Yes. Of course, I left during crucial years of development. My inner self bloomed. I still become furious with authority figures. The subjugation of women is good luck. I always was a feminist and worked for the NOW Legal Defense Fund on two or three landmark gender cases before the U.S. Supreme cases. Men note that I am a feminist when it works for me and not so fervent when a traditional stance would work to my benefit. It hurts that my family became involved with the JWs. I became more a traditional but that could be the impact of law school and practice. My social skills are much better. It took hard work.
How Have You Changed Much In Attitude & Actions Since Leaving The Witnesses?
by minimus 21 Replies latest jw friends
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AlwaysBusy
I haven't left (although, according to Witnesses I have), but since I have been a Witness, I have learned to never trust or get close to anyone inside or outside the org. I have learned that if I am bullied, to bully back. I have learned that animals are more loving and loyal than people. I have learned to enjoy this life and all of the beautiful things in it, to enjoy the peacefulness of nature, since it is much more comforting than being with humans. I was never judgemental as an active Witness, or at anytime in my life. I don't judge, that's not my job.
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minimus
I'm much nicer too.
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sloppyjoe2
Technically I am still in. But what changed for me was when the generations teaching changed in 1995 I was still in middle school. It was then I realized I needed to make long term life choices as there was no paradise coming soon. I chose a career and a life path. In that process I stopped judging everyone good or bad. I realized that I actually know nothing and a big part of life is learning new things, exploring them for yourself. I realized soon from that point on my whole life results were based on my own choices and decisions. I am responsible for the good and the bad. I love life now, I pursue everything I want. I want to make money, I pursue it. I want to travel I go. I want to do something I do it. Life can be actually great if you take responsibility for it and for yourself. Taking responsibility means when something doesn't go the way you wanted it to, you research and figure out why and what you did wrong. You figure out what to do differently in the future and prepare yourself for that. Take responsibility for yourself and those you are responsible for. Life is good.
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steve2
I'm nicer... I think - but as my now-deceased JW mother would say, "in small doses".
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minimus
Realizing that JWs have no business to judge anyone is a wake up call!
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daringhart13
Dramatically.
I have a true, to the core "live and let live" attitude. Unless it's hurting people or causing danger, do whatever the hell you want.
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minimus
Daring heart, I agree with you.
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LisaRose
It's been a gradual process since I left. Finding out everything you believed was a lie was a huge wake up, but change takes time, so I am still working on it almost 14 years later. I have looked at everything I thought I knew and challenged every belief I had. I have tried to educate myself about science and evolution. I have thought a lot about faith, the bible and God. I try to look at every every aspect of something before I make a conclusion. I am very much a work in process.
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just fine
I am much more tolerant of myself and others. It took quite a awhile to get past judging everyone for everything. In a college class the professor talked about religions that shun as a form of discipline. He asked one of the Mormon's "if your god is great and powerful why does he need you to be hurtful and mean to other people? Can't he take care of it himself if he disagrees with what someone is doing?" That clicked for me, I don't have to save the world, I only have to save myself. Meaning - I make decisions for me that feel right, and everyone else is allowed to make decisions that feel right to them. Life is so much easier................