- Feb 19, 2017
- 610
- 1,222
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Republican
It felt really good going to confession for the first time in, I think, a little over a year. I got a lot of things off of my chest and did my penance before going to daily Mass at another church later in the day. When I tell you that I felt glad to receive the Eucharist once more, I really mean it... but I think something important for me to remember is that my emotions are often fleeting and intense in nature. So when the times come when I'm not feeling particularly excited about my faith, I need to remember that it's normal to feel that way and that I don't have to go with the sway of my own emotions every single time that there is a shift. That's what usually gets me into big messes in the first place.
But right now, I'm really hoping to put some kind of a plan into place to keep myself from straying from God again like I always seem to do. I think continuing to do my homework on the wisdom of Catholic Church teachings is a good step to help cement my beliefs in place, but also perhaps being more diligent in my prayer life would be a good option too. Going to Mass and confession are good practices, but without daily prayer, I know I'm likely to teeter off of the edge of my faith again. Also, though it may sound counterintuitive, I think that taking things slowly would be a good option as well. I have a habit of always jumping into the deep end with both feet whenever I make a strong emotional decision (meaning that I'm an impulsive person), so maybe training my brain not to be so impulsive would be a great start. And as time passes and I find my people, I can start to pick things up to a normal level again, like reconnecting with old friends, certain family members, etc.
I'll be writing this list down for my own reference as well, but in the meantime, these are my thoughts on next steps to ensure that I don't fall away again. Hopefully, with the help of God, I can find stability and peace within again.
But right now, I'm really hoping to put some kind of a plan into place to keep myself from straying from God again like I always seem to do. I think continuing to do my homework on the wisdom of Catholic Church teachings is a good step to help cement my beliefs in place, but also perhaps being more diligent in my prayer life would be a good option too. Going to Mass and confession are good practices, but without daily prayer, I know I'm likely to teeter off of the edge of my faith again. Also, though it may sound counterintuitive, I think that taking things slowly would be a good option as well. I have a habit of always jumping into the deep end with both feet whenever I make a strong emotional decision (meaning that I'm an impulsive person), so maybe training my brain not to be so impulsive would be a great start. And as time passes and I find my people, I can start to pick things up to a normal level again, like reconnecting with old friends, certain family members, etc.
I'll be writing this list down for my own reference as well, but in the meantime, these are my thoughts on next steps to ensure that I don't fall away again. Hopefully, with the help of God, I can find stability and peace within again.
