If you don't believe in God where do you get the strength to cope? (page 8)

Miss.Fit

Thanks for your support.

Nickolas: I appreciate your insightful comments. It sounds like your philosophy is similar together the Golden Rule.

Minimizing suffering..maximize happiness of loved ones. Where did you that perspective from? concentrating on your loved ones happiness leads to personal streghth? So your saying to look outside of myself?

Flipper: Im happy for you that you have good support outside the org.

I have always been withdrawn. when you are caught between 2 worlds it is easy to fall through the cracks. I am having a hard time wanting to do anything. I guess ill try to start small. May be a walk.

B

ella: rediscover life. I've been passive most of my life. rediscovering requires action. I like the idea of new discoveries. Its time to get my head out of the sand and see the possibilities.

Nickolas

Similar to the Golden Rule, Miss.Fit, except it goes beyond the human connection. Not sure who I may have heard it from initially. It's a well accepted humanist understanding of what constitutes morality, as opposed to morality dictated by a holy book or creed or pronouncement from on high. The Golden Rule by the way really is a beautiful moral precept but it was espoused several centuries before Jesus of Nazareth in his sermon on the mount. Do some research into Zoroaster, Buddha, Confucius and Epictetus. There were other philosophers too but they don't come directly to mind. But no, not what I'm saying exactly. The peace you seek you will find only within yourself when you comprehend what is really important in life and after you accept yourself for the person you are.

Vidiot

Miss.Fit - "So where do you get your strength from to face your adversities?"

Alcohol.

Vidiot

nugget - "Praying at the time meant that I had someone who would work with me to make things better and see me through. However I had to do all the work myself."

Yeah, I remember that.

When I eventually figured out that no one was gonna help me but me, I lost most of my motivation to pray.

Haven't done it in years.

frankiespeakin

I still catch myself praying like an old habit that won't quit they are usually short and kind of automatic, sometimes I just go with it.

Miss.Fit

Nickolas: how does it go beyond the human connection? Does there happen to be aDummys Guide to philosophy around?

Vidiot :alcohol....hows that working for you. Whats your favorite? Im partial to magaritas. But the other night I settled for crystal light and rum.

Franki....I know what you mean.. I do too, especially when I am stressed.

Lisa Rose.... I think being invisable is a defense we throw up to avoid getting hurt. Then it becomes a habbit.

I dont seem to be able to get past superficial interactions.

I actually followed through and got some meds. Wasnt sure if I was going to. Im tired of no joy.

Made it through another day.

Missy

LisaRose

I am glad you got some meds, they are not a total solution, but they can help to get out of a funk so you can start thinking in a more positive way. But sometimes they become ineffective after a while, so you need a plan to get your brain chemistry working better without meds. I have some chronic health issues, so I realized I did not have the luxury of letting myself get out of whack. One thing I found helpful is to sit down every day and write. It doesn't matter what you write, just do it. This is a useful tool to get unpleasant emotions up and out. Sometimes our fears are really silly when you look at it objectively, writing helps you identify what is going on. It is also important to say what you are grateful for, that is part of learning to think in a more positive way.

As dubs we were forced to bury any ideas or emotion that did not fit the Witness ideal. What happens is you learn to do that unconsciously, so you forget how to feel your true feelings, especially if you are a people pleaser, like me. Other people turned to critisizing others, that's why gossiping is so endemic in the congregations. It takes time to deal with all that and reprogram yourself to be normal. The congregations are full of people who are not really happy and trying not to show it, it's a lot to overcome that mind set, but it can be done.

Miss.Fit

Thanks LisaRose. You ars absolutely right about burying your emotions. So writing down your thoughts helps you get in touch with your emotions? Maybe part of the problem is that I am not allowing myself to acknowledge the anger and hurt.

I am sorry to hear about your health problem. It must be hard t o stay positive. I will try to fo llow your advice.

Tho I liked Outlaws remedy.lol.

Missy

Miss.Fit

I just got off the phone with my mom. Talk about depressing. She is In her 80s and thinks the end is near and she hopes she will make it through to paradise so she can see her dad and sisters. She would like all of us to be there together but she doubts my 2 UB sisters will make it. But other children will be resurected that will need to be taken care of.

I never realised how easily we wrote people off as worthy to die. We dont stop and think about what we were really saying. That they deserve to die.

I didn't have the energy to discuss it with her. I just made my excuses and hung up. The sad thing is a year ago I probably would have agreed with her and mourned their impending death.

So now im trying not to invision my mom in paradise raising someone elses kids as if hers never existed.

Im so glad I started my meds.

Missy

perfect1

Hi Miss Fit- about your mom- sounds like a grotesque but typical conversation.

As to your OP- strength eventually comes from within. You will find it in yourself.

If you don't believe in God where do you get the strength to cope?

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