Why am i scared of the forum?

[HowToBe]

I'd like to chime in also and thank Huxley for starting this topic and everyone else who has contributed. This thread appeared at a conspicuous time for me, because I have been going through a cycle of fear about participating on the forum. I tend to run away for a while when the dissociative buttons get pressed by life, and all sorts of thought loops will play through, dissuading me from posting, even after I've read about why it is better to post. It is helpful to see that I'm not alone in this. It's the repeated and consistent effort that counts. (Not to say I'm so great at that, but it's worth working at!)

In addition, I am extremely thankful for the following exchange:

Here is one way of participating as you are reading the material which may be of help to others as well. When you feel like you need more clarification on some point or have some insight to share about the material you are reading, use the search function to locate forum threads where the topic has been brought up in the past and post your question or comment there. You may "resurrect" old threads with valuable info which others may have forgotten about or could use a refresher on. You may have raised a question which others had but were too shy or lazy to ask. Given the complex nature of many topics discussed here, it is often helpful to look at things periodically with fresh eyes to improve understanding - at least that has been my experience.

Of course feel free to start a thread if the topic you are asking or sharing about has not come up in the forum search engine.

The reply is most welcomed Obyvatel!
Ive done that on the odd occasion in the past, and i do find alot of my books via the threads and recommendations on the forum - but i do need to make a more conscious effort to my reading/learning. If i did not grasp something within the book, i just lazily ignore it and keep going. My lazy self thinks that it would take to long to search for some more info and explanation, and then to re-read.
I have put several books down because i could not fully follow, or as i see it more clearly now - i did not understand .
Thank you for making that point clear to me. Again my ego is always in a rush to get to the end of a book to cross it off the list. But whats the point if ive not even took any of it in !!!

I can relate to this and reading How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler helped a lot.
In short, he explains that such reading is elementary, effort is required if we really want
achieve understanding. I've also noticed that when you apply effort during reading, it leaves
a more lasting impression.

I've really been concerned that I wasn't getting the most out of what I've been reading on the forum, SOTT, etc. After buying a copy of this book and beginning to read (more actively than usual, taking notes - may as well put the book's advice into practice right off the bat, right?), I've already had a few insights that may prove helpful. I think this book will help me get out of "schoolkid" mode when it comes to learning.

Part of my point in bringing this up is that it is only because of this thread that I've found this book, which is helping me answer a personally important question, while the thread itself has proven helpful along a different line. It's really not possible to predict the potential benefits of making a "risky" post.

To sum things up, a quote from Gurdjieff's 82:

74. If you are hesitating between doing and not doing, take the risk of doing.

 

[Trobar]

I wanted to post that I also experience this fear-of-posting. I have typed many posts and then changed my mind and never posted them. I also walk around living my life and posting in my imagination. :)

It all seems foolish to me and yet it is what it is. However . . .
here I am trying once again to rise above my oh-so-human feelings of inadequacy (which probably began in early childhood) and attempting to participate in a forum that I know serves as a wonder - ful location to visit. It takes courage on my part to login. Preferring to be an anonymous lurker. Then . . . it takes much more courage to actually post. Why? I am not certain. However, I feel great empathy for your own individual battle and I encourage you to keep trying.

I tell myself that one teeny tiny small step at a time is nonetheless a STEP - and this is significant. I am hoping that my own teeny tiny steps will act as small seeds that I have planted in fertile earth and that will seek to rise outward into the SUN - into the LIGHT - and will grow.

You are not alone. :)

 

[patty2292]

I wanted to post that I also experience this fear-of-posting. I have typed many posts and then changed my mind and never posted them. I also walk around living my life and posting in my imagination. :)

I find myself doing the exact same :). I spent a whole day in work planning some research about doing a post, instead of just asking a question for a straight up lazy answer. The day went extremely fast to say the least, as it was a rather productive thought loop.
When i got home, i done some searching regarding supplementation for bone regeneration - only to find someone had posted pretty much the exact info i had found for it. Luckily this actually made me feel quite good anyway, even though i didnt get to post :).

So some advice could be to possibly convert imagination into intent and begin a post about a topic that is on your mind.


I have just come across a post from November regarding some of the recent sessions and posts that i found extremely influential and helpful regarding to how one starts getting involved with the 'tribe'/network and gives some good advice about how to integrate yourself and the way we view the world with social media sites/colleagues/friends.
Would definitely recommend giving it a read :):

http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,36545.0.html

 

[will01]

I wanted to post that I also experience this fear-of-posting. I have typed many posts and then changed my mind and never posted them. I also walk around living my life and posting in my imagination. :)

I find myself doing the exact same :). I spent a whole day in work planning some research about doing a post, instead of just asking a question for a straight up lazy answer. The day went extremely fast to say the least, as it was a rather productive thought loop.
When i got home, i done some searching regarding supplementation for bone regeneration - only to find someone had posted pretty much the exact info i had found for it. Luckily this actually made me feel quite good anyway, even though i didnt get to post :).

So some advice could be to possibly convert imagination into intent and begin a post about a topic that is on your mind.


I have just come across a post from November regarding some of the recent sessions and posts that i found extremely influential and helpful regarding to how one starts getting involved with the 'tribe'/network and gives some good advice about how to integrate yourself and the way we view the world with social media sites/colleagues/friends.
Would definitely recommend giving it a read :):

http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,36545.0.html

Not so long ago, I had a similar situation. A question came up on the keto diet thread which was unanswered at the time. I hesitated to post thinking " I'm not qualified/haven't been here long enough to answer ". When I returned to the thread, it had been replied to with a response much the same as what I had intended. This showed me that, even though I'm still a student here, I have learned enough in some areas to give a response. Even if my reply was innaccurate, there is no doubt someone would correct the error.

Thanks for the forum link. I agree, it is well worthwhile reading.

 

[lainey]

It's so refreshing to see new members here on the forum and I'm glad y'all are getting the courage to post! I love a new perspective on things and it is heartening to see people joining us on our journey. Team spirit!

4 posts or 400, everyone has something to give. Believe me I have no idea about science or history or physics but there is always something I can comment on. It feels good to join in and it feels good to share. Enjoy you guys! Learning is fun :)

 

[Thaigrr]

It's so refreshing to see new members here on the forum and I'm glad y'all are getting the courage to post! I love a new perspective on things and it is heartening to see people joining us on our journey. Team spirit!

4 posts or 400, everyone has something to give. Believe me I have no idea about science or history or physics but there is always something I can comment on. It feels good to join in and it feels good to share. Enjoy you guys! Learning is fun :)

Thanks, lainey! You just defined exhilaration for me in the bolded above!

"Team spirit" for me growing up was about sports and employment scenarios. I had difficulties with both. The overarching mantra was "there is no 'I' in 'team'". My "Being" was crying out for a "Team" whose goals transcended the mundane realities of my existence.

The new perspective I've found on the forum reveals my real "Team"!

Thanks to all who post their thoughts; it is a crucial process for us all!

 

[lilyalic]

It's so refreshing to see new members here on the forum and I'm glad y'all are getting the courage to post! I love a new perspective on things and it is heartening to see people joining us on our journey. Team spirit!

4 posts or 400, everyone has something to give. Believe me I have no idea about science or history or physics but there is always something I can comment on. It feels good to join in and it feels good to share. Enjoy you guys! Learning is fun :)

True that! I remember a while back I always thought "I have nothing to give, everyone has SO much more knowledge!"
but Lainey is right, everyone has SOMETHING, or why would we be here on this forum??

Even if you comment/post on something and you're not "correct" or "Getting it" you'd always be pushed in the right direction by someone else, that's the whole point! network,network,network

 

[Voyageur]

It's so refreshing to see new members here on the forum and I'm glad y'all are getting the courage to post! I love a new perspective on things and it is heartening to see people joining us on our journey. Team spirit!

4 posts or 400, everyone has something to give. Believe me I have no idea about science or history or physics but there is always something I can comment on. It feels good to join in and it feels good to share. Enjoy you guys! Learning is fun :)

True that! I remember a while back I always thought "I have nothing to give, everyone has SO much more knowledge!"
but Lainey is right, everyone has SOMETHING, or why would we be here on this forum??

Even if you comment/post on something and you're not "correct" or "Getting it" you'd always be pushed in the right direction by someone else, that's the whole point! network,network,network

Those are really good replies, lainey and lillyalic.

Thanks!

 

[lainey]

There is no I in team but there is MEAT!!!
Happy posting friends!

Even if you comment/post on something and you're not "correct" or "Getting it" you'd always be pushed in the right direction by someone else, that's the whole point! network,network,network

For me this is also a great learning tool. It has helped me to build compassion and I am learning to guide others in a more gentle and sensitive manner.
I used to be blunt to the point of being rude when I thought someone was "wrong". Being here has helped me learn the error of my ways. I'm learning to be externally considerate and for that I am eternally grateful. If no one makes mistakes, who would we help?

 

[Konstantin]

There is no I in team but there is MEAT!!!
Happy posting friends!

Even if you comment/post on something and you're not "correct" or "Getting it" you'd always be pushed in the right direction by someone else, that's the whole point! network,network,network

For me this is also a great learning tool. It has helped me to build compassion and I am learning to guide others in a more gentle and sensitive manner.
I used to be blunt to the point of being rude when I thought someone was "wrong". Being here has helped me learn the error of my ways. I'm learning to be externally considerate and for that I am eternally grateful. If no one makes mistakes, who would we help?

I used to be very explosive , when somebody were wrong about something . Here on this forum i also learned to be to calm, to listen what others have to say even if they are wrong. Now i try to talk about theme and try to find the real facts. On that way other person can see the facts and understand the matter better, and in the same way i`m learning more about the subject , learn some more details and fact about that. On this way both sides are gaining more knowledge.