I realized something today... (page 2)

tall penguin

"It's not up to us to free jw's from the wt, iether." So true Satanus! People will only see what they're ready to see. I'm learning this.
damselfly, you said, "Are you the voice in my head?!" It's quite possible we just hear the same voice! I'm meeting lots of people in their early 30's who are going through the same epiphanous moments these days. I almost wonder whether we're energetically tied together in this learning right now. Hmmm...
tall penguin

theinfamousone

tall penguin, i wanna work in your bookstore, its always been my dream to work in a little bookstore, and eventually to own one!!! please let me work for u, u know ill attract customers, especially of the female persuasion...

the infamous one

rebel8

Today, I basically shouted to the universe, "F**k this! I don't want to save people anymore.

Exactly how I felt when I left Social Work!

tall penguin

theinfamousone, you can work in my bookstore any day! Hey, aren't you in Toronto? I could perhaps hook you up with a job!!! pm me!
rebel8, yup, I thought you'd be able to relate to my shout-out. Damn, it felt so good! It was hard to admit that I just don't want to help people in that way anymore, as if I'm letting people down by not trying to save them. That jw mentality creeps in there, that sense of responsibility, that sense of everyone else's happiness being more important than my own. It's challenging to over-ride that crap. But I'm getting there.

xjwms

Sounds like you're on the right track.

daystar

I'm with you. Sometimes I still feel this urge to "help" people in some grandiose fashion. But most days I'd just like to run some small gas station up in the mountains and live simply.

kid-A

Sometimes I still feel this urge to "help" people in some grandiose fashion

I hate to be the voice of dissent here, but since when did "helping" people become a bad thing? I know my medical research will someday potentially help millions of people. I just dont see this as a negative. And more importantly, it has nothing to do with my former JW indoctrination. It is important not to confuse the "JW" concept of "helping" people, which is not helping people at all, simply brainwashing people, to the concept of "helping" people that motivates most health professionals. They are entirely different modes of thought with entirely different consequences. Regardless, virtually all jobs and professions serve the public in some form or another.

seeitallclearlynow

That's wonderful, tall penguin. So good to be able to let go of the responsibility - the intense sense of responsibility that is, for others' lives, well being, actions.

We were taught and pushed to be so intrusive about our concern for others....But even aside from that, to be out from under that pressure is so nice. Glad to hear you're happier!

Interesting that you say your working in a book store helped bring you to your recent realizations. I've just started working in a major book store too, and it has had me thinking too. Funny. It's like a little fantasy world, where nothing really matters all that much; it's all for entertainment, nothing to get all worked up about, as you say. Big, big change from my past jobs too. Interesting!

daystar

I hate to be the voice of dissent here, but since when did "helping" people become a bad thing?

Oh, come on. You should know full well that that is not what I'm talking about here.

ackack

Yes, i think we need to distinguish between helping people and feeling responsible for people.

ackack

I realized something today...

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