Becoming a Bitcoiner by Dancing In The Discomfort Zone
By DJ Valerie B LOVE - The Vibe Goddess
The Freedom Journey
”How has Bitcoin changed you and your relationships”?
This is a question I love to ask guests on my podcast.
They share a wide array of answers ranging from:
“It has brought us closer and now we have a Bitcoin business and travel the world together”
to
“I am now divorced because I have discovered and made a commitment to my authentic self and our missions have become too incompatible”.
As we bravely venture down the neverending, multi-dimensional rabbit hole of Bitcoin, our hearts, minds, & souls are confronted with challenges that rock the foundations of our former “reality” aka the fiat Matrix.
These challenges test our conviction to this newfound truth machine that links us all across planet Earth.
For those of us brave enough to accept the challenges, part of the journey is to question and honestly assess our former worldview, our relationships, and, of course, ourselves.
We are forced to confront our current life path.
We are presented with previously unknown yet now undeniable truths.
We may feel like we are being torn apart in the middle of a tug-of-war.
Torn between the past and the future.
Torn between old familiar illusions and unsettling new truths.
An existence that was once our perceived safe haven - our comfort zone - is now glaringly incongruent with our next chapter of life.
We are forced to decide between the Old vs New in 3 areas:
System: Corruption vs Truth
Self: Caterpillar vs Butterfly
Relationships: Incompatible vs Aligned
This is the true Bitcoiner’s Dilemma.
“No one said becoming a Bitcoiner would be easy. But it’s worth it“ DJV
System: Corruption vs Truth
When you first realized that almost everything you have been taught about business, money, media, education, health, and government are lies meant to enslave you as a cog in the machine of the elite, I bet you were just as infuriated as I was.
“We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control”
Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd
The Virulent Kraken
I always felt like the global system, aka “ the Kraken”, was broken.
For decades I had the naive perspective that if we all just practiced personal responsibility, shared love, demonstrated kindness, and worked hard, the world would be a better place for all.
As an endlessly hopeful romantic, artist, and lover, I still deeply believe in those practices, yet now I know there was a missing ingredient to that equation: sound money.
My journey into the rabbit hole was prompted by the Beeple sale of an NFT for $69 million in March of 2021.
I was curious; why the hell would anyone pay that for a jpeg? I wondered how this blockchain crypto stuff could help alleviate the starving artist syndrome that so many creators suffer.
Up to that point, I mistakenly lumped all crypto together, including Bitcoin.
I watched Alex Gladstein of the Human Rights Foundation speak at Bitcoin 2021 in Miami from my living room couch during lockdowns and knew immediately that these Bitcoiners were my people and that Bitcoin was worthy of exploring deeper as a tool for peace.
I have always been on a mission to spread love and bring more peace on Earth, and I believe that Bitcoin, when combined with radical personal responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to truth can bring more peace to all, now and for generations to come.
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one”
Imagine by John Lennon
Once I learned what money is, (thanks Saifedean Ammous) and how not having sound money has corrupted our systems (internal and external), I knew I could never go back.
It is scary and overwhelming to question the “system” that we have all been indoctrinated into.
Paradigm shifts are inherently destabilizing at every level: mental, physical, emotional, financial, spiritual, & relational.
No one likes to feel duped, so sometimes our egos try to reject the truth.
But once we see the truth, it is our duty to reject the lies of the/our current system of government, education, finance, health, and social structures.
Otherwise, we remain slaves to the corrupt “Kraken”.
“And now you do what they told ya…. Now you’re under control…
F@ck you I won’t do what you tell me!”
Killin’ in the Name - Rage Against the Machine
The Flaming Sword of Truth
You must decide.
Corruption or Truth.
This is the Bitcoiner’s Dilemma.
Self: Caterpillar vs Butterfly
At many points along the journey, you will question yourself, your sanity, and this uncharted new way of being.
It’s perfectly natural.
But when you are in the goo of the in-between stage, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, it can be scary AF.
“Does it feel that your life's become a catastrophe?
Oh, it has to be, for you to grow, boy”
Long Way Home - Supertramp
Divine Goo
A butterfly is designed by Mother Nature to withstand the uncertainty of the messy gooey chrysalis stage.
So are you.
When a butterfly emerges from the once safe, yet constrained chrysalis, it has to embrace a brand new way of being and thinking about itself and the world.
If it stays in the chrysalis it will die.
“The struggle is at times so intense that the butterfly may seem near death, but it is critical at this point that no one comes to rescue her.
She needs to do it by herself.
You see, the struggle to open her cocoon is what builds the strength in her wings”
Abbie Shelter
It has a new winged suit and operating system that may take some getting used to.
It gravitates toward other butterflies as it watches the world from its brand-new perspective, flying high around the gorgeous gardens.
Other caterpillars may or may not embark on the unfamiliar journey to become a butterfly but the newly winged butterfly is now on a mission to fly and pollinate beautiful flowers around the world, and it is not the responsibility of the butterfly to turn other caterpillars into butterflies.
Its mission is to simply be a butterfly.
This analogy may seem trite but it is a great way to view our journey as newly winged Bitcoiners.
In the next section, I’ll discuss relationships and how it relates to Bitcoiners and Butterflies.
But for now, let’s talk about you, my dear.
As a Bitcoiner, you value truth, integrity, purpose, and love.
Unfortunately, as a survival mechanism, you may have been shrinking, lying, and cheating on yourself in order to “fit in” to the old fiat world because you wanted to be accepted, belong, and feel loved or simply because you didn’t know there was another way of living your truth.
Being a Bitcoiner means doing the brave inner work of understanding and healing your past in service of being free and powerful to live your mission.
You are confronted with the choice of remaining in the old fiat mindset operating system or making the leap of faith into this new world of truth, love, and code.
Making big life changes is hard and scary.
But as Glennon Doyle’s mom says,
“We can do hard things”.
As Bitcoiners we are taught to “Don’t trust, verify”.
As spiritual beings, we are told to “Let go and let God”.
Our hearts and souls crave freedom and rely on intuition and “vibes” for making decisions.
However, our minds and egos want solid answers and control before making decisions.
The fear of making a “wrong” decision can paralyze us into staying in the goo which is where our bodies, minds, and souls will most certainly die.
We think somehow that having “answers” or a “plan” or “perfect timing” will eliminate fear.
It doesn’t.
The only thing that calms fear is doing the thing we are afraid of, like jumping out of an airplane.
Talking about it and discussing where you plan to land will not eliminate the fear.
Jumping out of the airplane is the only thing that will actually relieve the fear.
The same is true for big life decisions and saying YES to yourself and your truth.
Our hearts and souls know and feel the right path and the consequences will be rewarding and sometimes painful.
Temple of Truth
We know in our hearts as Bitcoiners if we do not choose to live authentically in all areas of life and pursue truth we will be hypocrites, and that hypocrisy will devour our souls like a malignant tumor.
Especially if we are vocal proponents of Bitcoin, truth, and freedom.
We know we must never abandon ourselves again if we are to walk the path of a Bitcoiner.
The good thing is we are not alone and we must never give up.
“I won’t let you get me down, I’ll keep getting up when I hit the ground,
No I never give up, no I never give up, no no“
Never Give Up by Sia
One of the reasons Bitcoin is sound money is because of proof-of-work.
Not proof of easy
Not proof of comfort zone
Not proof of I want everyone to like me
Rather than avoid the discomfort zone that life inevitably gives us, I believe it is our duty to train ourselves to become comfortable in the discomfort zone.
The discomfort zone won’t kill us.
The discomfort zone only makes us stronger.
Like the butterfly getting stronger by actually breaking free from the once-protective chrysalis.
You are the only one who can strengthen yourself.
No one can go to the gym for you.
No one can meditate for you.
No one can train your mind for you.
It’s. All. You.
You cannot lie to nor cheat on your authentic self any longer.
The choices are:
You spread your glorious authentic wings and fly toward a bright orange future with fellow Bitcoiner butterflies.
Or…
You attempt to go back to the cocoon, shrinking and deforming yourself in order to be accepted in your family, your community, or your old tribe. (Let me know how that goes- squeezing back into that tiny space with those big bright orange wings of yours)
“Tell me who the F*** are you”?
Who Are You by The Who
You must decide.
Caterpillar or Butterfly.
This is the Bitcoiner’s Dilemma.
Relationships: Incompatible vs Aligned
If you’re anything like me, you value caring for others, especially family and close friends.
You value lifting others up, doing kind things, and being a cheerleader for their big dreams and success.
You want to live up to your old agreements and be dutiful and responsible.
The idea of disappointing others you care about gnaws at your heart.
However, along your journey down the rabbit hole, you may have found your relationships drastically changing because people in your life think you are crazy and wear a tin foil hat.
Perhaps loved ones think you have joined a cult?
They may want you to put the Bitcoin genie back in the bottle. But it’s 100% impossible.
Bitcoin Portal of Possibility
Bitcoin has permeated your being like a drop of bright orange dye in a glass of water and cannot ever be removed.
Ever.
Denying and resisting what you know to be true is what leads to suffering and derangement.
Some of the biggest battles we face as Bitcoiners are with the loved ones who desperately cling to the past because the truth is too hard or “crazy” to process.
For those of you lucky enough to have family and friends who are on the mission, congrats!
For those of us who have family and friends who want to commit us to the insane asylum, reject this new, butterfly version of us, or convert us back to our B.B. selves (Before Bitcoin) it’s a tougher slog.
Sometimes spiritual evolution requires changing relationship agreements to match new information.
Agreements we made as caterpillars with other caterpillars must change if we are to fly freely as butterflies.
It is painful to watch as loved ones refuse and resist. Yet like the butterfly, it is not our duty to force them to grow and join the journey.
Sometimes we are the ones suffering and resisting change because we are clinging to the nostalgia of the past.
“I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no you won't”
I Can’t Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt
Outgrown
Our job is to be a butterfly and fly with other butterflies spreading the pollen of love and Bitcoin to welcoming flowers across the planet.
Perhaps one day those caterpillars will join. Perhaps not.
But a butterfly fails at its new mission if it stays on the ground trying to convince caterpillars to fly, especially if the caterpillars ask the butterflies not to fly.
A teacher once told me, as I shared how guilty I felt about my children and family not being on the same spiritual path and the Bitcoin path as I am,
“It is not my job to interfere with another person’s spiritual curriculum”.
Ugh. He told me that guilt is one of the most destructive yet easy-to-fix emotions.
That was tough to hear because I am a devoted mother and I care very deeply about my family, even my co-parent who I love very much.
I thought it was my duty and role to put their needs and desires above my own and I mistakenly adopted a martyr complex.
The fix for my feelings of guilt was to be true to my heart, mission, and soul and to be rigorously honest and transparent with them so they could love me as I am and I could be an example for them to do the same and be authentic expressions of themselves.
It wasn’t and still isn’t easy especially since they still think I am crazy and that Bitcoin is “stupid”.
As lonely as it can be inside my own family, I have surrendered to the truth that we care for each other yet are simply not compatible and that’s ok.
We still love each other very much and I fulfill my responsibilities, yet I am not chained to the past false identity of who I thought I was supposed to be in order to be a dutiful Mom or wife.
Free To Be You and Me
I am free to be me and they are free to be themselves.
What a gift.
The magical wonder of Bitcoin is that it brings so many diverse new people together on a shared mission.
The painful part is that it also causes irreversible spiritual awakenings that lead to incompatibility going forward in friendships, marriages, and partnerships.
Fear of the unfamiliar new world may cause us to contort and try to shrink ourselves back into the old pseudo-comfort zone in order to keep the “peace” in our homes, workplaces, and friendships.
But it is not an actual pure peace.
It is the walking on eggshells, powderkeg kind of peace.
Something’s gotta give, and rest assured it will.
It is only a matter of time.
Once you have experienced the truth, beauty and possibility of Bitcoin butterfly life, you can never unfeel or unsee it.
Partners in Purpose
You will align and gravitate toward other butterflies like the Earth gravitates toward the sun.
Those who are meant to fly with you will.
Those who are incompatible and not meant to fly will not, no matter how hard you try.
You must take an honest inventory of your relationships and decide.
“Should I stay or should I go now?”
The Clash
Incompatible vs Aligned.
This is the Bitcoiner’s Dilemma.
The Choice
“With every single breath, you have a choice”. - DJV
So, do you really want to change or do you just want to want to change?
The truth is most people do not truly want to change and that is verified by seeing that they simply do not change.
They want to want it, and they want it to be easy, painless, and fast.
Just like changing from fiat to Bitcoin, it’s not easy and takes daily courage, work, and conviction especially when there is soul-sabotaging FUD everywhere.
The wonderful opportunity that comes along with the Bitcoiner’s Dilemma is now that you have been shown the truth, you have the power to choose and say yes to your old default comfort zone way of living in a “comfortably numb” cocoon, or you can choose to say yes to a bright orange future, spread your wings and “let the sun shine in” as you fly through God’s skies dancing in the discomfort zone with faith and grace.
Soul Tribe
You are the only one to give yourself this permission slip to remove the old self-imposed limitations and embrace a truly sovereign life.
With love and care, you can choose to move forward, renegotiate old contracts, feel the fear and do it anyway, all while trusting in the infinite intelligence and love of God to support us all on this long strange trip called life.
The accompanying grief that comes with saying goodbye to the old you, watching your worldview crumble, and allowing outgrown relationships to break apart, is very real and must be honored.
It’s a lifelong process.
It’s not all peaches and cream now that we have this tool called Bitcoin.
Now the inner work begins.
And the best part is we have each other, my fellow Bitcoiners.
You are not alone.
When you say YES to your unique mission the following occurs:
You discover new ways of aligning yourself in a new society that you help build.
You attract Divine expansion partners in purpose.
You stand powerfully and peacefully in your purest expression of truth.
Not a watered-down version so others may approve of you and feel better in their illusion.
Those days are over.
If I knew I would lose friends, upset my family, and walk this sometimes terrifying uncharted life path just because I wanted to learn about some dude named Beeple, then stumble deep down the Bitcoin rabbit hole, would I have done it?
Bitcoin Warrioress
Damn right I would.
I’m a Bitcoiner.
Would you?
Fiat past or Bitcoin future?
What is your choice?
“If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice”.
Anonymous