If you are someone who cares deeply about the world and you find it hard to cope with all the suffering, all the bad news and a feeling that things are hopeless, this episode is for you.

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If you find yourself overwhelmed by the negativity and despair in the world, you are not alone. In this episode, I share my personal journey from a deeply cynical worldview and severe depression to a state of resilience and empowerment. Discover the steps I took to change my mindset, the role of meditation, and my experiences with cognitive behavioral therapy and psilocybin.

We'll also explore the traps of social media, the role of negativity bias, and how to find a sustainable way to care about the world without being paralyzed by it. Join us as we dive into the doomer mindset, its impact, and practical ways to uplift yourself and make a positive difference in the world.

00:00 Intro

02:10 Doomer Mindset & Depression

06:04 What I wish I could tell my younger (depressed) self

08:41 Imprisoned in a depressed mind

10:30 Depressed in Paradise

13:14 Worrying about the world & feeling sorry for myself

15:52 My strange journey out of depression

22:17 Did I accidentally Cognitive Behavior Therapy myself?

24:28 I used to do meditation wrong

27:17 My first ever magic mushroom experience

29:54 Love untainted by wounding or ego

32:14 The day(s) after coming out of deep depression

33:14 Losing my (hustle culture) religion

37:01 Take time to enjoy the infinite game

39:15 What is the Doomer Mindset?

41:44 How Modern Society Causes Doomerism

42:41 This changed my perspective completely

46:38 Know the game that's being played

48:55 Modern media is crazy and you're responding to it in a

normal way

51:26 A healthy dose of skepticism

54:59 Seeing simple narratives for what they are

55:45 If the pundits were right, they'd be a lot richer

01:01:15 The most surprising doomer antidote is about money

01:04:47 Do this and watch your worries disappear

01:05:58 The info diet experiment

01:08:37 How to deal with hypochondria

01:10:50 Awareness is the Key

01:13:13 The Other Expert Problem

01:14:40 Many Ways to Gain Perspective

01:15:26 But What if It's All True?

01:16:35 Pick Your Battle (this changes everything)

01:19:04 Doomerism just made me worse (at everything)

01:20:25 Is it cruel to bring children into this world?

01:21:53 The Oxygen Mask Principle

01:24:25 Conclusion

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Is it possible to be a rational thinker and still embrace the spiritual side of life? In this episode, I sit down with Trish Blain, author of the article "Life is Woo," to bridge the gap between material success and spiritual development.

Here's the article that inspired me to reach out to her: https://beiner.substack.com/p/life-is-woo

We discuss the conflict between being a "rational materialist" and having experiences that simply can't be explained by logic alone. Trish breaks down her "Four Forces" framework - Connection, Expression, Purpose, and Growth and how we can use these to navigate all aspects of life.

We also touch on the dangers of "spiritual bypassing," why trying to kill your ego or achieve "no self" can actually be dangerous, and how to use your desires as a creative force rather than suppressing them.

Topics covered:

• Why we are conditioned to reject "woo-woo" spiritual experiences.
• The problem with "ascension" narratives that reject our humanity.
• The Four Forces Framework: Connection, Expression, Purpose, and Growth.
• How "Authenticity" can sometimes just be emotional dumping.
• The "Desire Gap": How to use what you don't have to create what you want.
• How to handle the fear of losing yourself in relationships.

Links:

• Read "Life is Woo": https://beiner.substack.com/p/life-is-woo
• Trish Blain’s Website (Alive Edges): https://aliveedges.com/
• Shane’s Integrity Audit Crash Course: https://shanemelaugh.com/integrity/

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:09 I know this sounds crazy, but...

07:49 Escaping Upwards

12:43 The Next Step of Spiritual Evolution

18:50 The Four Forces Explained

21:46 Non-Ordinary Experiences Are Ordinary?

26:07 How to Find Balance

29:20 Directing Our Attention

32:14 Focus and Openness

33:13 Self Expression as a Primary Need

36:53 Have a Strong Ego and Do Less Selfing

40:26 How do You Get What You Want

44:10 Relating Beyond Trust

45:17 The Problem With Authenticity

47:17 Cultivating Your Experience Without Bypassing

52:03 How to go from frustrating conflict to constructive desire

59:13 How to prompt life like you prompt ChatGPT

01:03:25 Moving towards a new spirituality

01:05:38 Problems help you reconnect with original desire

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Find Tom Morgan here:

• https://www.theleading-edge.org/
• Substack: https://newsletter.theleading-edge.org/
• 11 Wisdom Tools: https://newsletter.theleading-edge.org/p/eleven-wisdom-tools

Resources:

• Dr. Ian Stevenson, near death experiences: https://near-death.com/ian-stevenson/
• Bruce Greyson MD, near death experiences: https://www.brucegreyson.com/
• The Rainbow Onion explained: https://newsletter.theleading-edge.org/p/rainbow-onions-and-turquoise-gardeners
• Tim Freke: https://timfreke.com/
• Anne-Laure Le Cunff, become an anthropologist of your own life: https://anne-laure.net/
• Brian Whetten, coaching: https://www.corecoaching.org/about-us/
• River Kenna: https://substack.com/@riverkenna @RiverKenna

In this episode, we dive deep into the intriguing concepts of consciousness and reality with Tom Morgan, a former financial analyst turned wisdom explorer. Tom balances fringe ideas with practicality, rating his theories on a 'woo scale' to keep his audience engaged and discerning. We discuss his podcast and newsletter 'The Leading Edge,' the transformative idea of non-local consciousness, and how his life changed when he perceived reality as responsive and benevolent. Tom shares his thoughts on overcoming fears, testing unconventional ideas, and the importance of an evolutionary trajectory in consciousness. We also touch on practical steps to navigate life, including paying attention to synchronicities and conducting tiny experiments to find one's true path. Join us for an insightful conversation that bridges ancient wisdom with modern discernment.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:18 Should You Believe in Woo Woo?

04:28 The Most Important Idea in the World

06:34 What is Non-Local Consciousness

08:21 The Unividual

09:59 Ego Death is Overrated

10:31 What Does All This Mean for Me?

16:22 If We Reincarnate, This is Why

20:07 Paradigms Don't Shift Because of Evidence

21:11 Forgetting Is Important

23:40 The Rise of Post-Rationalists

27:48 Lateral Moves vs. Real Growth

31:09 Which Part of the Baloon Are You In?

33:23 The AI Mirror

36:29 Life is More Like a Video Game than You Think

37:34 Reality is Signalling Back

41:24 Live in a Less Harsh Reality

45:53 A New Way to Navigate Life

48:15 How to Test This Out for Yourself

51:57 Fear as a Valuable Signal

54:07 It All Comes Down to Connection

56:41 Is Spirituality a Rejection of Material Success?

58:45 Differentiation and Integration

01:01:22 The Thing About Manifestation

01:03:15 The World Wise Web

01:07:09 The Coming Wisdom Community Boom