1. How did you build up a new social structure after leaving the JW religion? Myspace was actually incredibly helpful. I was able to find old school mates and some wonderful fellow ex-jw's who really helped open my eyes... I too looked to my non-witness family for support and found quite a surplus of it:) 2. Have you made fulfilling friendships and where did you find those friends? Oh yes, old friends I had abondoned welcomed me back with open arms, myspace, friends of friends, partying in Denver and just being social... 3. Do you have a spirituality now and if so, how do you compare it with the JW religion? Yes, but it is my own brand. I now can only classify myself as an agnostic/humanist/hedonist who believes in karma. My beliefs are a far cry from anything religious, lol. 4. What is the best advice you can think of to give to someone who has recently left the JWs - in terms of how to rebuild their life? Don't lose hope. Life will only get better and better. Please research everything in regards to your former faith before deciding whether or not to return to it. Try new things, do all the things you wanted to do before but couldn't, take some yoga classes, enroll in some college classes. Party it up, but don't lose your head and please stay safe. Try and keep an open-mind on things and listen to the views of others without judgement. The world is not all bad as you were taught to beleive. Just have some fun! Go out dancing, attend some concerts,find what makes you tick and find out who you truly are. DON'T GET SUCKED BACK INTO THE CULT OR ANY OTHER FOR THAT MATTER. Research, Research, RESEARCH!
gypsygraver
JoinedPosts by gypsygraver
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How did you build a new life outside of the JWs?
by Sirona in"if you leave jehovah's organisation, where will you go?".
no doubt many of us have been asked that question.
so where did you "go" when you left the jws?
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Let's share some happiness!!!
by momzcrazy init is a beautiful day.
the sun is out and the birds are singing.
i have wonderful friends, a precious man i love, and healthy happy kids.. can anyone join me in sharing the love and beauty in their life?
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gypsygraver
For those of you who find it hard to see any happiness in their day, I though this article might help you: Taken from: http://www.carriehart.com/daily_portion.htm#2-17%20safe%20at%20home Safe at Home The louder people talk about fear, the more you must shield yourself and come into your own center. The noisier the clamor, the deafer must be your ears. Their talk of war, danger, and economic disaster can feel like a storm raging around you. And so you must remember that you are a solid house made of brick, bricks you have been building your entire lifetime. You are protected by bricks of love and joy, bricks of self-knowledge and bricks of belief, both in yourself and in the help that is there for you. You are safe and sound in your brick house. You are contained and comforted. Here, inside your brick house, a fire blazes cheerfully and you are warmed. And you supply that fire, that fuel. You and your belief, your inner truth and light, supply all that you need to weather the storms of life. You are warmed by the truth that glows brightly. You provide your own security, the security of knowing that you are just as you need to be and that you have everything that is required to live a life of joy, peace and love. Yes, love, for in this house of yours, you are not alone, not at all. You have within you, not only the ability to fully take care of yourself, but also great love and companionship, for you have a way to lift yourself up and up, far beyond the limitations of this physical life, into a place above the storm. You have a magic golden ladder of faith, connection and love that you can just extend upwards at any time and it will pierce through any storm clouds that may be around you, up even through howling winds, lightning and thunder, and bring you to the peace that always abides above it all. And from that place of grace, you can reach outward to all of the others who have climbed their golden ladders and connect with them deeply. And as you sit in this wondrous place of grace, knowing that you are love and only love, you can look down at the storming clouds below, look down upon the roiling fear, and choose to go instead into your inner heart of peace, love and truth, and to carry this gift of truth and love back down with you inside your heart, as you sit in your warm and cozy house, protected from the storms of fear. Live in both of these levels at once, in every moment, so that the love and peace you carry in your heart will warm you with an inner glow, more comforting even than the warmest cloak on a cold and windy day. Whenever you need to make important decisions, remember to go to that warm glow. Find the shelter of your inner home, curl up quietly at your own inner fires and find guidance there. The storm outside has no guidance for you. The guidance is all here, inside, safe and sound. You may look out your windows to see which way the storm is blowing, but do not open your windows and doors to the blowing fear and allow it to chill you. Stay centered. Stand at the hearth and keep the fires of truth and love blazing high. Repair the roof and replace the broken windows. And know that if you do allow fear to blow through you for a time, the embers of your fire will never go completely out. You can always return to them and fan them back into being. You can always recover yourself and become strong enough to close the doors and windows to fear. And whenever you need it, that magical golden ladder is there for you to climb, so that you may lift yourself up and out of the storm for an hour, or even a few minutes, climb up into the state of grace and remember that nothing, nothing, is stronger than the love that you are.