90 +21 7. JOURNAL Epictetus the slave. Marcus Aurelius the emperor. Seneca the power broker and playwright. These three radically different men led radically different lives. But they seemed to have one habit in common: Journaling. In one form or another, each of them did it. It would be Epictetus who would admonish his students that philosophy was something they should “write down day by day,” that this writing was how they “should exercise themselves.” Seneca’s favorite time to journal was in the evenings. When darkness had fallen and his wife had gone asleep, he explained to a friend, “I examine my entire day and go back over what I’ve done and said, hiding nothing from myself, passing nothing by.” Then he would go to bed, finding that “the sleep which follows this self-examination” was particularly sweet. And Marcus, he was the most prodigious of journalers, and we are lucky enough that his writings survive to us, appropriately titled, Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, Ta eis heauton, or “to himself.” in Stoicism the art of journaling is more than some simple diary. This daily practice is the philosophy. Preparing for the day ahead. Reflecting on the day that has passed. Reminding oneself of the wisdom we have learned from our teachers, from our reading, from our own experiences. It’s not enough to simply hear these lessons once, instead, one practices them over and over again, turns them over in their mind, and most importantly, writes them down and feels them flowing through their fingers in doing so. In this way, journaling is Stoicism. It’s almost impossible to have one without the other.
True, my friend. Being honest is one of the most important thing here. We all need to remember your words. Why are we doing what we're doing? We need to answer this question and keep that answer in our mind. What are the benefits of cold showers in your opinion? What good is it doing to you? I'm on day 10!
The first time I surpassed 90 days, I wasn't sure what to do next. I was just journaling and wasn't on a challenge forum. The goal of 90 days had motivated me enough to reach the target, but on day 95 or so I relapsed because I hadn't established a good enough support system. After that, I had a few shorter streaks of no PMO followed by relapse until I started the streak I'm on now. I began this streak on the 90-day challenge forum and once I accomplished it, I moved immediately to the 365-day challenge forum. That worked, I have the support I need to keep going. Not sure if I'll need to be a life-time member of nofap or if there really is such a thing as a cure. For alcoholics, they accept themselves as alcoholics for life regardless of how many years they abstain. They are "recovering alcoholics" until the day they die. Perhaps we need to use the same viewpoint about porn addiction.
^Raw truth of optimal wisdom right there^ Only in the grave should you rest! I believe the benefits all revolve around becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable and just feeling better overall, friend. Personally, from my own experiences, my productivity has increased substantially ever since starting each one of my days with them. I get things done earlier and at a quicker speed which has granted me more free time. Taking cold showers after working out has also made me able to more easily relieve muscle soreness and granted me the ability to train thaiboxing more frequently without needing as much recovery time as before I started taking them. Other than that, I have also noticed how I feel more readiness and confidence for all sorts of social encounters which is a quality that I believe is worth preserving. Hope that answers the question, my man. Now let’s climb to the top!
Yes I agree with you, I had a streak of 230 days I was motivated to reach 180 days and I did great improvements in my life. Then I was almost delghted of my target. Anyway, some improvements are not lost. Now it is difficult to restart again but I want to be motivated by this challenge. Now it is day 2
Day 24. On top of the world right now because I went to a site and was about to watch porn when something kicked in, even though I'd had a rough day, even though I wanted it, I turned off my computer. Woke up today at 5, went on a run and did the wim hof method.
It has to me in the past. It's hard to tell exactly what does it - I think for me it was more the lack of confidence and the anxiety that came along with porn addiction rather than not being attracted to the girl I was with, but all the same if it's not working right? Don't know how long you've gone without before, but last time I quit PMO for three months by about half way through I was no longer having problems in that department.