Joel Bear, I agree with you. Low self estemm is the root of the world's problems. I know you have had bouts of self doubt, esteem issues, and depression. I just want you to know that all of us here really like you, and I hope that, that accounts for something in your book. I wish you the best, brother Joel.
Posts by larc
-
43Self Esteem
by larc ini have heard some people say that they have low self esteem.
i don't understand that.
why did you choose to have low self esteem?
-
-
-
43
Self Esteem
by larc ini have heard some people say that they have low self esteem.
i don't understand that.
why did you choose to have low self esteem?
-
-
larc
As Englishman pointed out, I raised this issue to generate discussion. I did not intend to hurt anyone, and I think the discussion was a good one. First off, I think self esteem and depression are two different issues, although they can be linked in many cases. I have always have had self esteem, but once ten years ago, I went through a major clinical depression that lasted about three months. (I can't do paragraphs on webtv, so please excuse me.) I remember when I was 8 years old, my father went into a tirade about how worthless I was. As a tiny kid, could not say anything, but in my mind I thought - you are full of shit. Was that my genetics, was it the influence of my nurturing mother, was it because I had good friends who like me? I have no idea. For those of you who had a rotten childhood, I am sorry for you. I just hope that as an adult you will overcome your history. Your parents may have told you that you were worthless, but that does not make it true. I do understand that it is very difficult to overcome that early conditioning, but it can be done with time and effort. There is no reason, on a mental level, to believe that you are a bad person. You are neither good or bad, you are you. Why should you like yourself? I can not give you a reason. All I can say it that is better than disliking your self.
-
43
Self Esteem
by larc ini have heard some people say that they have low self esteem.
i don't understand that.
why did you choose to have low self esteem?
-
-
larc
I have heard some people say that they have low self esteem. I don't understand that. Why did you choose to have low self esteem? I have many thoughts on this, but I will save them until others voice their opinions.
-
18
To the Friends.
by El Kabong inmany people here don't really know me.
i guess it's because i really only post occasionally.
i try not to get involved in the controversial topics or discussions, thus making me one of the unknowns.
-
-
larc
El, I also missed your earlier post about your mother. The posting traffic here is so voluminous that some threads get buried before they can recieve an adequate response. My own wife had a stroke a year ago last September, also on the left side, so I can empathise with you and your mother. I wish the best for both of you.
-
55
The Watchtower Attendance Crisis
by metatron inif the average congregation has about 83 publishers in the us, then the organization may be sinking into a crisis.. take that 83 and consider that half the congregations may have less.. take away '15 minute publishers' who don't attend.
take away completely fake publishers who rarely attend.
take away increasingly tired publishers who 'feel sick', are depressed, or just want to stay at home and watch tv.. .
-
-
larc
Pork Chop, how do you know so many congregations, i.e., 40. Are you a circuit overseer, of a social scientist doing unauthorized research?
-
11
Educational achievement of JW's - statistics?
by somebodylovesme ini was wondering if anyone has seen any kind of data related to the highest educational levels attained by jws... don't they ask for religion and education on the census?
i seem to remember my mom mentioning something about a study awhile back that listed the percentage of each religion's followers that had college degrees - only at the time, we were looking for info on a different religion, so i didn't take note of the jw level.
anyone have any ideas?.
-
-
larc
While JWs have a lower level of formal education, their level of educational achievement is high as supported by Joker's reference from Penton. Also, despite less formal education their level of income is very close to the average. This was pointed out in an article by Stark in a religious research journal. I do not have the reference to Stark's article at my finger tips, but I will see if I can find it.
-
38
What Motivates You to Expose the "Truth About the Troof" to Active JW's?
by imallgrowedup inwhile responding to another thread, i was thinking about how so many of us talk about trying to help "believing dubs" out from the clutches of the wt, while at the same time, it occurred to me that we probably all have different motivations for doing so.
as for me, i am motivated to get my parents out because i think they have the right to know "the whole story" - not just the candy-coated version the wt espouses, so they can make better decisions about how they want to live the rest of their lives.
right now the wt makes all their life decisions for them - including whether or not they should look at what the "other side" has to say about them.
-
-
larc
I am not concerned with JWs who are happy with there lot in life. My own sister is one of them. I am not concerned with those who have left and healed and found a better life. I am very concerned about those in transition and are going through grief, anxiety, depression and even thoughts of suicide. These are the people I would like to help.
-
-
-
larc
I only have one wish. I wish that God would put me in charge of the earth. I could do a better job than Jesus has done since 1914.
-
-
-
larc
Yep, public speaking was good. I went on to teach at a college, and talking for an hour at a time was easy for me.
-
14
My story again
by larc ini have told my story before, but since there are a lot of new people, i thought i would tell it again.
(please forgive the fact that i can't do paragraphs, because for some reason webtv doesnt' work here.
) i was born a jw, or close to it.
-
-
larc
I want to thank you folks for responding to my bio in a favorable manner, and giving compliments to my contributions. I really do appreciate that.