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    United States Avalon Member Mike's Avatar
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    Default The Call To Adventure

    Several times on the forum I've stressed what I believe to be the importance of exposing yourself to malevolence, and the psychological value of challenging your weaknesses and fears in order to become a fully functioning human being in the face of a very dysfunctional environment.

    Turns out it's just not rooted in philosophy. There's a very tangible, physiological component as well.

    Science is discovering that when you expose yourself to new experiences and people and things, your genes actually code new proteins in response to it. You form new neural structures, and new nervous system structures. You quite literally become a new person.

    Basically, putting yourself in uncomfortable positions provides a certain brand of stress that unlocks the potential in your genetic code. And the more lets say courage you display in moving forward in these strange and uncomfortable situations, the more of you that gets unlocked, including what you might call your ancestral wisdom.

    So the idea is that, looking at and even experiencing the darkest parts of the world might just be the key to turning you on maximally. The more that you're willing to take on, the more your power will multiply.

    Archetypally that's known as the call to adventure. Of course none of this will happen if you're just sitting around the house and doing the same stale ass sh!t every day (like I often do)

    It's just one very convincing reason to orient yourself in a direction, towards some kind of goal, even if you are unclear as to what that goal truly is. When you're moving and dynamic, you're presented with these types of challenging experiences that quite literally rewire your body and unlock the potential in your genes.

    Too often I think we wait around for the perfect circumstances to present themselves before we begin working towards something (I'm often guilty of that). Doesn't work that way. At worst you get weaker and at best you remain stale. You have to get moving, and have an adventure or 2.

    "Safe spaces" are toxic. They enable and exacerbate weakness and often produce a mental space that justifies failure. Go out and have an adventure or 2 and embrace the challenges. It won't make you less weak, it will actually make you more brave. A new you is waiting to be released, quite literally.
    Last edited by Mike; 14th February 2020 at 09:39.

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    What an awesome description of, really, the best philosophy of how to view/live this life and exactly what else the interior benefits are over the exterior for not playing it safe.

    I can honestly say I very consciously nearly never turned one challenging experience opportunity down be it jobs, life or relationships and am very familiar with that scary little ping of the moment you choose the unknown over the safe... again. Ya, there have been plenty I'm sorry about, but I gained so much more from all the 'adventures' and feel like I actually lived compared to relatives who never left their comfy bubble and got so dulled - I absolutely adore your phrasing it as 'the call to adventure'.

    I sure knew all the adventures changed me but I never thought about the cellular and genetic level of it. Really well written summation, I totally agree.

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    United States Avalon Member Mike's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    Quote Posted by waves (here)
    I sure knew all the adventures changed me but I never thought about the cellular and genetic level of it. Really well written summation, I totally agree.

    Thanks Waves.

    This may make you chuckle: Right after I read this I scrolled up to see if I'd earned a "thanks" from you. And if I had, I was going to retire from Avalon on top and never come back

    You've lived your life admirably. The beauty of that, as you know, is that you continually get stronger and braver, and as your willingness to take on more and more grows, so does your potential.

    The safe space is an alluring temptress. Of course the irony is, it's not safe at all. It just makes you weaker and weaker until it ultimately devours you.

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    Quote Posted by Mike (here)
    "Safe spaces" are toxic. They enable and exacerbate weakness and often produce a mental space that justifies failure. Go out and have an adventure or 2 and embrace the challenges. It won't make you less weak, it will actually make you more brave. A new you is waiting to be released, quite literally.

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    Quote Posted by Mike (here)
    Archetypally that's known as the call to adventure.
    Excellent, yes. Do see this thread:

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    Mike, As I read your response to Waves, I got the sense of "it takes one to know one". Do you think that's true in your case? Diane

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    United States Avalon Member Mike's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    Quote Posted by wondering (here)
    Mike, As I read your response to Waves, I got the sense of "it takes one to know one". Do you think that's true in your case? Diane
    Hi Diane I think I've only recently, in the last few years, taken some of the risks and adventures I'm encouraging here. I've lived a large portion of my life making risk averse, safe decisions that have kept me kinda stale...so I can write on that with some authority

    Many of these adventures, as Bill alludes to in his post, might be thought of as the archetypal hero's journey. And that's the next step in the progression from adventure to hero - returning from your adventures, however good or bad, and articulating them to the world. Offering a blueprint, or a map so to speak. In this way we make our adventures even nobler. It's a kind of reaching back across the dimensions traveled and offering a hand to our fellow man. It's a way to accelerate evolution I think
    Last edited by Mike; 14th February 2020 at 20:11.

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    In other words, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    While I do understand where you are coming from and there is merit to this idea in certain regards(especially think of kids who dont get to put their hands in dirt and how compromised their immune system is).

    This is just it. You are confusing two things.

    You have never been, I am assuming, a gay man in a very conservative place. Can you imagine not being able to be yourself with other humans for fear of violence? Can you imagine not being able to show the person you love that you love them in public for fear of violence? You are telling the gays in Saudi Arabia to toughen up and just experience it(whatever terrifying it is in Saudi for being Gay).

    You have never been a woman feeling unsafe in any place really. I dont think you appreciate what it feels like to be a woman. Imagine the biggest man you know(The Mountain from game of thrones or better yet my favorite of all time Andre the Giant).

    Imagine Andre the giant grabbing you and holding you against your will. There would literally be nothing you could do. You probably have never been trapped in a place by another human like this. You may not be aware but many women feel trapped and unable to go places because of this kind of fear that they have of just every man, let alone Andre the giant. Or maybe just start doing BJJ. After rolling for a while and rolling with higher level people you will see that some people can just man handle you and there is nothing you can do. You are their play thing on the mat. This is how many women feel about men.

    Now Imagine this is every day. All day.

    This is why some people want a "safe space" You are speaking as someone who has been able to create this for themselves.

    You are basically doing a different version of lift yourself by the bootstraps just emotionally instead of financially.

    Do people need a tougher skin? Yes I do believe you have a point that there are people who use safe spaces who really just need to put their big girl panties on as my mother says but to blanket say all people do this is callous and unfeeling.
    Last edited by Praxis; 16th February 2020 at 18:57.

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    I would also draw the line in terms of safety. But I believe Mike is heavily leaning into psychology, and more at people like us who usually do the same stuff at the house all the time. Most of his posts are rooted in a bitter sarcasm that's a lot like swallowing razor blades, but, he has marks for going through anguish and coming out mostly harmless aside from a colorful style that includes the color dark.

    Mentally or psychologically, I would agree it is true, there is no shelter, no security. If we are in a position to provide ourselves the illusion that there is, then, we have the means to help someone who is unable to do so. And transmute one's personal pain into better fortune for someone in need.

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    United States Avalon Member Mike's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    Shaberon is more in line with the spirit of what i'm trying to say. the spirit of adventure is a mentality; it's not meant to be a dogmatically risky approach to all things dangerous. i think you may have misinterpreted me a little praxis. i wasn't suggesting you ignore common sense.

    (a quick aside: you've described me pretty well there shaberon! i've tried like mad over the last few years to tone down the sarcasm and wise assery in my life, but it's tough when you always have a sick clown in the back of your mind screaming "SAY IT! DO IT! IT'S REALLY GOOD! SAY IT!" as it's offering you endless offensive and sh!tty things to say)

    moving on...
    the spirit of adventure is just that, a spirit. spirit often moves us to do things it knows we should do for our growth.

    we all know when we've been challenged in some way and come up short due to a lack of courage. your conscience will haunt you for days (or longer!) when that happens. that's its way of indicating to us that we need to be more aggressive and courageous about things.

    some people try to drown out it's signal with booze or weed or pills or internet or even alternative media, but you can never quite silence it. but it's not trying to shame you, it's trying to encourage you.

    however, the spirit of adventure is not calling you to do needlessly dumb things.

    the "safe space" i'm referring to is the mode of being one adopts when they are trying to drown out the signal offered to them by the spirit of adventure when they are being far less than they can be. we all know when we are being less than we can be. you feel it in your gut and heart. and it won't leave you alone no matter how many elaborate excuses you make to rationalize your current behavior or avoidance of this or that.

    it's all about growth, not reckless behavior
    Last edited by Mike; 17th February 2020 at 06:57.

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    I guess you know these guys
    Last edited by meeradas; 17th February 2020 at 08:51.

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    Quote Posted by meeradas (here)
    I guess you know these guys


    Well it all varies, I'd say.

    When I say the word adventure, I'm speaking of quite a wide spectrum actually.

    For the agoraphobe who hasn't left the house in months, the adventure may just be a walk around the block.

    For the person with social anxiety, it may just be saying hello to a neighbor.

    Breaking your fears down into manageable parts may create a multitude of mini adventures in that fashion.

    Then again, for the person who is afraid if heights, it may just represent a sky dive.

    Everyone is at different stages. One person's mundane act may be another person's adventure

    It's not a contest of course. Nor is it about being macho or something. It's about getting out of comfort zones in order to grow into one's potential
    Last edited by Mike; 17th February 2020 at 09:19.

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    There is a trick to overcome one's "inaction" or leave one's comfort zone which is called: "burn the boats".
    Quote The concept of burning boats traces back to one of history’s most inspiring leadership stories in 1519. Hernán Cortés led a large expedition consisting of 600 Spaniards, 16 or so horses, and 11 boats to Mexico. The goal: capture a magnificent treasure said to be held there. Upon arrival, Cortés made history by destroying his ships. This sent a clear message to his men: There is no turning back. They either win or they perish. Although you might assume that Cortés’ men would have become despondent, with no exit strategy in place to save their lives, they instead rallied behind their leader as never before. Within two years, he succeeded in his conquest of the Aztec empire. (Some date this concept even further back in history, to the times of Julius Caesar—in his conquest of England—or even the Ancient Greeks. Regardless, the scenarios and impact were similar.)

    At its essence, burning boats represents a point of no return, a psychological commitment where you recognize that you have crossed a line never to cross back. There is no hedging, no looking over your shoulder. Everything now—all thoughts and efforts—must be focused on succeeding in this new reality.
    I did this in the past, where I didn't have the guts to say "no more - I am leaving" - and it worked.

    To sum it up with a great quote:
    "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

    -- H. Jackson Brown Jr. - Author
    "The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own."
    -- Benjamin Disraeli

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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    Quote Posted by Mike (here)

    (a quick aside: you've described me pretty well there shaberon! i've tried like mad over the last few years to tone down the sarcasm and wise assery in my life, but it's tough when you always have a sick clown in the back of your mind screaming "SAY IT! DO IT! IT'S REALLY GOOD! SAY IT!" as it's offering you endless offensive and sh!tty things to say)
    See the thing is, most of what comes out is not stale, it does not sound like you are trying to copy anyone, or make up a false image. Seems mostly genuine, and, at least to me, a pretty good view at going almost totally insane, while still keeping a handle on it.

    Did I ever mention how many people are afraid of me? A lot. And that is from the same or very similar reason.

    I should probably be considered a predator, like full on Hannibal Lecter. However, I only have two targets: conflict and suicide demon. The second is harder to describe, but, the first is indeed stalking and hunting violence itself. This makes many people nervous, and, because they can't really process their own shadow, they project it. Makes me a scapegoat or Gaderene swine, all these sins are heaped on me, which is actually hilarious since it is stuff I would never do. Most people are simply not equipped to go fishing in deep water. But there is something under the surface, which, until you learn to control it, will generally leave you either a quivering wreck or a vicious thug. No, one cannot gain this power by "tuning it out" and abiding by routine. It takes some hair raising.

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    United States Avalon Member Mike's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Call To Adventure

    Quote Posted by shaberon (here)
    Quote Posted by Mike (here)

    (a quick aside: you've described me pretty well there shaberon! i've tried like mad over the last few years to tone down the sarcasm and wise assery in my life, but it's tough when you always have a sick clown in the back of your mind screaming "SAY IT! DO IT! IT'S REALLY GOOD! SAY IT!" as it's offering you endless offensive and sh!tty things to say)
    See the thing is, most of what comes out is not stale, it does not sound like you are trying to copy anyone, or make up a false image. Seems mostly genuine, and, at least to me, a pretty good view at going almost totally insane, while still keeping a handle on it.

    Did I ever mention how many people are afraid of me? A lot. And that is from the same or very similar reason.

    I should probably be considered a predator, like full on Hannibal Lecter. However, I only have two targets: conflict and suicide demon. The second is harder to describe, but, the first is indeed stalking and hunting violence itself. This makes many people nervous, and, because they can't really process their own shadow, they project it. Makes me a scapegoat or Gaderene swine, all these sins are heaped on me, which is actually hilarious since it is stuff I would never do. Most people are simply not equipped to go fishing in deep water. But there is something under the surface, which, until you learn to control it, will generally leave you either a quivering wreck or a vicious thug. No, one cannot gain this power by "tuning it out" and abiding by routine. It takes some hair raising.

    you've written that brilliantly. and for what it's worth i think it might make a great thread topic.

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