comparing ourselves to other if it doesn't serve us is not helpful at all. As you said, the woman in the video was feeling very bad over this, and even I did at first, feeling like I was "missing out" on something that most seemed to have, that to me, appears to be like a "superpower". But it's a bit an illusion, becuase it's impossible to know exactly how their experience is, and even if I would prefer having that experience over the "inner world" I already have.
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 am
Because I get no images in my mind, and not a monolouge, so for me it's not so clear how I would know for sure exactly what my thoughts are in any given moment or how to deliberately choose a thought.
Imo, this condition is in the end more helpful than detrimental. As it makes you/forces you! to FEEL much more deliberate and sensitive! You need to TRUST what feels good. Someone who can get lost in inner dialogue might miss this opportunity for Clarity!
Abe have said to people that try to control their thoughts: "Kill me now. This is much too many moving parts!" The key is NOT to control your thoughts (again, it is quite impossible to do so for everybody! It would be much too much work!)
-but to be sensitive to your emotions, and to not only notice, but follow the guidance of them!
What feels even slightly off is not good for you. And what feels even a tiny bit better, is better for you: End of story!
It is so simple. And you CAN do that, with your condition!
Simple, but not that easy, when you have a long training of not valuing your OWN guidance and -approach, but to follow what others think would be best. I guess, some of this selfdenial is deep-trained into all of us, in some way...
Thanks! I definitely want to start experimenting with different ways I could try to see if helps shift my thinking/focus so that I can feel better, despite my previously viewed by me as "disadvantage" of not being able to either visually see my thoughts or hear them in an inner monologue.
I have many times tried to apply the different processes in Ask and it is given, on particular subjects that I know are troubling me and sinking my vibration down every time they "come up" because I can feel it, but, i have always had a lot of trouble even getting started as I haven't been able to know my actual starting point as I haven't seen clearly in any way what my thoughts on that subject have been - the thoughts that makes me feel bad - but there must be some thoughts I'm habitually thinking about those subjects or those wouldn't feel bad to me.
Then when I haven't been able to do that process, because I struggled with even the first step, to detect the thoughts I'm thinking about it, I then have given up trying and just went on my day and tried to distract instead.
There are quite many subjects in my life where I have a negative habit of thoughts about, mostly about myself, but the only tool in my toolbox I've been able to use have been distraction. It would be nice to get some success with a more deliberate process that could actually shift my negative beliefs on troubling subjects in a more permanent way on those subjects so they become less of an issue anytime they "come up".
But there has to be a way for me to be aware of my thoughts. Everyone is thinking every moment they are awake, it's not possible to not. Maybe I've just made it too big of a deal that I made it harder for me to see my active thoughts, or that I'm assuming I "should" be hearing them as an inner monologue but that something is "wrong" with me so I don't.
If i ask myself "how do you feel about this thing about yourself", I could write a text answering that question. Maybe I can just assume that while I'm writing about it, my mind is focused on that, even though I don't really recognize it so much.
I think another "issue" I've been doing is that I sometimes see any negative emotion I feel as an "issue that needs to be
fixed". I think sometimes I feel worse
only because I see how I feel as something that needs to be "
fixed" so that I feel better. When I've come to realize that's not an approach that works. Making peace with the discomfort, or relax into it, not push against it.
I think I'm quite sensitive and aware to how I feel most of the time, maybe too aware sometimes (in a way that it's the only thing I'm aware of so i have a hard time changing my focus which then could produce another feeling), but that I'm not yet the best at noticing subtle differences in my feelings. That I sometimes don't catch it in the early stages until I feel a little bit discomfort in my throat or something and then it's no longer just an emotion but have gotten "bigger" into a physical sensation. But it's good to be aware of what you have been doing that haven't been working, so you can try to do something different
I really like what you said here:
"What feels even slightly off is not good for you. And what feels even a tiny bit better, is better for you: End of story!"
Reminding myself that any tiny step in the better-feeling direction is not only a win but also is all that is possible at any given moment of time. But if you keep following that "tiny bit better" feeling and keep going in that direction, eventually you will reach the upper parts of the emotional guidance scale and feel really good. But you are where you are and from there you only have 2 ways you can go, one that feels a little bit better and one that feels a little bit worse, and that's it. Jumping from low on the emotional guidance scale to the top in one go isn't sustainable or even desirable. The joy in the journey is in climbing the emotional guidance scale step by step.
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 am
I of course feel emotions, but usually my only strategy that have really worked in feeling better has been watching videos , listening to music that make me feel good etc, rather than using my own brain deliberately.
So, you found "what works for you"!
That is all that's needed!
Have you ever considered reading about deaf, blind, or in any other case of "disabled" people (per example Helen Keller who was deaf-blind but lived an amazing and incredibly full life...)? When you read about those who lack significant abilities that we all think would be so normal or even irreplaceable, you learn that you never lack ability to be very happy- you just need to allow yourself, to do things YOUR WAY.
This means a lot to me to see it like that. Thank you!
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 am
...how it is for me, if they're seeing images in their mind and having an internal monologue.
Again: Maybe. Certainly, a few will not understand (but that is ALWAYS the case).
But maybe you would be astonished how much others can relate, or how much you would serve them if you would be open!
As I said, your openness helped *me* such a HUGE deal. I So appreciate it!!
After having posted about it here, it has actually felt easier for me to share this with people near me. So far I have only talked about to my girlfriend, which is very different than me, and she has a quite vivid imagination (she sometimes even zones out) while I'm sometimes so focused on the tangible already manifested world, sometimes more than I would like, as it's "old news", and sometimes hindering my feeling better-journey. So she didn't really understand how it could be so different for me, but that's fine.
I am glad to hear this thread also have helped you
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 am
But anyway
I just wanted to ask you: How would you say you experience your thoughts?
-As extremely fleeting. I was born (but never diagnosed) with ADS. I have a very hard time to focus and concentrate, even I have an IQ of more than 140. Already as a child, I was completely unwilling to think about stuff that doesn't interest me, and I am extremely easily distracted by "what feels better". So, I built structures that helped me remember what I really wanted to remember- plans, notes, writing on my palms- and sometimes I create artful, complicated schedules.
And I enjoy all of it: It became "my way", my deliberate approach to life that I love and am proud of, and that really really works for me!
I don't use any of it as a strict corset, but check always if the priorities still FEEL good to me. Otherwise, I change the plans! Nothing matters more to me than feeling good. And I am certain, really, I LIVE by this concept, because it doesn't work for me otherways. And that is an extremely good thing!
So, I write it in most cases down, as I can't rely on inner dialogue. As soon I write things, and "let them out", they become stable. But sometimes it feels better to speak, what wants to be noticed by myself. I learned that when I just start speaking, not yet knowing what wants out- just having the impulse to talk, (I TRUST when I start talking, I can't plan anything...) things start to make sense to me, always!
What was not realisable inside me "forms", as soon it is outside and then it starts making sense. I was with my husband since we were 16, which was a true blessing, as he is an extremely good listener... I guess we always get delivered what we really need to function in OUR unique way!
This is very inspiring to me, thank you!
"So, I write it in most cases down, as I can't rely on inner dialogue" is very helpful to me.
In the old forum, I have some posts saved from "Marc" and "WellBeing" where they described a meditation process where you spend 10-15 min lightly focusing on a subject you don't have any resistance about, as one of the easiest ways to feel better. "Just keep your attention" on the subject, which should be something light and something you don't have any resistance about like for example rabbits, bubbles, kittens etc.
I've always wanted to try this, but always felt stuck in not knowing how to do it in just my mind. I've just felt I can't keep track if I'm successfully doing it or not. I guess I've just assumed you're supposed to "see it" in your mind and when I didn't, I just had no success with this no matter how many times I've tried. But, I have actually never really tried spending 10-15 min
writing about the topic and see if that works to make me feel better. Maybe that's the way I have to go about doing that one, at least at first. I guess I will be able to tell if it's working or not based on if I feel better or not than before.
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 am
I could never paint the faces of even my beloveds out of my memory! I need them personally, or a picture of them, to do so. But that's ok: I don't need, or even want to paint out of my memory. I love to paint by eyesight, and the guidance of energetic inspiration.
I even think that all artistic endeavors -poetry, sculpting, even cooking, are enhanced and extra precious for me, as they are MY way of expressing towards outside- and in doing so, being in contact with myself and my inner world!
This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing this with me
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 am
or can you deliberately just decide a thought in your mind and you see an image, or is it more that you hear an internal monologue?
As I said, I get short glimpses. But much, much more than that, I get emotions, impulses or inspirations. And to be true, I feel that they are MUCH more accurate, reliable and specific than inner pictures or internal monologue! I don't WANT it in another way! It feels as if I would be more sensual and trusting my impulses more than other people, I'm not so intellectual: More like a small child or an animal, that simply KNOWS if someone is lying, or how they feel. And I have no interest in overriding any of that.
But I, too, like images. In this case, the Forum and the opportunity to post images and combine them with writing words, is a sheer blessing to me.
Both serve as a "substitute" for internal images and -selftalk, and now you know why I write- and post so many pictures, here!
To use your words: I definitely feel like a deliberate Creator.
I "have my hands in the clay" of molding my energy, -more than all others that I know of personally, as far as I can decipher this- BECAUSE of my condition. Which forces me to really really work directly with the energy!
Also, I NEED to be absolute authentic. Because when I would start lying to myself about something, I simply would make myself crazy!
Interesting, maybe I am a bit similar in the way I work. I just need to accept and make peace with my "inner world" being the way it is, and learn how I work when it comes to the way I can feel better and find my way back to alignment. I know that sure, by listening to music and stuff, I can make myself feel better, and that's great and I should start doing it more again.
But currently I have a normal 9-5 job, as a programmer. I am quite introvert and sometimes negative habits of thoughts "comes up" during my workday and it's a lot of time of my day where I sometimes don't feel good, a lot of time where I would want to have some tool that works for me to deliberately feel better. Because this Law of attraction "work" is a lot about airtime.
It feels like it was a long time since I felt amazing, and I miss that ITV-feeling. I haven't been consistently in a good-feeling place lately because of a lot of contrast, and I want to start feeling better more of the time.
If I look at my manifestations, many things are actually going well, but I've been in a habit of feeling "meh", with not much moment going in either direction (that's how it seems to me). I want to practice this stuff and find ways that works for me in feeling better more of the time
Paradise-on-Earth wrote: βSat Sep 21, 2024 5:14 am
Thank you in advance
It was such a true pleasure! Thank you so much,once more, for the opportunity to see, what I am doing and why.
It brought *me* great clarity, as I found my answers to your questions! I would enjoy if you would tell me how this resonates with you, I am curious if, or how, my words serve you! All the very best for you- enjoy who you are, and what you came for!
Your reply has really helped me a lot
The biggest thing I have taken from it is that I am wanting to try to apply these teachings by
writing things down, and see how it works for me. I can't really say I have been trying that in any significant way. Well, I've been trying to do Focus wheels but it haven't really worked well for me, maybe because my starting place wasn't really what I assumed, or my words didn't really change my focus, or that I did it in a bad time when I was already "falling out of the airplane" and didn't notice the subtle changes in my emotions.
But I can try other "games" that doesn't involve having to know your starting place. For example the "focusing on something easy for 15 min" like kittens or bubbles etc, or writing a new grid and focusing on emotional words like "ease" etc. I haven't really tried to do that, at least not long enough to give it a fair chance and see if that would work for me.
I'm very thankful that you wanted to give me this reply