I know that compared to a lot of your other followers i am fairly new. However i would like to take the time to give you some advice. I have been watching and listening for a while, and over time its like watching you slowly get more and more stressed and watching your level of anxiety build. And i can see that you are at a turning point, you are wrestling with your purpose in life. You want to make an important life decision.
But before you do - although you have clearly given a lot of thought to it - before you take any major steps take a step back and allow yourself to grieve for your loss. It must be a difficult time for you and your family at the moment, and grief is one of those feelings that can effect you at your deepest levels, deep within your heart your mind and even within your self. It can effect us even when we are unaware of it. it can cloud our judgement and literally take away a part of us - living us with that empty feeling inside.
Allow yourself time to grieve, and then look to your life decisions.
I watched the Zeitgeist Addendum film like you suggested, and it helped concrete in my mind some of the things that are wrong with the world. I am willing to listen to things with an open mind, and i guess my background in psychology has helped me to evaluate the film with an unbiased analytic eye, and you know, the points the film made gave a lot of weight to there central arguments. I wanted to share the film with others and get there opinions, but i get tangled into a discussion about 'how stupid' a world without money would be... as my friend said 'why would anybody do anything?'.
The problem is, people find it difficult to open their minds to new concepts and ideas. For someone who has always grown up with one system, something new is almost unconceivable. The responses i got from people made me feel as if i were mad or bought into some type of conspiracy theory. And that's a normal thought. Life has never been easy for radical thinkers. Socrates was put to trial and execution for being a free thinker and a radical one. He was regarded as a mad man by many then - now he is regarded as a beacon of wisdom and greatness.
So, radical thinking attracts doubt, and receives labels like 'crazy'. But there was never a genius without a teacher of madness.
Before i get too off topic, if you are truly worried about what other people think about what your thinking about doing, it suggests that you aren't truly sure. You must be sure within yourself that you want to do something and accomplish something before you can truly persuade others. Take time to grief, and then think about what you truly want to do with your life, and you know what, what other people think shouldn't matter anyway.
Iv'e always been a big thinker, and it does make all of the day to day stuff seem pointless. And i am catapulted into despair when i consider how insignificant i am as an individual in this large world and even larger universe. How can my life choices and my decisions impact the rate the Chinese build coal plants, or the amount of cars are manufactured around the world. The answer... it doesn't, or if it does, the effects must be extremely small, even unmeasurable.
To make a real difference to the world as an individual, when we are as vastly populated as we are, you need to do something truly great. But you know as a society, one step at a time in the right direction and we might just get to where we need to be. I would love to be able to do more... but i question, as i'm sure you do, my ability as an individual to make real change.
Again i have gotten carried away, so i will draw it in to a conclusion: grieve, be happy with yourself or others wont be happy with you and make decisions about your life only when you are thinking with a level head and free of grief. You can do great things, if you are willing, but for now don't worry yourself about the big issues. Take care of yourself.
Okay, if something is bothering you to the extent that you cannot sleep, then you need to try to do something about it, regardless of the issue.
I know you're scared of people thinking that you're crazy, but that's the risk you're going to have to take, because frankly, that's what you've always done. It'd be a pity to stop because you're scared. People need someone to stand up and say plainly what's wrong. Only then will others begin to act. And Myles, you're a great, passionate guy. Don't let it go to waste. Even if the whole Zeitgeist and Collapse things don't end up happening, at least you were trying to do something, and that is what true greatness is.
You have thousands of people around the world that will back you up on this. I've told you before that I'll always believe in you. So don't worry. You can be the drop in the waters of uncertainty that begins the ripples of change. You will be. So go for it.
Yes, follow your heart, if you're apprehensive about being seen as the crazy guy with the bull horn, don't be the crazy guy with the bull horn. I can only suggest that you get involved with an organization that deals head on with real world problems, maybe being in the thick of the solution making will put your mind somewhat at ease. Also, you're not going to like this, but this focusing in on the big problems is what's fucking with your thought process, because as much as I know... which isn't a lot(I'm an English/film studies major), it's the little problems that get remedied that eventually help fix the big ones. Sometimes it's not about oil spills, Myles, sometimes the problem is simply trying to figure out how to get potable water to small communities in Africa, or school supplies to kids in rural Mexico. Like I said before, I really and truly believe that you, with your big heart, and your racing mind, need to see problems being solved, or sentimentally the look on a kids face when you help deliver a years supply of pencils to their cinder block school house.
Dunno if this'll make you feel better at all, but on a funny note, you would totally survive the zombie apocalypse, why... because you're more brave than a lot of us.
Sweetheart (if you don't mind a stranger calling you sweetheart), you are being way too hard on yourself right now. The amount of times you said there, to paraphrase, "people will think I'm stupid, people will think I'm crazy, you'll think I'll regret saying this" kinda says to me that it's not only that you think other people might think that, but there's so much doubt and worry and stress in you at the moment that you don't know what to think yourself, either. But that's okay, honestly it is. We all have times where the sheer amount of stuff in the world makes us feel small and insignificant, and then want to fight that feeling, so try and find any way out of it we can, and in that process of back-and-forth between not having a fucking clue, and having so many ideas in our heads of how we could make it better - anything to make it better - you get completely tied up and weighted down and it makes everything impossible.
I don't think you're going mad. I agree that there are a lot of terribly shitty things happening in the world, and oftentimes it seems like the world at large is ignoring so many important issues it's infuriating. It's a sign of your wonderfully kind and giving heart that you care so much about the future for everyone else, because unless I blinked and missed it, I don't think you ever mentioned your own losses in this, it was all about world loss, which I think takes an incredibly generous person to think of first. But there has to come a point where you let yourself off the hook. I'm guessing this is a very difficult thing for you to do. I've read you saying before about having a bit of a god complex, wanting to save everyone and fix everything bad. And while that is truly admirable and I would never doubt your ability to achieve great things Myles (look no further than Stickaid for ample evidence of that!) you will wear yourself down to nothing if you don't give yourself a break and realise that you can't do it all.
I hope you'll excuse my next example, because I'm sure it could be seen as coming from a rose-tinted world, but I really think it makes sense in our world, too. There's a bit in Doctor Who where Amy (the companion) finds out that Vincent Van Gogh still committed suicide after their adventures together and him seeming happier. The Doctor puts it like this: life is a pile of good stuff and a pile of bad stuff, and sometimes the pile of bad stuff is bigger, but it can never, ever take away from the pile of good stuff. [Vincent's] life was made better by the little bit of good they contributed to his pile, and it may not have been enough to save him, but you should never underestimate the importance or worth of that addition. Now from what I know about you Myles, you are always striving to add to the good pile, that's exactly what you're doing now even, but instead, this tangled up feeling has got you only focused on the bad pile, and it needs a bit of balancing out. I truly hope you will take this in when I say it - you are doing just fine as you are. Perhaps not in an emotional or personal well-being sense at this particular moment, but in terms of your contribution to the world, trust me, the good pile would really feel your absence if you stopped what you already do.
That doesn't mean I'm saying to drop all the ideas you're having at the moment of how you might help some more, because it's fantastic that you're so resourceful (if that's the wrong word, forgive me, I'm on UK time as well :)) and like I said earlier, that you are so generous as to want to help the world. But I honestly think that at the moment, you need to take a little bit of time out for yourself, because after all, if you don't mind my slight bluntness, you're not much use to solving these problems you see, with so little clarity, and what to me seems like so much self-doubt. Take a big breath, know that you are good enough, know that you are allowed and most definitely should be looking after yourself first, and the world will still be here in a few days or weeks or months, when you are ready and confident on how you might be able to approach things to bring a bit of Myles magic to proceedings.
Now time for a bit of honesty, because I respect that you are honest with your thoughts, so I'll afford you the same courtesy in return. On a quick google of some of the things you mentioned, it sounded a little like conspiracy theory not backed up by much evidence. I'm not sure how correct some of your views might be right now, depending on where you've got your information from, and for me personally, the more you stray from proper, evidence-based, peer-reviewed science's opinion (opinion meant as in "what they say" rather than "conjecture)", the less your energies in trying to help will count, and it would be a crying shame if the right people lost your support. I know you were worried about being belittled, so please let me say I mean to do no such thing, you have an absolute right to your ideas and opinions, including fighting to help their causes. I'm just a little concerned that, trapped in this tangle of thoughts and noise as you are, you're a little more vulnerable to believing in the more offbeat stuff, that perhaps you'd approach with more scepticism in a happier, clearer state of mind.
I really hope I've not come across as lecturey or trying to tell you what you think and feel or what you should think or feel. Again, I'd not have meant to do any of those things. And I'll say it one last time - Myles, you are fine as you are and should give yourself a break. You CAN do wonderful things for the world, but only if you're in a good place to start with.
Oh, and one last thing - anyone who judges you badly for this? They can sod right off, the fuckers.
Hope you feel better and get some decent sleep soon, take care, and I hope your nan's funeral goes as well as these things can. <3 xx
I agree with you. But how can we wake up the society? I think it's too late already. No one does something for the enviroment or the animals. Well maybe they do but almost nothing. The oil spill cause so many damage... If you want to do something, you should do it. Why not? What do you have to loose? I know it doesn't count so much, but I support you, whatever you want to do or not. I think you can achieve awesome things, I wish you good luck with everythin and I hope that tomorrow you sleep better. Take care Myles, keep doing Podcast 376, I really like to hear what you have to say. Bye :)
I do not think that anyone will think ill of you for putting forth your thoughts. If they choose not to agree with you then you just have to be able to let them go. However, I feel it is more important that you take care of yourself first. How can you help others if you are ill? My Mother went through a very stressful time back in the 80's. She did not sleep for over 17 days. She was also, stressing about the future and all that got her was time in hospital!! Her stressing only made things worse for everyone she loved, but mostly for herself. Please Myles go and see your doctor and allow yourself to be helped. If you do not want to go to a doctor go to a natural foods store (Whtole Foods) and talk to the people there they will help you find something to help you relax enough to sleep( Melatonin, Stress Mints, lol). I have been around for awhile and have heard so much of what you are just starting to be exposed to. A lot of it I agree with but you can not let these revelations drive you mad. Be aware there is a lot of propaganda out there! Davis Fleetwood has a good handle on things. Maybe he is someone you can learn from? Hopefully my late night rant will be of some help. Again, please take care of yourself, Leesa Martinez
Myles,
I know that compared to a lot of your other followers i am fairly new. However i would like to take the time to give you some advice. I have been watching and listening for a while, and over time its like watching you slowly get more and more stressed and watching your level of anxiety build. And i can see that you are at a turning point, you are wrestling with your purpose in life. You want to make an important life decision.
But before you do - although you have clearly given a lot of thought to it - before you take any major steps take a step back and allow yourself to grieve for your loss. It must be a difficult time for you and your family at the moment, and grief is one of those feelings that can effect you at your deepest levels, deep within your heart your mind and even within your self. It can effect us even when we are unaware of it. it can cloud our judgement and literally take away a part of us - living us with that empty feeling inside.
Allow yourself time to grieve, and then look to your life decisions.
I watched the Zeitgeist Addendum film like you suggested, and it helped concrete in my mind some of the things that are wrong with the world. I am willing to listen to things with an open mind, and i guess my background in psychology has helped me to evaluate the film with an unbiased analytic eye, and you know, the points the film made gave a lot of weight to there central arguments. I wanted to share the film with others and get there opinions, but i get tangled into a discussion about 'how stupid' a world without money would be... as my friend said 'why would anybody do anything?'.
The problem is, people find it difficult to open their minds to new concepts and ideas. For someone who has always grown up with one system, something new is almost unconceivable. The responses i got from people made me feel as if i were mad or bought into some type of conspiracy theory. And that's a normal thought. Life has never been easy for radical thinkers. Socrates was put to trial and execution for being a free thinker and a radical one. He was regarded as a mad man by many then - now he is regarded as a beacon of wisdom and greatness.
So, radical thinking attracts doubt, and receives labels like 'crazy'. But there was never a genius without a teacher of madness.
Before i get too off topic, if you are truly worried about what other people think about what your thinking about doing, it suggests that you aren't truly sure. You must be sure within yourself that you want to do something and accomplish something before you can truly persuade others. Take time to grief, and then think about what you truly want to do with your life, and you know what, what other people think shouldn't matter anyway.
Iv'e always been a big thinker, and it does make all of the day to day stuff seem pointless. And i am catapulted into despair when i consider how insignificant i am as an individual in this large world and even larger universe. How can my life choices and my decisions impact the rate the Chinese build coal plants, or the amount of cars are manufactured around the world. The answer... it doesn't, or if it does, the effects must be extremely small, even unmeasurable.
To make a real difference to the world as an individual, when we are as vastly populated as we are, you need to do something truly great. But you know as a society, one step at a time in the right direction and we might just get to where we need to be. I would love to be able to do more... but i question, as i'm sure you do, my ability as an individual to make real change.
Again i have gotten carried away, so i will draw it in to a conclusion: grieve, be happy with yourself or others wont be happy with you and make decisions about your life only when you are thinking with a level head and free of grief. You can do great things, if you are willing, but for now don't worry yourself about the big issues. Take care of yourself.
With the best of wishes and with admiration,
Craig.
FromTheFod over 2 years ago
Okay, if something is bothering you to the extent that you cannot sleep, then you need to try to do something about it, regardless of the issue.
I know you're scared of people thinking that you're crazy, but that's the risk you're going to have to take, because frankly, that's what you've always done. It'd be a pity to stop because you're scared. People need someone to stand up and say plainly what's wrong. Only then will others begin to act. And Myles, you're a great, passionate guy. Don't let it go to waste. Even if the whole Zeitgeist and Collapse things don't end up happening, at least you were trying to do something, and that is what true greatness is.
You have thousands of people around the world that will back you up on this. I've told you before that I'll always believe in you. So don't worry. You can be the drop in the waters of uncertainty that begins the ripples of change. You will be. So go for it.
bex231 over 2 years ago
Yes, follow your heart, if you're apprehensive about being seen as the crazy guy with the bull horn, don't be the crazy guy with the bull horn. I can only suggest that you get involved with an organization that deals head on with real world problems, maybe being in the thick of the solution making will put your mind somewhat at ease. Also, you're not going to like this, but this focusing in on the big problems is what's fucking with your thought process, because as much as I know... which isn't a lot(I'm an English/film studies major), it's the little problems that get remedied that eventually help fix the big ones. Sometimes it's not about oil spills, Myles, sometimes the problem is simply trying to figure out how to get potable water to small communities in Africa, or school supplies to kids in rural Mexico. Like I said before, I really and truly believe that you, with your big heart, and your racing mind, need to see problems being solved, or sentimentally the look on a kids face when you help deliver a years supply of pencils to their cinder block school house.
Dunno if this'll make you feel better at all, but on a funny note, you would totally survive the zombie apocalypse, why... because you're more brave than a lot of us.
Rebekahdg over 2 years ago
Sweetheart (if you don't mind a stranger calling you sweetheart), you are being way too hard on yourself right now. The amount of times you said there, to paraphrase, "people will think I'm stupid, people will think I'm crazy, you'll think I'll regret saying this" kinda says to me that it's not only that you think other people might think that, but there's so much doubt and worry and stress in you at the moment that you don't know what to think yourself, either. But that's okay, honestly it is. We all have times where the sheer amount of stuff in the world makes us feel small and insignificant, and then want to fight that feeling, so try and find any way out of it we can, and in that process of back-and-forth between not having a fucking clue, and having so many ideas in our heads of how we could make it better - anything to make it better - you get completely tied up and weighted down and it makes everything impossible.
I don't think you're going mad. I agree that there are a lot of terribly shitty things happening in the world, and oftentimes it seems like the world at large is ignoring so many important issues it's infuriating. It's a sign of your wonderfully kind and giving heart that you care so much about the future for everyone else, because unless I blinked and missed it, I don't think you ever mentioned your own losses in this, it was all about world loss, which I think takes an incredibly generous person to think of first. But there has to come a point where you let yourself off the hook. I'm guessing this is a very difficult thing for you to do. I've read you saying before about having a bit of a god complex, wanting to save everyone and fix everything bad. And while that is truly admirable and I would never doubt your ability to achieve great things Myles (look no further than Stickaid for ample evidence of that!) you will wear yourself down to nothing if you don't give yourself a break and realise that you can't do it all.
I hope you'll excuse my next example, because I'm sure it could be seen as coming from a rose-tinted world, but I really think it makes sense in our world, too. There's a bit in Doctor Who where Amy (the companion) finds out that Vincent Van Gogh still committed suicide after their adventures together and him seeming happier. The Doctor puts it like this: life is a pile of good stuff and a pile of bad stuff, and sometimes the pile of bad stuff is bigger, but it can never, ever take away from the pile of good stuff. [Vincent's] life was made better by the little bit of good they contributed to his pile, and it may not have been enough to save him, but you should never underestimate the importance or worth of that addition. Now from what I know about you Myles, you are always striving to add to the good pile, that's exactly what you're doing now even, but instead, this tangled up feeling has got you only focused on the bad pile, and it needs a bit of balancing out. I truly hope you will take this in when I say it - you are doing just fine as you are. Perhaps not in an emotional or personal well-being sense at this particular moment, but in terms of your contribution to the world, trust me, the good pile would really feel your absence if you stopped what you already do.
That doesn't mean I'm saying to drop all the ideas you're having at the moment of how you might help some more, because it's fantastic that you're so resourceful (if that's the wrong word, forgive me, I'm on UK time as well :)) and like I said earlier, that you are so generous as to want to help the world. But I honestly think that at the moment, you need to take a little bit of time out for yourself, because after all, if you don't mind my slight bluntness, you're not much use to solving these problems you see, with so little clarity, and what to me seems like so much self-doubt. Take a big breath, know that you are good enough, know that you are allowed and most definitely should be looking after yourself first, and the world will still be here in a few days or weeks or months, when you are ready and confident on how you might be able to approach things to bring a bit of Myles magic to proceedings.
Now time for a bit of honesty, because I respect that you are honest with your thoughts, so I'll afford you the same courtesy in return. On a quick google of some of the things you mentioned, it sounded a little like conspiracy theory not backed up by much evidence. I'm not sure how correct some of your views might be right now, depending on where you've got your information from, and for me personally, the more you stray from proper, evidence-based, peer-reviewed science's opinion (opinion meant as in "what they say" rather than "conjecture)", the less your energies in trying to help will count, and it would be a crying shame if the right people lost your support. I know you were worried about being belittled, so please let me say I mean to do no such thing, you have an absolute right to your ideas and opinions, including fighting to help their causes. I'm just a little concerned that, trapped in this tangle of thoughts and noise as you are, you're a little more vulnerable to believing in the more offbeat stuff, that perhaps you'd approach with more scepticism in a happier, clearer state of mind.
I really hope I've not come across as lecturey or trying to tell you what you think and feel or what you should think or feel. Again, I'd not have meant to do any of those things. And I'll say it one last time - Myles, you are fine as you are and should give yourself a break. You CAN do wonderful things for the world, but only if you're in a good place to start with.
Oh, and one last thing - anyone who judges you badly for this? They can sod right off, the fuckers.
Hope you feel better and get some decent sleep soon, take care, and I hope your nan's funeral goes as well as these things can. <3 xx
amia33 over 2 years ago
I agree with you. But how can we wake up the society? I think it's too late already. No one does something for the enviroment or the animals. Well maybe they do but almost nothing. The oil spill cause so many damage...
If you want to do something, you should do it. Why not? What do you have to loose?
I know it doesn't count so much, but I support you, whatever you want to do or not.
I think you can achieve awesome things, I wish you good luck with everythin and I hope that tomorrow you sleep better.
Take care Myles, keep doing Podcast 376, I really like to hear what you have to say.
Bye :)
camiigg over 2 years ago
I do not think that anyone will think ill of you for putting forth your thoughts. If they choose not to agree with you then you just have to be able to let them go. However, I feel it is more important that you take care of yourself first. How can you help others if you are ill? My Mother went through a very stressful time back in the 80's. She did not sleep for over 17 days. She was also, stressing about the future and all that got her was time in hospital!! Her stressing only made things worse for everyone she loved, but mostly for herself.
Please Myles go and see your doctor and allow yourself to be helped. If you do not want to go to a doctor go to a natural foods store (Whtole Foods) and talk to the people there they will help you find something to help you relax enough to sleep( Melatonin, Stress Mints, lol).
I have been around for awhile and have heard so much of what you are just starting to be exposed to. A lot of it I agree with but you can not let these revelations drive you mad. Be aware there is a lot of propaganda out there! Davis Fleetwood has a good handle on things. Maybe he is someone you can learn from?
Hopefully my late night rant will be of some help. Again, please take care of yourself, Leesa Martinez
ourhousetx over 2 years ago