Understanding Ego Backlash -Ego mind is the engine that drives our entire life -> It works like a harmonic oscillator -The mind created survival habits -> Coping strategies -The mind, like any complex system, has inertia, and homeostasis drives it -Any change is a mortal threat for the ego -Ego backlash is the resistance of the mind in order to stay in the status quo -Change -> The death of you -Our minds are scared to question because it threats its own existence -The improvement of your life is proportional to how deep you can work on the foundation of your mind -> And it comes with suffering -Spirituality -> Transcend your survival drives -The mind isn't bad, it's just very survival oriented -Don't make any major life decision when you're feeling negative -The life is challenging because of all the trickery that's involved What to do to minimize it: 1. Expect it -> Any change comes with suffering 2. Label it as an ego backlash 3. Observe the suffering as mindfully as possible 4. Maintain your positive habits 5. Not get discouraged by the ego backlash. Look it as growth 6. Stop expecting quick fixes 7. Apply self love -> Don't blame yourself 8. Don't be a perfectionist
Thanks to Leo I haven't had a cigarette 🚬in 3 years. People always ask me "How?" I tell them that no patch, nicotine gum, vape pen or quick smoking quick scheme is going to work. Leo described in a previous video that he had a battle with weight problems. Once he decided to make a change in his eating habits he was tempted to eat that last Klondike ice cream in his freezer (if i remember correctly!) In that exact moment HE KNEW that grabbing that unhealthy treat would mean absolute failure in his new healthy lifestyle. He did NOT grab the Klondike ice cream and worked on a healthier lifestyle from. There. Thank you Leo! I applied the same mental work out and haven't had a smoke in years!!
I've definitely noticed that I'm slightly addicted to Leo's videos, and that it would be much more important to focus on the practical work. So, that's a New Year's resolution.
I am fully committed to being my best self. After years on this path and experiencing some ego backlashes, I am currently dealing with a significant one. Thank you for the video. I won't quit.
I remember after my first DMT breakthrough where I experienced complete ego death I was in a suicidal haze for the next three days. Couldn’t do any work, socialize, etc. Just sat in my room and reflected for days before being able to do anything “productive”. It was great tho but def humbled me as to the power of the ego
EGO BACKLASH (Notes) : -Human mind : harmonic oscillator (like in a spring) -Non linear network of meanings, symbols , patterns, survival habits: human mind or ego -Any complex *system* (as discussed in intro to systems thinking) (like human mind or ego) has inertia to it , a homeostatic drive to it . Ego Backlash: Ego Backlash is the oscillation of the spring , any time you make a significant change to this complex dynamic non linear system that you are , you should expect a counter force that will pull you back towards homeostasis, towards the status quo of whatever you were. Whenever you try to make a significant, fundamental change in your like , you should expect a very significant force to pull you back out of it : that's ego backlash. -Change literally means the death of a part of you. That part of you does not want to die its scared. Ego backlash does not announce itself to you like 'here I am !' , usually it just feels like a very primal force , a very emotional force is driving you back to your old , unhealthy dysfunctional ways. -It can be very frustrating , and it can take you by surprise , because usually the ego likes to trick itself into thinking that its more developed and advanced than it really is , especially when it starts to see a little bit of progress it starts to over-estimate to progress. -To get significant improvement in the quality of your life, that is directly proportional to how deep you can go and how much you can work on the foundation , and how much you can tolerate working on the foundation. Working on the foundation necessarily comes with suffering , because suffering is what your ego tries to avoid all the time . The ego basically does two things : avoid suffering and pursue pleasure. That's your whole life in a nutshell (the ego's). This constitutes what survival is , you're always trying to survive. Spirituality tries to transcend survival drives and to look at reality in a more fundamental way , see reality how it looks when you are not preoccupied with survival drives. -The ego backlash a lot of times comes from a sort of recognition of your own in-authenticity. -Your life may need to fall apart before you're able to reconstruct it into something healthy. But most people try to build more and more and more on top of their life , a sort of additive approach , building on top of ego. -The rate at which you deconstruct yourself is very important , because sometimes when you try to do it very quickly, the ego backlash becomes so strong , that it becomes counter productive : you can freak yourself out of changing or growing and avoid the challenge for years. -You have to select a pace of growth or deconstruction which will kinda stretch you , but not so much that it scares you completely off the path. You have to find what that line is for you , and then stay under that line so that you don't end up being completely off the path. This is why self reflection is important so as to find a balance. Beware though , of self deception , and end up having a false balance, because sometimes the mind may also tell you something like 'you cant do one more retreat' when you really can. Only way you will figure the right balance is though trial and error and being very mindful of the dynamics that are going in your mind , being very mindful of how sneaky the ego is and how it plays tricks on you , and also going through these backsliding episodes . -People experience ego backlash from many things : eg. from enlightenment experiences, from various glimpses of non-duality , after solo retreats , after lots of self inquiry , trying to install new habits like developing a strong work ethic and waking up early in the morning , changing your diet, doing a nofap challenge , etc. -How do deal with or minimize ego backlash ? 1)Just expect it , appreciate the homeostatic forces that are keeping you alive any significant change generally comes with suffering, fear, various emotions. When this stuff starts to happen to you , explicitly label and and call it ego backlash like "Oh yeah! thats the ego backlash that Leo was talking about! There it is!" 2)Observe it as mindfully as possible. There is where it helps for you to have a meditation habit and to do various kinds of spiritual practices , which develop such mindfulness skills. 3)Do not make any kind of drastic , major life decision in this state of ego backlash. That will be foolish. 4)Realize that if you are able to suffer this mindfully , that suffering will purify you and in that you will actually make your greatest progress. 5)As much as you can , try to maintain your positive habits even if you don't feel like it. 6)Do not get discouraged by it. Frame it in a positive way . Frame it as though this is growth. 7)Stop expecting quick fixes and easy one time solutions. Get you expectations right. 8)Its also very powerful to apply self love in this state. Don't fall into the temptation of guilting and condemning yourself-when you're doing that , that's precisely when you're not learning. 9)Don't try be a perfectionist at suffering mindfully though , you will not always suffer mindfully. 10)Remind yourself that this shall pass, and you will experience highs after lows (and similarly , lows after highs). 11)You might listen to the ego backlash video again to ground yourself ! -Collective ego backlash also occurs. It can occur within corporations , withing governments , within political parties. Eg. Trump's rise to power can be considered an ego backlash after 8 years of Obama. -Always remember , that just because you failed to make a change, doesn't really mean anything , because you can come back next week , next month , next year , etc. and attempt to make the change again . This time you will be smarter , because every time you backslide , if you're mindful , then you'll notice various little sneaky maneuvres that your ego uses against you , all the self deception tactics ,to keep yourself in homeostasis. -Its important to distinguish between states and stages of development. A state is like a peak experience that you have, like on a meditative retreat or on a psychedelic , you're feeling great , you're on top of the world , and then you just assume that that state will just lock in and that's how your life will be like from then on - don't make this beginner mistake. Its never that way. Its much easier to attain a high state than to attain a high stage of development. A stage of development takes years of work to build, you have to work on it consistently.
Doing the work is so important, it doesn't matter how much you know about something just start doing the work and see how fucking different is from theory. It's really a mindfuck.
Many people do not search for this type of subject,even if they come across by accident they will not understand, it is for people who have done some research and are in quest for knowing the unknown this video is useful, I agree with leo this happened to me several times as there is no reference/ measurement in this field and we do not know whom to approach but Leo you are doing selfless service long live your tribe, the passion and commitment to explain the unexplainable with your expression in a scientific manner is well received by us with an iota of doubt. For persons who want to trap the ego there is a book by Micheal legrand called awareness watching awareness which is very helpful in trapping ego whom he calls the im poster or the trickster who is the trap we fall into. LEO EAGERLY WAITING FOR FURTHER VIDEOS
"How much change can you really tolerate?" It's crazy just how deeply this question struck me. I always used personal development as a coping mechanism for past trauma. But actually we're in it for the long term and any short bursts won't get us far. So for me the question hammers on personal responsibility, compassion and truth. When we do the thing we can one step at a time we really shift. And something I realized is that by taking smaller step and honoring each practice I actually can go deeper.
You described exactly what happened to me recently. I was developing myself after having learned about mindsets and thought I was better. So I started accusing my girlfriend that was not changing as me, she is actually stuck in a victim mindset. And this was making me suffer. So I broke the relationship because I was suffering too much. And suddenly I realized that I was in a victim mindset, worse than the one of my (ex) girlfriend. I am better now as I understood why I was a victim, but I had to pay a lot for this. Kill part of myself and destroyed a very nice relationship.
Loving yourself when you're in the middle of an ego backlash is probably the toughest part. You just keep beating yourself up for every little mistake that you made. Not only that but also your mind keeps replaying in your head how you failed again and again and again, so then you try to find any sort of distraction and you can't be mindful about it. As always thank you so much for creating this content. I don't know what I'd be doing with my life if I hadn't found this channel. I've had some extremely powerful mystical experiences that have transformed my life completely. Sometimes I become so mindful that my face covers in tears of joy. Life has turned into something so beautiful I can't even imagine how blind I was. There's still a lot of work to do and I'm excited but scared at the same time, because I know that this is going to be a really tough journey. Again thanks for everything, you have no idea how much impact your videos can have :) (Sorry for any mistakes I'm not a native speaker)
This is me right now. It’s only recently that I’ve woken up and started to self enquire, it’s terrifying... I’ve lied to myself and to others my whole life just to protect and build on my ego. When in reality I’ve been hiding away in this little bubble. Right now I feel physically sick. But I suppose it’s only through this suffering that I can now build an authentic life. Thank you again Leo, but a part of me wishes I never realised this stuff! (My ego)
When a guru admits that you don't really need him, you know that he's more than legit. He's sooo self-reflected and authentic, so in some sense he's more useful as a rolemodel than as a guru. Thank you Leo :)
Hey Leo, my first response to you. I have been watching your video's for a couple of years now, and you have truly been a massive amount of help for me. Thank you so much for doing what you do. Right now i'm going through a lot of positive changes and experienced my first fierce ego backlash. And luckily i remembered this video. It already helped me out a lot and now i feel confident i can struggle my way through. Keep up the great work, i see you as a very good friend and teacher. In lakech, bless your soul!
I have been listening to Leo for 3 years. Since then I have done 3 Vipassana retreats, and went through this is exact thing he is talking about after finishing a retreat. I am going through a meditation slump right now. I am going to meditate tonight. I was doing 2 hours a day for 3 months every day and night. Now I am back on the internet, wasting my time. This is by far the most useful talk that I will come back to when I am having an ego backlash. I have grown so much since I started listening to his talks. What sucks is when you are going through an ego backlash people will say things like Oh I guess that meditation thing you are doing didn't work. They judge you harshly.
I wanted to congratulate you on the 1 million subscribers, thank you for everything that you do! Been a student of yours so to speak since 2014 (when things were awful), and odds are very high that your videos saved my life, or if not that, then they have completely changed the direction of my life. This is one of the videos I return when it's needed again. It's interesting to observe over the years, that getting over ego backlash, is taking less and less time.
@@sebastjankrek1744 It has a tactical advantage.Knows you better than you do infact you only know you trough the ego.So not only does it know you better it tells you who you are.But fighting it is a long game of the thief said "catch the thief" if you get what i am saying.
Mine is worse now 😂 got a psychosis, but still addicted to his videos because i need another psychosis (nothingness&bliss)😂 since i came back as my narcissist ego self i have Episodes of Mania &Episodes of Depression &then again this feeling that nothing makes sence &deep confusion way stronger than before #itsarealstruggle the only way to solve all these issues once and for all is to have another psychosis thats why I'm here :D
@@selin703 In that case you might want to try letting go of the need of another 'psychosis'. In my experience letting go of things put me in situations that are in an abondance of that particular thing, like how I dealt with relationships. After I realized that I could happily live the rest of my life without a relationship, now all of the sudden I have a ton of options. It's quite counter-intuitive. I'd also recommand you reading "Letting Go" and rest of the work of Dr . David R. Hawkins. Hes a brilliant teacher and that particular book is about emotions and how letting go of them leads to nothingness&bliss. Thanks for sharing : )
@@foreseer4552 Yes deep down i know letting go is the solution and I'm working on it, but i'm so stubborn when it comes to reaching my goals :D thanks for the Recommendation 😊
I have made a lot of changes lately, all in order to improve my life. Had three massive bouts of depression this week. The only time I have felt good is when I sleep,amazing vivid positive dreams. Was considering just going back to my old ways until I found this now everything makes sense.
@@martianmagician6215 Always nice to see I'm not alone, it feels sometimes that no matter how hard you try and eventhough you manage to apply your changes everyday for a sufficient amount of time, all the water you pushed comes back as a giant wave. And yup perfect timing for this video as well
This is great how you brought us in on the personal level that this is what you were/are going through - love it. Also, cravings - I get a craving to be angry. Or I just finally give in and it feels good, it feels normal, comfortable. When I don't give in and just breathe, I feel like I'm re-wiring my neural network to develope new patterns/systems. But the real work too is sitting with that feeling and figuring out why I'm so angry in the first place. Thanks Leo!!
I have a funny experience with ego backslash, last time i had a great experience through meditation where i felt unconditionally loving towards everything, it was such a great experience and i felt all my relationships problems dissolved, at the time i loved everyone and everyone loved me. But in about a week later my ego came back in and i started feeling needy again, and pushing people away and controlling people to love me, i felt really miserable after that and played games for a whole month also came back to bad eating habits. It's funny cause one day you feel like you're god and when the ego comes in you're just a needy fucked up human being lacking love once again.
I had a similar experience for also about a week. What flummoxed me before became so simple and light and beautiful. I meditated for the pure joy of meditating, not to get anything from it. Then the patterns came back full force after
this popped up on my youtube just as I was coming down from ego backlash! that internal war is the best way to describe it, I wish the people around me understood
You know, you're explaining something I've experienced a few times since starting this journey and I always thought it was me not being good enough. Me doing something wrong... I didn't realise it's part of the process. Thank you for this video.
I have been experiencing this recently and wasn't quite sure what it was. Nothing noteworthy had changed in my life over the past few weeks, yet I felt a fairly intense wave of depression set over me. I have been clean from opiates for roughly 3 years, and for the first time since I stopped using, the thought of relapsing occurred to me. Although I didn't seriously entertain this thought, its presence alone was a bit startling. This information helped me to recontextualize my recent moments of self-doubt and how I may be able to learn from them and continue my spiritual growth. Thank you for the insight, Leo!
Going through an ego backlash right now...it's damn annoying to work so hard and achieve massive internal growth only to be knocked back down and feel like you've never actually progressed.. Will keep all of these ideas in mind Leo, thanks!
Interesting how this has popped up when I'm currently going through an ego backlash after experiencing what i'd say was a spiritual or emotional high at breaking my habit/sabotage self. Everything you mentioned really hit a note with me and I am extremely grateful this content. I've noticed my ego is very active when I am at work, which i think is because my focus is on doing my job and its creeping in through the back door. Thank you
I’ve watched this video over 10 times. Only now that I’m going through an ego backlash do I understand the value of what Leo is saying. I understand now
This is exactly what I need. Had ego backlash earlier this year and I've been struggling with it since, and it wasn't even a full on ego death experience. My ego was just shook.
I'm going through this right now, but you do not need psychedelics to experience this. They are great tools however! For me it comes with experiencing a clear moment of enlightenment and then when things clear up, I ask myself if I am simply brainwashing myself. The ego starts fighting back and my mind starts trying to come back and explain what I experienced
im so glad you tell everyone you dont have the answers, and what you say will become more theory to us. That, is a true yogi teaching. "I have nothing to teach" Im very greatful for you!
Going through this rn! Used to binge your videos, was very much into the nature of reality. I created a business a while ago which currently is generating anywhere from 2-6k per day. I've been doing nothing but work during my gap year though, my diet slid, sleeping, I stopped meditating.. a month and a half ago, I decided to change. I slowly re integrated the affirmations, meditation, yoga, and spirituality. Made tremendous progress with my daily habits, began to really enjoy them and be able to let go of stress that would normally plague me.. but I've had INSANE ego backlash and remembered this video- just finished it and I'm so thankful I did. I will review these notes whenever I am feeling that ego backlash as I do the habits I should be. Thank you so much Leo!! You're always right there for me. I don't know what I'd do without your videos!! :D
Every time the backlash kicks in I can't help but say I am God experiencing ego backlash and this is a beautiful and important perspective. I say: I'm aware of my ego being very confused and scared and that's ok. I'm loving my ego unconditionally and letting it know it is ok to die and change. My ego does understand it's insignificance. I plan to live peacefully with it, with out it ruling my life.
Ohhhwww yes!! Don't know if I'm laughing or crying but I can sooooo recognize this. My ego thought we were almost there... But ding dong.... We're not even close... We're just here... This is where we are. It's so funny and cute.... Thank you for sharing Leo... It helps me a lot in my journey
leo..im sure many people have said this before..but it doesnt hurt me to do the same and i think it has to be said at least once..your work is awesome..all your free content alone..its beautiful..u have always been a good teacher and when u analyze a topic, u come up with so much information that no questions remain..it's just excellent work you're doing here, i havent seen anyone like u before and i have been looking through many teachers..thank u so much for all your effort!!! 💙..humanity needs more of your sort 👍..
i lately did 1cp-lsd a lot more frequently (every 3 weeks) and got over my crippling clinical depression completely, but the last trip had me going through a little ego-backlash and i started being frustrated and in rage again..i suddenly felt so hopeless for a day after the trip..but i think im slowly catching myself..i changed my diet as well, using the episode ''how to shop for healthy food'' also and i start to feel better..it feels like i can just force myself to go against my egos intution and then it's going to be alright..it's just pretty tough..but i'll hang in there..i want some change..i cant go on like this..
It's been 3 years since I've watched this video, now I've experienced my first big ego backlash and I am gratefull that I've managed to recall that you made a video about it.
Wow. thank you for letting me know that it's just a phase of my life and i'll reach a new stage and level sooner. thank you for letting me accept my suffer mindfully and positively. love you Leo
6 років тому
I swear I'm going through this right now.i quit cigarettes for 4 months straight then started smoking again two months ago.im gonna commit to try again tomorrow now I have a better understanding that my ego doesn't want me to lose my identity as a smoker.ive meditated on this and self reflected on this for months .Thank you Leo and I appreciate any good energy towards me .
Surprised to see how many people are also going through an ego backlash. Perfect timing for me also. Just when I thought I was making the most progress, the first ego backlash wave came and carried me back in the deep dark whirlpool of old bad habits, anxiety, overthinking, procrastination etc. Thanks for being a beacon of light in times of darkness!
Thanks Leo I had en enormous backlash that lost me a friend and the respect of a teacher. I've recently come to see that the way I treated my mother, my addiction to videogames, the totalitarian attitude I had in my home when I was growing up, the attitude of my father,, led me to create in me very manipulative and toxic behaviors for getting what I want and surviving.
Your point at the end about things feeling different than what you imagine is very important. Because when you are experiencing it you’re not experiencing it as ego backlash, that is your reality. That’s it. There is no other way that those conditions could be interpreted, and even if you do an exercise to interpret them differently it will feel like a label, it will not re-contextualize the experience the way that you wanted to.
So glad this video found me today. I've definitely been aware that I've been experiencing Ego backlash, however hearing an outside perspective has been incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for sharing!
Been struggling with ego backlashes my whole life. I would like to give praises to Leo for this video, but according to the recent ones, my mind created Leo, so he would tell me these things.
I love you man. And your work. You help me heal so well when everything sucks. It is as if my inner voice said, “you’re not listening, so I’ll get a human to express it.” It totally resonates with me.
Hey Leo, I just did a journal entry right next to a journal entry from 4 years ago (It's now 2023) and I see the changes! Not just the beautiful writing style, but the content went from rabid animal to holistic MAN. A couple days ago, I watch the video "What's wrong with ego?" ..and I'm like, "Damn, I'm trying to tear the whole thing down! Not just diet or unwanted behaviors. I know I still got to tear em' down one at a time. The part that's tripping me out is that this video was 4 years ago. 😳
Thanks, Leo this past year I've felt I've carried myself off the path I was on. I keep having moments where I backslid and then I all of a sudden I slid back into what my old self would do. Losing Patience, Judging people, becoming easily annoyed, it makes me sick and I end up leaving the room after the damage is done to the person I'm with. The real problem is that I've not been authentic, and I have been terrified so thank you for this video it's helped.
i cannot tell you how important your channel has been to me leo. thank you from the bottom of my being. thank you really. youre actually helping me in my life and to understand myself. billions tons of positivity and love to you.
Ego backlash is real. In nov 2017 i was perfect and moving on towards a good significant life changes. It took me 4 months of concious observation to get there. But then i fucked up in jan 18... still trynna train myself to meditate. Just writing this to someone who needs. Keep it up.
Thank you. This is exactly what I’m experiencing right now through self inquiry and this really helps to feel like I’m progressing and understand my mind more. Love you Leo 😌
This episode made you a lot more relatable. I understood that everyone has the same struggles and that I am not alone. I hope you recover fast from your back issue! I've been expecting a backlash and this video came in the right moment.
Hello Leo. I had not checked your latest videos since the chapter "sub fields of enlightenment" as I was much into reading stuff and feeling really satisfied. txs for that! However, out of nowhere I went through an episode of failure and disorientation that made me feel discouraged and confused.. The most challenging meditation sessions in years!.. And then this video with you doing the actual work of mindfully facing procrastination and pain to show how to comprehend the mechanics of growth really gives me the kicks and serenity to keep working.
Helped me so much! I have been experiencing a lot of ego backlash lately You explained it sooo well I can’t explain The point about pushing oneself regardless of the ego backlash…. This point was the best point ever
This really helped, thank you Leo. Been experiencing a lot of ego backlash, partly because I was listening to your videos everyday while at work and it was beneficial for me to start at such a high pace but also because progress was being made. But I wasn't ready for the backlash of the ego. And started to think I was losing my mind. But that's what the ego wanted me to think. But this clarified a lot for me. Thank you again. Hope all is well.
Thank you just been through my first and its literally hell. I gave up on spirituality because of it and has taken me many months to realize that it is a part of growth. I have decided that the truth is the path. But it's so hard to see that you need to continue. The depth of this pain is indescribable but be courageous and trust in truth. Dont give up ❤
Ego backlash is something that I've encountered very recently after a 10-day Vipassana course and I'm finally coming to a higher level of homeostasis after weeks of struggle. My backlash came in the form of junk food and having heavy cravings for processed snacks, like chips and cookies. Interestingly enough, my resolve for keeping up with the meditation habit every morning has been strong, but on the opposite side, my cravings had been too strong for me to ignore. After a few weeks of junk food, I'm slowly getting back to a clean diet and feeling that the backlash is subsiding. I had come across Ego Backlash from the book Mastery by George Leonard a great book that Leo had previously mentioned. Knowing that this 'ego backlash' exists, helped me be compassionate to myself, all the while observing myself as I gorged on junk food. What also helped was to share the backlash I was going through with my wife, who listened to and supported me as I was struggling deep in the backlash. Having a common language between my wife and I (which we learned during the Vipassana course), such as 'Anicca' and 'Saṅkhāra' also helped us explain what we were both going through post the meditation course.
after my last sesshin, I had a really intense ego backlash. Intense rage and anger which lasted for a few hours. I had all the thoughts about spirituality being fake and all the masters being bullshitters, etc. I thought I would nevr reach enlightenment and all the works man. It passed and now I feel better but I am noticing that in my life I'm seriously regressing. I will take these things into consideration and try to get back on the right path again. Thanks Leo
I'm pretty consistent at watching actualized.org... I returned back to a small mountain town that I was living for three months before I left on a two month spiritual adventure to Peru. The first three weeks back had collapsed my livelihood and tested my coping mechanism of homeostasis... I'm going through emotional challenges and I had a feeling to rewatch this episode. So thankful I did... Yes I still enjoy confirmations but it's good to know that this time around I'm more mindful of what these events can due to continue the new me I'm creating. Not that it's easy, but I not only am I being more mindful but giving much more self love through this. Before I heard it, I was going through mental masturbation whether I was making the "right" choices... After listening I was happy to see that things are what's to be expected and just being more conscious through this state of growth will help lead the new stage a bit higher in consciousness... 5MEO- DMT seems to be drawing nearer for me to experience ❤
Hey guys, wanted to mention if anyone is looking for another addition to their library in the monism department, I recently started reading the Osho books. You'll be surprised to see that there are so many books that Osho released. Pick up "The Art of living and Dying" it was written two years before he died after his doctor gave him a terminal diagnosis. There are parts of it where he is lit. describing level 10 of the OX and it's just a really beautiful and compassionate text, Osho points out that it's not that suffering is good it's that the seeker needs suffering to enter Zen from and when I read it I could feel how he even brought ultimate humility to even just speaking about suffering he has. His words from his writings are very profound, I'm not sure I've stumbled upon more insight in terms of volume than this.
This video helped me gain so much mental clarity I wasn't aware I needed. This makes so much sense and puts my personal struggles into perspective, thank you Leo
So glad I found this video today. My dreams are coming true and everything in me wants to go back to my comfort zone. Everything you're saying makes sense. I hate the way I feel right now
Leo. Gracias por tu compromiso de hacer videos semanalmente. Tuve la suerte de encontrar tu canal hace aproximadamente tres años y desde ese entonces he ido profundizando en tu enfoque. Tu mapa no es perfecto pero si muy sólido.
This video is eye opening. Now I understand more about why I walked away from a 6 figure business, and have been struggling financially since then. I've been dealing with major ego backlash from dealing with too many changes all at once. Now I realize I shouldn't have made such huge decisions when I was dealing with an ego backlash. I'm learning though, so I can handle it better the next time it happens.
Leo differentiating btwn states and stages is profound. If you give up during a ego backlash and don't suffer mindfully then you miss out on an opportunity to rise to a higher stage... regardless of how good your positive state was. Transcend oscillation between states and rise to a higher stage.
Great video for these troubling times. If we are ever going to survive on this planet, we have to quiet our minds and keep our egos in check. Presence is needed. Don't forget to mark a special day on your calendar: World Ego Awareness Day (WEAD) is on May 11th of this year.
Perfect timing. Thank you leo.. I had my first real big enlightenment experience some weeks ago . This ecperience changed my life bigtime. I now dont Believe im a fysical body anylonger, it is awsome. I knew i could expect a big ego backlash. But man.. I didnt expect the backlash to be so "big". Thank you for helping me understand this work better. You really have helped me alot.
This might be the single most important video for me on UA-cam.. I can identify so many instances of ego backlash. In general, it seems whenever I want to move ahead - read an informative book, do a course which will help me improve, write to develop my craft - I feel an invisible force coming up in my head, pushing back all these thoughts with counter statements like "you are not that good", or "you will be rejected", etc.. You know the pattern. But one thing I do not understand is how to get to the root of this hurt/pain/payoff the ego is getting by staying in comfort zone?
I experienced this as well over the last week or two. I have something to add as well as maybe my experience of going through it would help others. About when to know to slow down and to speed up again. When to tilt into these feelings and tilt back out of it. And that that is ok. As you said it is an up and down. For myself I have to make sure not to tilt too far or it can lead into a depression. So that's why i write the following. When I started feeling the intense emotions it began with a feeling of stress, I journaled and what came out was that I needed to slow down. Im a stay at home mom, but active with her and also working on myself, healing and growing etc. I've been doing great, changing bad habits adding good ones, being mindful etc. But now I listened and slowed down. And I started to feel a lot of pain. Suffering is accurate. It was already there but now in my slow down I felt it intensely. I stayed with it and accepted it most of the time. I continued meditating longer and using music at certain times as a way to express these feelings even more. This entire process of allowing the pain to be felt was scary I realize it was because i was afraid of losing my progress and getting stuck there. Now a week or so in to slowing down, i feel some things have loosened up but now I am starting to get uncomfortable with going too far. I saw today i slipped into some bad habits again, maybe as a way of coping. Tonight while journaling I saw it was enough what i had done or gone through for now and that I can resume my growth activities. The feeling the emotions are growth too but of a more DIRECT spiritual nature, maybe foundational work as you said. What you said struck me. That you have to know when to slow down and you have to know where you are and go from there. I know you meant that a certain way. But for me it meant knowing when i had tilted too far into this emotional state. This may not apply to everyone obviously everyone is different. But for me I have been prone to depression and obsessive thinking so when i saw i had passed the sweet spot you could say and had gone to far in one direction i had to now pull back. I also realize this may extend the process of growth and healing but i am ok with that for now. This is where i am. Excuse the repetitiveness but i wanted to make my point clear. Thank you for the video!
That's what happened to me, I had a job payed good, then I saw the oax ox? I became a zen devil and ego backlashed, I've lost my girlfriend, and my job. I haven't been able to write a CV for 2 years, just been drifting, even tho, I had this mi d blowing revelation. I didn't know what to do with it, when it happened m, I felt this love, and confidence that no movie or sang can petray, to morrow Im going to meet a psychiatrist, I've been very stubborn, so I've said no and canceled the outher times. I really appreciate that you are making these videos, I've watched allot of them, and it is weird to say that you are going g to change my life. Especially by making this one, I'm 27.31 seconds in now. And I cross my fingers that you have some way of making me understand how a spiritual person can get back on hes tracks. I'm tired of being, passive, I write allot and say allo, and get some good insights, and post I Instagram posts about our potencial. But I've been so deep in this rabbit hole. That im stuck.
What helped me is to set time lying in bed and just let myself go and what I mean by that is to let where my thoughts go. In that process I've opened up the gates to feel. I cried many many many times, even in dreams in order to heal. I don't even have thoughts while I'm crying, I just feel. You don't need to analyze the emotions. It's hurtful yes I even had a sensation where my heart or chest area was literally been twisted but it's all worth it. It's liberating and healing.
Thank you for your honesty at the end! I was in a recovery house for awhile that was actually very successful. I ended up working there for 5 years and worked my way up from 3rd shift to Assistant Director. That's where I staled out. Stopped growing. (Spiritually) I've been getting into this work for a little while now and ran across you a month or do ago. You're a great teacher! I see a lot of similarities. But...AA only took me so far. I've heard you talk about that too. Just want to say thank you for your time and Free encouragement!
It took a brutal break up to bring up some years of hidden suffering. Ive been depressed and addicted to weed for the last 5 years. Im starting to get over my retraction, this vids timing was perfect
To me ego backlash is like a well worn path that we are used to . A rut so to speak , we get out of the rut and the well worn path will try to suck you back in , it will even entice you with comfortable thoughts . Have to be super aware .i have gotten on and off kratom 5 times in 8 months and I recognize the pull , one thing you said that really helped is after you go through the worst painful experience that’s when you have the most profound experience after . I get to a new space .. I can feel it .. I’ll get enticed by my thoughts to fall back into old well worn patterns . Even with the so called “ falling back “ I remain in love with my growth , no matter how long or hard it is . Momentum is there .
Watching Leo 4 years ago: "Damn.. a whole hour long video?"
Watching Leo today: "Damn..only one hour long?"
I was actually relieved to see it only 1 hour long. Everyone is cranking out marathon long videos now. No time to watch them all.
shitmandood u have infinite time
why do you care about dick measuring contests on video size lengths? ( I know it's a attempt so joke but I didn't laugh so this comment exists, so ye)
Leo, good thing you fought the war against procrastination by shooting this episode because it's such a great one. Much appreciation!
😂
I'm having an ego backlash at the moment, then I came here to rewatch this video to reassure my sanity. Thank you, Leo.
My god, same here. I thought I was going crazy. I went back to old habits 10x harder.
Understanding Ego Backlash
-Ego mind is the engine that drives our entire life -> It works like a harmonic oscillator
-The mind created survival habits -> Coping strategies
-The mind, like any complex system, has inertia, and homeostasis drives it
-Any change is a mortal threat
for the ego
-Ego backlash is the resistance of the mind in order to stay in the status quo
-Change -> The death of you
-Our minds are scared to question because it threats its own existence
-The improvement of your life is proportional to how deep you can work on the foundation of your mind -> And it comes with suffering
-Spirituality -> Transcend your survival drives
-The mind isn't bad, it's just very survival oriented
-Don't make any major life decision when you're feeling negative
-The life is challenging because of all the trickery that's involved
What to do to minimize it:
1. Expect it -> Any change comes with suffering
2. Label it as an ego backlash
3. Observe the suffering as mindfully as possible
4. Maintain your positive habits
5. Not get discouraged by the ego backlash. Look it as growth
6. Stop expecting quick fixes
7. Apply self love -> Don't blame yourself
8. Don't be a perfectionist
thankyou so much
"The pharadox is that when you accept yourself, you change."
Who would have thought...
*paradox homie
Damn...
???? wat u smoking Lucas????
Yes.
Thanks to Leo I haven't had a cigarette 🚬in 3 years. People always ask me "How?" I tell them that no patch, nicotine gum, vape pen or quick smoking quick scheme is going to work. Leo described in a previous video that he had a battle with weight problems. Once he decided to make a change in his eating habits he was tempted to eat that last Klondike ice cream in his freezer (if i remember correctly!) In that exact moment HE KNEW that grabbing that unhealthy treat would mean absolute failure in his new healthy lifestyle. He did NOT grab the Klondike ice cream and worked on a healthier lifestyle from. There. Thank you Leo! I applied the same mental work out and haven't had a smoke in years!!
Amazing. Thanks for sharing that
@@toolboxevolution7456 Thanks for reading!!
DemiseMusic&Entertainment it’s that one slip up that gets you
@@AzazelHash281 It's tough! I do stand up comedy open mic's at a bar and have a few drinks. Nothing goes better with a beer than a cigarette!!
Awareness alone is curative. Keep it up!
I've definitely noticed that I'm slightly addicted to Leo's videos, and that it would be much more important to focus on the practical work. So, that's a New Year's resolution.
how did it work
If Leo wasn't there to explain these rare issues in such details, idk how I would have survived this awakenig without going insane.
I like the phrase "suffering mindfully".
I am fully committed to being my best self. After years on this path and experiencing some ego backlashes, I am currently dealing with a significant one. Thank you for the video. I won't quit.
I remember after my first DMT breakthrough where I experienced complete ego death I was in a suicidal haze for the next three days. Couldn’t do any work, socialize, etc. Just sat in my room and reflected for days before being able to do anything “productive”. It was great tho but def humbled me as to the power of the ego
EGO BACKLASH (Notes) :
-Human mind : harmonic oscillator (like in a spring)
-Non linear network of meanings, symbols , patterns, survival habits: human mind or ego
-Any complex *system* (as discussed in intro to systems thinking) (like human mind or ego) has inertia to it , a homeostatic drive to it .
Ego Backlash: Ego Backlash is the oscillation of the spring , any time you make a significant change to this complex dynamic non linear system that you are ,
you should expect a counter force that will pull you back towards homeostasis, towards the status quo of whatever you were. Whenever you try to make a significant,
fundamental change in your like , you should expect a very significant force to pull you back out of it : that's ego backlash.
-Change literally means the death of a part of you. That part of you does not want to die its scared. Ego backlash does not announce itself to you like
'here I am !' , usually it just feels like a very primal force , a very emotional force is driving you back to your old , unhealthy dysfunctional ways.
-It can be very frustrating , and it can take you by surprise , because usually the ego likes to trick itself into thinking that its more developed and
advanced than it really is , especially when it starts to see a little bit of progress it starts to over-estimate to progress.
-To get significant improvement in the quality of your life, that is directly proportional to how deep you can go and how much you can work on the foundation ,
and how much you can tolerate working on the foundation. Working on the foundation necessarily comes with suffering , because suffering is what your ego tries to avoid
all the time . The ego basically does two things : avoid suffering and pursue pleasure. That's your whole life in a nutshell (the ego's). This constitutes
what survival is , you're always trying to survive. Spirituality tries to transcend survival drives and to look at reality in a more
fundamental way , see reality how it looks when you are not preoccupied with survival drives.
-The ego backlash a lot of times comes from a sort of recognition of your own in-authenticity.
-Your life may need to fall apart before you're able to reconstruct it into something healthy. But most people try to build more and more and more
on top of their life , a sort of additive approach , building on top of ego.
-The rate at which you deconstruct yourself is very important , because sometimes when you try to do it very quickly, the ego backlash
becomes so strong , that it becomes counter productive : you can freak yourself out of changing or growing and avoid the challenge for years.
-You have to select a pace of growth or deconstruction which will kinda stretch you , but not so much that it scares you completely off the path.
You have to find what that line is for you , and then stay under that line so that you don't end up being completely off the path.
This is why self reflection is important so as to find a balance. Beware though , of self deception , and end up having a false balance, because sometimes
the mind may also tell you something like 'you cant do one more retreat' when you really can. Only way you will figure the right balance is
though trial and error and being very mindful of the dynamics that are going in your mind , being very mindful of how sneaky the ego is and how it
plays tricks on you , and also going through these backsliding episodes .
-People experience ego backlash from many things : eg. from enlightenment experiences, from various glimpses of non-duality , after solo retreats ,
after lots of self inquiry , trying to install new habits like developing a strong work ethic and waking up early in the morning , changing your diet,
doing a nofap challenge , etc.
-How do deal with or minimize ego backlash ?
1)Just expect it , appreciate the homeostatic forces that are keeping you alive any significant change generally comes with suffering, fear, various emotions.
When this stuff starts to happen to you , explicitly label and and call it ego backlash like "Oh yeah! thats the ego backlash that Leo was talking about!
There it is!"
2)Observe it as mindfully as possible. There is where it helps for you to have a meditation habit and to do various kinds of spiritual practices , which develop
such mindfulness skills.
3)Do not make any kind of drastic , major life decision in this state of ego backlash. That will be foolish.
4)Realize that if you are able to suffer this mindfully , that suffering will purify you and in that you will actually make your greatest progress.
5)As much as you can , try to maintain your positive habits even if you don't feel like it.
6)Do not get discouraged by it. Frame it in a positive way . Frame it as though this is growth.
7)Stop expecting quick fixes and easy one time solutions. Get you expectations right.
8)Its also very powerful to apply self love in this state. Don't fall into the temptation of guilting and condemning yourself-when you're doing that ,
that's precisely when you're not learning.
9)Don't try be a perfectionist at suffering mindfully though , you will not always suffer mindfully.
10)Remind yourself that this shall pass, and you will experience highs after lows (and similarly , lows after highs).
11)You might listen to the ego backlash video again to ground yourself !
-Collective ego backlash also occurs. It can occur within corporations , withing governments , within political parties. Eg. Trump's rise to power can be considered
an ego backlash after 8 years of Obama.
-Always remember , that just because you failed to make a change, doesn't really mean anything , because you can come back next week , next month , next year , etc.
and attempt to make the change again . This time you will be smarter , because every time you backslide , if you're mindful , then you'll notice various little sneaky
maneuvres that your ego uses against you , all the self deception tactics ,to keep yourself in homeostasis.
-Its important to distinguish between states and stages of development. A state is like a peak experience that you have, like on a meditative retreat or on a
psychedelic , you're feeling great , you're on top of the world , and then you just assume that that state will just lock in and that's how your life will be like
from then on - don't make this beginner mistake. Its never that way. Its much easier to attain a high state than to attain a high stage of development.
A stage of development takes years of work to build, you have to work on it consistently.
Thank you! 😄
Doing the work is so important, it doesn't matter how much you know about something just start doing the work and see how fucking different is from theory. It's really a mindfuck.
@@sokunine meditating, starting to do your life purpose, a business, self inquiry, inner development (emotions, moods, happiness etc)
Many people do not search for this type of subject,even if they come across by accident they will not understand, it is for people who have done some research and are in quest for knowing the unknown this video is useful, I agree with leo this happened to me several times as there is no reference/ measurement in this field and we do not know whom to approach but Leo you are doing selfless service long live your tribe, the passion and commitment to explain the unexplainable with your expression in a scientific manner is well received by us with an iota of doubt. For persons who want to trap the ego there is a book by Micheal legrand called awareness watching awareness which is very helpful in trapping ego whom he calls the im poster or the trickster who is the trap we fall into. LEO EAGERLY WAITING FOR FURTHER VIDEOS
"How much change can you really tolerate?"
It's crazy just how deeply this question struck me. I always used personal development as a coping mechanism for past trauma. But actually we're in it for the long term and any short bursts won't get us far. So for me the question hammers on personal responsibility, compassion and truth. When we do the thing we can one step at a time we really shift. And something I realized is that by taking smaller step and honoring each practice I actually can go deeper.
You described exactly what happened to me recently. I was developing myself after having learned about mindsets and thought I was better. So I started accusing my girlfriend that was not changing as me, she is actually stuck in a victim mindset. And this was making me suffer. So I broke the relationship because I was suffering too much. And suddenly I realized that I was in a victim mindset, worse than the one of my (ex) girlfriend. I am better now as I understood why I was a victim, but I had to pay a lot for this. Kill part of myself and destroyed a very nice relationship.
Loving yourself when you're in the middle of an ego backlash is probably the toughest part. You just keep beating yourself up for every little mistake that you made. Not only that but also your mind keeps replaying in your head how you failed again and again and again, so then you try to find any sort of distraction and you can't be mindful about it. As always thank you so much for creating this content. I don't know what I'd be doing with my life if I hadn't found this channel.
I've had some extremely powerful mystical experiences that have transformed my life completely. Sometimes I become so mindful that my face covers in tears of joy. Life has turned into something so beautiful I can't even imagine how blind I was. There's still a lot of work to do and I'm excited but scared at the same time, because I know that this is going to be a really tough journey.
Again thanks for everything, you have no idea how much impact your videos can have :) (Sorry for any mistakes I'm not a native speaker)
This is me right now. It’s only recently that I’ve woken up and started to self enquire, it’s terrifying... I’ve lied to myself and to others my whole life just to protect and build on my ego. When in reality I’ve been hiding away in this little bubble. Right now I feel physically sick. But I suppose it’s only through this suffering that I can now build an authentic life. Thank you again Leo, but a part of me wishes I never realised this stuff! (My ego)
Coming back here everytime I get ego backlash. Now I know what is happening and this video calms me
When a guru admits that you don't really need him, you know that he's more than legit.
He's sooo self-reflected and authentic, so in some sense he's more useful as a rolemodel than as a guru.
Thank you Leo :)
Hey Leo, my first response to you. I have been watching your video's for a couple of years now, and you have truly been a massive amount of help for me. Thank you so much for doing what you do. Right now i'm going through a lot of positive changes and experienced my first fierce ego backlash. And luckily i remembered this video. It already helped me out a lot and now i feel confident i can struggle my way through. Keep up the great work, i see you as a very good friend and teacher. In lakech, bless your soul!
I have been listening to Leo for 3 years. Since then I have done 3 Vipassana retreats, and went through this is exact thing he is talking about after finishing a retreat. I am going through a meditation slump right now. I am going to meditate tonight. I was doing 2 hours a day for 3 months every day and night. Now I am back on the internet, wasting my time. This is by far the most useful talk that I will come back to when I am having an ego backlash. I have grown so much since I started listening to his talks. What sucks is when you are going through an ego backlash people will say things like Oh I guess that meditation thing you are doing didn't work. They judge you harshly.
Really true
I wanted to congratulate you on the 1 million subscribers, thank you for everything that you do! Been a student of yours so to speak since 2014 (when things were awful), and odds are very high that your videos saved my life, or if not that, then they have completely changed the direction of my life. This is one of the videos I return when it's needed again. It's interesting to observe over the years, that getting over ego backlash, is taking less and less time.
I’ve been going through an ego backlash all day today. I really needed this video. Thank you Leo, for everything 💙
The ego has amazing intelligence. I find it fascinating.
It’s fascinating but sometimes isn’t amazingly intelligent.
the thing is that its a part of you and mirrors any and all of your growth and decline. It knows what buttons to press to affect you.
@@sebastjankrek1744 It has a tactical advantage.Knows you better than you do infact you only know you trough the ego.So not only does it know you better it tells you who you are.But fighting it is a long game of the thief said "catch the thief" if you get what i am saying.
Leo, you've changed many lives for the better. You are a beutifull human beign and an example of excellence, THANK YOU < 3
Mine is worse now 😂 got a psychosis, but still addicted to his videos because i need another psychosis (nothingness&bliss)😂 since i came back as my narcissist ego self i have Episodes of Mania &Episodes of Depression &then again this feeling that nothing makes sence &deep confusion way stronger than before #itsarealstruggle the only way to solve all these issues once and for all is to have another psychosis thats why I'm here :D
@@selin703 In that case you might want to try letting go of the need of another 'psychosis'. In my experience letting go of things put me in situations that are in an abondance of that particular thing, like how I dealt with relationships. After I realized that I could happily live the rest of my life without a relationship, now all of the sudden I have a ton of options. It's quite counter-intuitive. I'd also recommand you reading "Letting Go" and rest of the work of Dr . David R. Hawkins. Hes a brilliant teacher and that particular book is about emotions and how letting go of them leads to nothingness&bliss. Thanks for sharing : )
@@foreseer4552 Yes deep down i know letting go is the solution and I'm working on it, but i'm so stubborn when it comes to reaching my goals :D thanks for the Recommendation 😊
mine is worse too lol
You hang in there Selin Xyz all part of process for everyonex
"Suffering is a gift in it is hidden Mercy" - Rumi
This video came at the perfect time for me.
For me too. Im so happy that Ive watched it!
Exactly
Same here. He describe my life.
I have made a lot of changes lately, all in order to improve my life. Had three massive bouts of depression this week.
The only time I have felt good is when I sleep,amazing vivid positive dreams. Was considering just going back to my old ways until I found this now everything makes sense.
@@martianmagician6215 Always nice to see I'm not alone, it feels sometimes that no matter how hard you try and eventhough you manage to apply your changes everyday for a sufficient amount of time, all the water you pushed comes back as a giant wave. And yup perfect timing for this video as well
Leo should grow a badass wizard beard people will listen then
He doesn't want us to just "listen to him" LOL!
sitting in a chair with a cane
Your beard is weird
David Austin tough talk for some rapper paying millions in security a year
@@Ancientgamimg think my Dad's goin crazyyy, ya Hailey u rite
This is great how you brought us in on the personal level that this is what you were/are going through - love it. Also, cravings - I get a craving to be angry. Or I just finally give in and it feels good, it feels normal, comfortable. When I don't give in and just breathe, I feel like I'm re-wiring my neural network to develope new patterns/systems. But the real work too is sitting with that feeling and figuring out why I'm so angry in the first place. Thanks Leo!!
I have a funny experience with ego backslash, last time i had a great experience through meditation where i felt unconditionally loving towards everything, it was such a great experience and i felt all my relationships problems dissolved, at the time i loved everyone and everyone loved me. But in about a week later my ego came back in and i started feeling needy again, and pushing people away and controlling people to love me, i felt really miserable after that and played games for a whole month also came back to bad eating habits. It's funny cause one day you feel like you're god and when the ego comes in you're just a needy fucked up human being lacking love once again.
Same
I had a similar experience for also about a week. What flummoxed me before became so simple and light and beautiful. I meditated for the pure joy of meditating, not to get anything from it. Then the patterns came back full force after
this popped up on my youtube just as I was coming down from ego backlash! that internal war is the best way to describe it, I wish the people around me understood
You know, you're explaining something I've experienced a few times since starting this journey and I always thought it was me not being good enough. Me doing something wrong... I didn't realise it's part of the process. Thank you for this video.
I have been experiencing this recently and wasn't quite sure what it was. Nothing noteworthy had changed in my life over the past few weeks, yet I felt a fairly intense wave of depression set over me.
I have been clean from opiates for roughly 3 years, and for the first time since I stopped using, the thought of relapsing occurred to me. Although I didn't seriously entertain this thought, its presence alone was a bit startling.
This information helped me to recontextualize my recent moments of self-doubt and how I may be able to learn from them and continue my spiritual growth. Thank you for the insight, Leo!
Going through an ego backlash right now...it's damn annoying to work so hard and achieve massive internal growth only to be knocked back down and feel like you've never actually progressed.. Will keep all of these ideas in mind Leo, thanks!
Interesting how this has popped up when I'm currently going through an ego backlash after experiencing what i'd say was a spiritual or emotional high at breaking my habit/sabotage self. Everything you mentioned really hit a note with me and I am extremely grateful this content. I've noticed my ego is very active when I am at work, which i think is because my focus is on doing my job and its creeping in through the back door. Thank you
I’ve watched this video over 10 times. Only now that I’m going through an ego backlash do I understand the value of what Leo is saying. I understand now
This is exactly what I need. Had ego backlash earlier this year and I've been struggling with it since, and it wasn't even a full on ego death experience. My ego was just shook.
I'm going through this right now, but you do not need psychedelics to experience this. They are great tools however! For me it comes with experiencing a clear moment of enlightenment and then when things clear up, I ask myself if I am simply brainwashing myself. The ego starts fighting back and my mind starts trying to come back and explain what I experienced
Leo you are a master of the ego mind please continue to share your many knowledges and experiences to help me and others to stay on this path 💜
I've been struggling with some of these ideas for years. Very helpful to have a framework to understand the process better. Thank you, Leo!
Who else loves listening to Leo? I love it! Helps me so much!
im so glad you tell everyone you dont have the answers, and what you say will become more theory to us. That, is a true yogi teaching. "I have nothing to teach" Im very greatful for you!
I've been listening to Leo for 3yrs and he is a life saver. Thank you for taking the time to help others and save my life.
❤
Going through this rn! Used to binge your videos, was very much into the nature of reality. I created a business a while ago which currently is generating anywhere from 2-6k per day. I've been doing nothing but work during my gap year though, my diet slid, sleeping, I stopped meditating.. a month and a half ago, I decided to change. I slowly re integrated the affirmations, meditation, yoga, and spirituality. Made tremendous progress with my daily habits, began to really enjoy them and be able to let go of stress that would normally plague me.. but I've had INSANE ego backlash and remembered this video- just finished it and I'm so thankful I did. I will review these notes whenever I am feeling that ego backlash as I do the habits I should be. Thank you so much Leo!! You're always right there for me. I don't know what I'd do without your videos!! :D
Every time the backlash kicks in I can't help but say I am God experiencing ego backlash and this is a beautiful and important perspective. I say: I'm aware of my ego being very confused and scared and that's ok. I'm loving my ego unconditionally and letting it know it is ok to die and change. My ego does understand it's insignificance. I plan to live peacefully with it, with out it ruling my life.
I love how Leo is evolving and the fact that he doesn't blame as much. Great content at the right time ❤️
Ohhhwww yes!! Don't know if I'm laughing or crying but I can sooooo recognize this. My ego thought we were almost there... But ding dong.... We're not even close... We're just here... This is where we are. It's so funny and cute.... Thank you for sharing Leo... It helps me a lot in my journey
Leo, you are one of my best dreams, I come back to you again and again. I am so happy to have you!
Absolutely fundamental episode.. coming back to it every once in a while.
leo..im sure many people have said this before..but it doesnt hurt me to do the same and i think it has to be said at least once..your work is awesome..all your free content alone..its beautiful..u have always been a good teacher and when u analyze a topic, u come up with so much information that no questions remain..it's just excellent work you're doing here, i havent seen anyone like u before and i have been looking through many teachers..thank u so much for all your effort!!! 💙..humanity needs more of your sort 👍..
i lately did 1cp-lsd a lot more frequently (every 3 weeks) and got over my crippling clinical depression completely, but the last trip had me going through a little ego-backlash and i started being frustrated and in rage again..i suddenly felt so hopeless for a day after the trip..but i think im slowly catching myself..i changed my diet as well, using the episode ''how to shop for healthy food'' also and i start to feel better..it feels like i can just force myself to go against my egos intution and then it's going to be alright..it's just pretty tough..but i'll hang in there..i want some change..i cant go on like this..
It's been 3 years since I've watched this video, now I've experienced my first big ego backlash and I am gratefull that I've managed to recall that you made a video about it.
Wow. thank you for letting me know that it's just a phase of my life and i'll reach a new stage and level sooner. thank you for letting me accept my suffer mindfully and positively. love you Leo
I swear I'm going through this right now.i quit cigarettes for 4 months straight then started smoking again two months ago.im gonna commit to try again tomorrow now I have a better understanding that my ego doesn't want me to lose my identity as a smoker.ive meditated on this and self reflected on this for months .Thank you Leo and I appreciate any good energy towards me .
Surprised to see how many people are also going through an ego backlash. Perfect timing for me also. Just when I thought I was making the most progress, the first ego backlash wave came and carried me back in the deep dark whirlpool of old bad habits, anxiety, overthinking, procrastination etc.
Thanks for being a beacon of light in times of darkness!
Thanks Leo
I had en enormous backlash that lost me a friend and the respect of a teacher. I've recently come to see that the way I treated my mother, my addiction to videogames, the totalitarian attitude I had in my home when I was growing up, the attitude of my father,, led me to create in me very manipulative and toxic behaviors for getting what I want and surviving.
Thanks Leo, perfect timing. This video is another synchronicity that shows up in my life, telling me that the efforts to change are on the right path.
Duuuuuude Saaaaaame!!!
Your point at the end about things feeling different than what you imagine is very important. Because when you are experiencing it you’re not experiencing it as ego backlash, that is your reality. That’s it. There is no other way that those conditions could be interpreted, and even if you do an exercise to interpret them differently it will feel like a label, it will not re-contextualize the experience the way that you wanted to.
So glad this video found me today. I've definitely been aware that I've been experiencing Ego backlash, however hearing an outside perspective has been incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for sharing!
Been struggling with ego backlashes my whole life. I would like to give praises to Leo for this video, but according to the recent ones, my mind created Leo, so he would tell me these things.
I love you man. And your work. You help me heal so well when everything sucks. It is as if my inner voice said, “you’re not listening, so I’ll get a human to express it.” It totally resonates with me.
I absolutely love you Leo, you are a breath of fresh air. An anchor of wisdom.
I don't know what good deed I have done in my past life to have found you here and now,, loving every bit of it. Thanks Leo 🙏
You are actually changing people's lives....your work is mind-blowing... salute to you...much Love
Hey Leo, I just did a journal entry right next to a journal entry from 4 years ago (It's now 2023) and I see the changes! Not just the beautiful writing style, but the content went from rabid animal to holistic MAN. A couple days ago, I watch the video "What's wrong with ego?" ..and I'm like, "Damn, I'm trying to tear the whole thing down! Not just diet or unwanted behaviors. I know I still got to tear em' down one at a time. The part that's tripping me out is that this video was 4 years ago. 😳
Thanks, Leo this past year I've felt I've carried myself off the path I was on. I keep having moments where I backslid and then I all of a sudden I slid back into what my old self would do. Losing Patience, Judging people, becoming easily annoyed, it makes me sick and I end up leaving the room after the damage is done to the person I'm with. The real problem is that I've not been authentic, and I have been terrified so thank you for this video it's helped.
i cannot tell you how important your channel has been to me leo. thank you from the bottom of my being. thank you really. youre actually helping me in my life and to understand myself. billions tons of positivity and love to you.
Ego backlash is real. In nov 2017 i was perfect and moving on towards a good significant life changes. It took me 4 months of concious observation to get there. But then i fucked up in jan 18... still trynna train myself to meditate. Just writing this to someone who needs. Keep it up.
Thank you. This is exactly what I’m experiencing right now through self inquiry and this really helps to feel like I’m progressing and understand my mind more.
Love you Leo 😌
This episode made you a lot more relatable. I understood that everyone has the same struggles and that I am not alone. I hope you recover fast from your back issue! I've been expecting a backlash and this video came in the right moment.
Hello Leo. I had not checked your latest videos since the chapter "sub fields of enlightenment" as I was much into reading stuff and feeling really satisfied. txs for that! However, out of nowhere I went through an episode of failure and disorientation that made me feel discouraged and confused.. The most challenging meditation sessions in years!.. And then this video with you doing the actual work of mindfully facing procrastination and pain to show how to comprehend the mechanics of growth really gives me the kicks and serenity to keep working.
Helped me so much! I have been experiencing a lot of ego backlash lately
You explained it sooo well I can’t explain
The point about pushing oneself regardless of the ego backlash…. This point was the best point ever
Yesterday i experienced a spiritual awakening and today leo saved my life again 🙏
This really helped, thank you Leo. Been experiencing a lot of ego backlash, partly because I was listening to your videos everyday while at work and it was beneficial for me to start at such a high pace but also because progress was being made. But I wasn't ready for the backlash of the ego. And started to think I was losing my mind. But that's what the ego wanted me to think. But this clarified a lot for me. Thank you again. Hope all is well.
Thank you. This is by far the most helpful and grounding video for me so far. I've come back to it I think 4 times now :P
Likewise here. Really helpful
Thank you just been through my first and its literally hell. I gave up on spirituality because of it and has taken me many months to realize that it is a part of growth. I have decided that the truth is the path. But it's so hard to see that you need to continue. The depth of this pain is indescribable but be courageous and trust in truth. Dont give up ❤
Ego backlash is something that I've encountered very recently after a 10-day Vipassana course and I'm finally coming to a higher level of homeostasis after weeks of struggle. My backlash came in the form of junk food and having heavy cravings for processed snacks, like chips and cookies. Interestingly enough, my resolve for keeping up with the meditation habit every morning has been strong, but on the opposite side, my cravings had been too strong for me to ignore. After a few weeks of junk food, I'm slowly getting back to a clean diet and feeling that the backlash is subsiding. I had come across Ego Backlash from the book Mastery by George Leonard a great book that Leo had previously mentioned. Knowing that this 'ego backlash' exists, helped me be compassionate to myself, all the while observing myself as I gorged on junk food. What also helped was to share the backlash I was going through with my wife, who listened to and supported me as I was struggling deep in the backlash. Having a common language between my wife and I (which we learned during the Vipassana course), such as 'Anicca' and 'Saṅkhāra' also helped us explain what we were both going through post the meditation course.
Thank you Leo
For telling us how to get our shit together. I appreciate these videos so much to help me continue to get to my true self always.
after my last sesshin, I had a really intense ego backlash. Intense rage and anger which lasted for a few hours. I had all the thoughts about spirituality being fake and all the masters being bullshitters, etc. I thought I would nevr reach enlightenment and all the works man. It passed and now I feel better but I am noticing that in my life I'm seriously regressing. I will take these things into consideration and try to get back on the right path again. Thanks Leo
Very encouraging thank you
Another bomb. I can't say it enough times how much your work is unique and life-changing. And life-saving, foten.
I'm pretty consistent at watching actualized.org... I returned back to a small mountain town that I was living for three months before I left on a two month spiritual adventure to Peru. The first three weeks back had collapsed my livelihood and tested my coping mechanism of homeostasis... I'm going through emotional challenges and I had a feeling to rewatch this episode. So thankful I did... Yes I still enjoy confirmations but it's good to know that this time around I'm more mindful of what these events can due to continue the new me I'm creating. Not that it's easy, but I not only am I being more mindful but giving much more self love through this. Before I heard it, I was going through mental masturbation whether I was making the "right" choices... After listening I was happy to see that things are what's to be expected and just being more conscious through this state of growth will help lead the new stage a bit higher in consciousness... 5MEO- DMT seems to be drawing nearer for me to experience ❤
Hey guys, wanted to mention if anyone is looking for another addition to their library in the monism department, I recently started reading the Osho books. You'll be surprised to see that there are so many books that Osho released. Pick up "The Art of living and Dying" it was written two years before he died after his doctor gave him a terminal diagnosis. There are parts of it where he is lit. describing level 10 of the OX and it's just a really beautiful and compassionate text, Osho points out that it's not that suffering is good it's that the seeker needs suffering to enter Zen from and when I read it I could feel how he even brought ultimate humility to even just speaking about suffering he has. His words from his writings are very profound, I'm not sure I've stumbled upon more insight in terms of volume than this.
Spot on. I’ve experienced many times of self sabotage due to this. I’ve learned how to become more mindful of rising platforms
This video helped me gain so much mental clarity I wasn't aware I needed. This makes so much sense and puts my personal struggles into perspective, thank you Leo
So glad I found this video today. My dreams are coming true and everything in me wants to go back to my comfort zone. Everything you're saying makes sense. I hate the way I feel right now
Leo. Gracias por tu compromiso de hacer videos semanalmente. Tuve la suerte de encontrar tu canal hace aproximadamente tres años y desde ese entonces he ido profundizando en tu enfoque. Tu mapa no es perfecto pero si muy sólido.
This video is eye opening. Now I understand more about why I walked away from a 6 figure business, and have been struggling financially since then. I've been dealing with major ego backlash from dealing with too many changes all at once. Now I realize I shouldn't have made such huge decisions when I was dealing with an ego backlash. I'm learning though, so I can handle it better the next time it happens.
Thank you for shooting this, it means so much knowing that this is a normal part of spirituality, thank you leo
Leo differentiating btwn states and stages is profound. If you give up during a ego backlash and don't suffer mindfully then you miss out on an opportunity to rise to a higher stage... regardless of how good your positive state was. Transcend oscillation between states and rise to a higher stage.
Great video for these troubling times. If we are ever going to survive on this planet, we have to quiet our minds and keep our egos in check. Presence is needed. Don't forget to mark a special day on your calendar: World Ego Awareness Day (WEAD) is on May 11th of this year.
I had an ego backlash a couple of days ago, and it felt great! I realized that once in a while worldly living is needed.
Perfect timing. Thank you leo.. I had my first real big enlightenment experience some weeks ago . This ecperience changed my life bigtime. I now dont Believe im a fysical body anylonger, it is awsome. I knew i could expect a big ego backlash. But man.. I didnt expect the backlash to be so "big".
Thank you for helping me understand this work better. You really have helped me alot.
This might be the single most important video for me on UA-cam.. I can identify so many instances of ego backlash. In general, it seems whenever I want to move ahead - read an informative book, do a course which will help me improve, write to develop my craft - I feel an invisible force coming up in my head, pushing back all these thoughts with counter statements like "you are not that good", or "you will be rejected", etc.. You know the pattern. But one thing I do not understand is how to get to the root of this hurt/pain/payoff the ego is getting by staying in comfort zone?
See my videos: Understanding Survival Parts 1 & 2
@@ActualizedOrg thank you for the quick response. Will check them out. 😀
Thank you for this good question
I experienced this as well over the last week or two. I have something to add as well as maybe my experience of going through it would help others. About when to know to slow down and to speed up again. When to tilt into these feelings and tilt back out of it. And that that is ok. As you said it is an up and down. For myself I have to make sure not to tilt too far or it can lead into a depression. So that's why i write the following.
When I started feeling the intense emotions it began with a feeling of stress, I journaled and what came out was that I needed to slow down. Im a stay at home mom, but active with her and also working on myself, healing and growing etc. I've been doing great, changing bad habits adding good ones, being mindful etc. But now I listened and slowed down. And I started to feel a lot of pain. Suffering is accurate. It was already there but now in my slow down I felt it intensely. I stayed with it and accepted it most of the time.
I continued meditating longer and using music at certain times as a way to express these feelings even more. This entire process of allowing the pain to be felt was scary I realize it was because i was afraid of losing my progress and getting stuck there.
Now a week or so in to slowing down, i feel some things have loosened up but now I am starting to get uncomfortable with going too far. I saw today i slipped into some bad habits again, maybe as a way of coping. Tonight while journaling I saw it was enough what i had done or gone through for now and that I can resume my growth activities. The feeling the emotions are growth too but of a more DIRECT spiritual nature, maybe foundational work as you said.
What you said struck me. That you have to know when to slow down and you have to know where you are and go from there. I know you meant that a certain way. But for me it meant knowing when i had tilted too far into this emotional state.
This may not apply to everyone obviously everyone is different. But for me I have been prone to depression and obsessive thinking so when i saw i had passed the sweet spot you could say and had gone to far in one direction i had to now pull back. I also realize this may extend the process of growth and healing but i am ok with that for now. This is where i am.
Excuse the repetitiveness but i wanted to make my point clear. Thank you for the video!
That's what happened to me, I had a job payed good, then I saw the oax ox? I became a zen devil and ego backlashed, I've lost my girlfriend, and my job. I haven't been able to write a CV for 2 years, just been drifting, even tho, I had this mi d blowing revelation. I didn't know what to do with it, when it happened m, I felt this love, and confidence that no movie or sang can petray, to morrow Im going to meet a psychiatrist, I've been very stubborn, so I've said no and canceled the outher times. I really appreciate that you are making these videos, I've watched allot of them, and it is weird to say that you are going g to change my life. Especially by making this one, I'm 27.31 seconds in now. And I cross my fingers that you have some way of making me understand how a spiritual person can get back on hes tracks. I'm tired of being, passive, I write allot and say allo, and get some good insights, and post I Instagram posts about our potencial. But I've been so deep in this rabbit hole. That im stuck.
What helped me is to set time lying in bed and just let myself go and what I mean by that is to let where my thoughts go. In that process I've opened up the gates to feel. I cried many many many times, even in dreams in order to heal. I don't even have thoughts while I'm crying, I just feel. You don't need to analyze the emotions. It's hurtful yes I even had a sensation where my heart or chest area was literally been twisted but it's all worth it. It's liberating and healing.
Thank you for your honesty at the end! I was in a recovery house for awhile that was actually very successful. I ended up working there for 5 years and worked my way up from 3rd shift to Assistant Director. That's where I staled out. Stopped growing. (Spiritually) I've been getting into this work for a little while now and ran across you a month or do ago. You're a great teacher! I see a lot of similarities. But...AA only took me so far. I've heard you talk about that too. Just want to say thank you for your time and Free encouragement!
It took a brutal break up to bring up some years of hidden suffering. Ive been depressed and addicted to weed for the last 5 years. Im starting to get over my retraction, this vids timing was perfect
This was my favorite episode in a while. Leo seemed really honest and open.
To me ego backlash is like a well worn path that we are used to . A rut so to speak , we get out of the rut and the well worn path will try to suck you back in , it will even entice you with comfortable thoughts . Have to be super aware .i have gotten on and off kratom 5 times in 8 months and I recognize the pull , one thing you said that really helped is after you go through the worst painful experience that’s when you have the most profound experience after . I get to a new space .. I can feel it .. I’ll get enticed by my thoughts to fall back into old well worn patterns . Even with the so called “ falling back “ I remain in love with my growth , no matter how long or hard it is . Momentum is there .