What's on your mind?

[GodDoesListen55]

Whew, today was a very slow long day!

 

[LoveDivine]

I feel like most irreligious believe some kind of higher power exists, they're just not convinced it's the Christian God or other god people have worshipped. When I've talked to irreligious at least, that's my impression. They know there has to be something; I know this is criticized by nonbelievers but I firmly believe they don't like the rules, or (as they try to claim) they really just don't accept the evidences.
Heck, that's why they're pushing simulation theories now. They know there's something!

I agree. If you don't accept the existence of God, you don't have to serve him and give him your life. It's really as simple as that. Also, a life of sin dulls our senses and makes us blind to the truth all around us. It's sad. Although I do believe that a strong case can be made to support the existence of God, I also believe that most are not won to Christ through intellectual discussions/proofs. We all need that personal revelation from Christ and conviction to open our eyes.

I think the best approach to win others is to live our lives in such a way that it points the unsaved to Christ. Let them see the hope that is within us.

 

[DragonFox91]

I agree Yankee. BTW, is that profile name b/c you live in the North or are a Yankees fan? I always thought it was the 1st, then it hit me just now maybe it's about the baseball team?

I have some home equipment & use it regularly, but I’m thinking about joining gym again. Especially b/c I’m trying to just stop being in such a rush all the time. Fitness buffs will tell you otherwise, but I think once a week or so would be good. (I used to go way too much, I’d get scared if I didn’t go I’d get out of the routine, then it started feeling like I was being too dedicated.) IDK, it’s a thought. It’s something productive to do & it’s healthy, not looking to be a fitness buff, so if fitness buff’s tell me I’m not doing it right, well, that’s their problem then.

 

[LoveDivine]

I agree Yankee. BTW, is that profile name b/c you live in the North or are a Yankees fan? I always thought it was the 1st, then it hit me just now maybe it's about the baseball team?

I have some home equipment & use it regularly, but I’m thinking about joining gym again. Especially b/c I’m trying to just stop being in such a rush all the time. Fitness buffs will tell you otherwise, but I think once a week or so would be good. (I used to go way too much, I’d get scared if I didn’t go I’d get out of the routine, then it started feeling like I was being too dedicated.) IDK, it’s a thought. It’s something productive to do & it’s healthy, not looking to be a fitness buff, so if fitness buff’s tell me I’m not doing it right, well, that’s their problem then.

I'm a big New York Yankees fan I love baseball. That was the reason for my profile name. I do live in the North though. I am Canadian, but I live very close to the NY border.

 

[DragonFox91]

I'm a big New York Yankees fan I love baseball. That was the reason for my profile name. I do live in the North though. I am Canadian, but I live very close to the NY border.

Ha ha, never would've guessed. Why it did take me so long to think it was that???

Yuck, we don't like the Yankees, we are Tigers (+ Braves) but I guess it's okay b/c you actually live by NY. Maybe I'll develop soft spot for the Yankees now

 

[LoveDivine]

Ha ha, never would've guessed. Why it did take me so long to think it was that???

Yuck, we don't like the Yankees, we are Tigers (+ Braves) but I guess it's okay b/c you actually live by NY. Maybe I'll develop soft spot for the Yankees now

Haha. I don't post that much about baseball or sports. Years ago when I was more active on CF, I used to have the Yankees logo as my avatar That gave it away really quickly.

Technically I should be a Jays fan since I was born in Toronto, but I can't stand the Jays. My dad is from NY and I grew up watching games with him. The Yankees became my team.

Everyone likes to hate on my Yankees, haha. I think Braves fans are still bitter about the 1996 World Series I'm assuming you are in Michigan if you are a Tigers fan. You might have to chat with @Saucy. He's from your area.

 

[DragonFox91]

Haha. I don't post that much about baseball or sports. Years ago when I was more active on CF, I used to have the Yankees logo as my avatar That gave it away really quickly.

Technically I should be a Jays fan since I was born in Toronto, but I can't stand the Jays. My dad is from NY and I grew up watching games with him. The Yankees became my team.

Everyone likes to hate on my Yankees, haha. I think Braves fans are still bitter about the 1996 World Series I'm assuming you are in Michigan if you are a Tigers fan. You might have to chat with @Saucy. He's from your area.

More active? You already seem pretty active, at least a Regular.

Am I the only one that clicks the button under the Avatar to see where people are from???? Yes, I'm in Michigan. That’s where my Tigers fan comes from. Braves fan, family down there, but not to level Tigers for me. I was way too young for 1996 World Series, I probably didn’t even know what baseball was then.

Yes, me & Saucy have touched on it briefly, not really in depth.

That’s okay you’re not really a Jays fan even tho you’re from the area. I’m not really a Red Wings fan (that’s something you don’t say if you like hockey & lived in Michigan your whole life) ; I had always thought they were too good. I like underdogs & the Red Wings were always the big favorite. You’d watch a game & the puck was always in the other teams zone, they always looked like they were on a Power Play. Now the Red Wings are struggling, I find myself liking them more than I used to, wanting them to do good again.

I just watched some Tigers games this week for first time this season (watched some other teams earlier in the season but not Tigers yet) & noticed we are terrible but still threatening to win the division. Ahhh, our division is always bad.

Jays, trying to think who else is in the division. I think I like Tampa Bay the best from that division. Maybe I can slot NY at #2?

 

[Niels]

The first professional baseball game I saw in person was the New York Yankees vs. the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. They were giving out free kid-sized baseball gloves that day. I think I still have mine somewhere.

Growing up in a Northern NJ suburb of NYC, The Yankees were the home team. My dad is from the Midwest, so he rooted for the Tigers. Although my interest in baseball comes and goes, I still call myself a Yankees fan. They're almost as hated here in the South as they were in New England when I lived there. lol

 

[TheLastGeek]

Ahhh, I don’t know what to do! I’ve been working here 9 years. Is it finally time to move on?
I’ll be on vacation / have family here in 2 weeks.
After that I need to decide. But I always say that every vacation!!
It’s so hard to know! Should I be practicing contentment in my current situation, or is it time to try to grow in other ways???

Where do you work now? Is it full time? Are you financially independent and able to take care of yourself? Do you want to do pursue a particular sort of profession or career? What steps do you need to take to make it happen? "Practicing contentment" doesn't mean we should be apathetic and never try to improve ourselves or learn something new or move up in the world.

 

[DragonFox91]

Wow! Oh my goodness! So I was thinking a BUNCH of negative thoughts. Just really bad. My spirit was crying, it was making me want to cry......
And suddenly I got a wave of a BUNCH of super positive thoughts. Like, out of nowhere. In a blink of an eye. Completely opposite. Super-optimistic. Super hopeful. Unbelievably good thoughts. Thoughts that excited me! I don't know if they're true or where they came from exactly, but it should be impossible to suddenly go from as negative as I was thinking, to overwhelmed with joy & excitement & hope. That's not how it's supposed to work. When you're thinking that negative, you're not supposed to suddenly flip from that negative to being joyful w/out other stimulus. The brain isn't wired to do that. I don't it's some stupid biological coping mechanism like they probably want you to think, b/c it should happen more frequently if that was the case......
I don't know, it sure was strange, unexplainable to me...........

EDIT: I'm looking up mood swings right now, no it wasn't like that! & I don't have a history of bipolar symptoms, my mood's always affected by stimulus one way or the other. If I get upset about something, I find something enjoyable, it doesn't change in a flash for me. IDK try to rationalize it all you want, I'm not buying it. I don't have a history of that. No, I get upset about this & find something enjoyable to get my mind off it. I just can't flip it with a switch, especially from being that negative. This is something for years I've struggled being hopeful about!

Where do you work now? Is it full time? Are you financially independent and able to take care of yourself? Do you want to do pursue a particular sort of profession or career? What steps do you need to take to make it happen? "Practicing contentment" doesn't mean we should be apathetic and never try to improve ourselves or learn something new or move up in the world.

I'm in an administrative office work kind of job.
Yes I'm financially good.
Not necessarily. Just curious in growing.
Job hunting, applying, & interviewing, plus then quitting where I'm at.
Okay, yes, makes sense. Contentment about singleness doesn't mean you can't grow in other ways if you're interested.

 

[LoveDivine]

More active? You already seem pretty active, at least a Regular.

Am I the only one that clicks the button under the Avatar to see where people are from???? Yes, I'm in Michigan. That’s where my Tigers fan comes from. Braves fan, family down there, but not to level Tigers for me. I was way too young for 1996 World Series, I probably didn’t even know what baseball was then.

Yes, me & Saucy have touched on it briefly, not really in depth.

That’s okay you’re not really a Jays fan even tho you’re from the area. I’m not really a Red Wings fan (that’s something you don’t say if you like hockey & lived in Michigan your whole life) ; I had always thought they were too good. I like underdogs & the Red Wings were always the big favorite. You’d watch a game & the puck was always in the other teams zone, they always looked like they were on a Power Play. Now the Red Wings are struggling, I find myself liking them more than I used to, wanting them to do good again.

I just watched some Tigers games this week for first time this season (watched some other teams earlier in the season but not Tigers yet) & noticed we are terrible but still threatening to win the division. Ahhh, our division is always bad.

Jays, trying to think who else is in the division. I think I like Tampa Bay the best from that division. Maybe I can slot NY at #2?

A lot of people root for the underdog. I rather enjoy being a fan of the Evil Empire Yankees, haha

Did you play any sports growing up ?

 

[GodDoesListen55]

Your words hurt more than you will ever know because I will never tell you.

 

[DragonFox91]

A lot of people root for the underdog. I rather enjoy being a fan of the Evil Empire Yankees, haha

Did you play any sports growing up ?

Yes but I’m not that good at them. Soccer in middle school, I was pretty good at it, then I lost my height advantage & stunk. I switched to cross country & track in high school. I wasn’t varsity material, but I did it anyways & liked it. Now only real sport I do is golf outside of 'working out' (I never liked that term, I always preferred 'exercising', ha ha, just something dumb I think) – I feel like I’m close to playing it in leagues, but after not playing this past winter, I’ve regressed s lot. I just play regularly for fun.

I love watching sports. The 4 major ones are my favorite. I've been trying tow atch more soccer, but games I tend to catch are 1-1 ties. ._____.

Y tu?

 

[LoveDivine]

Yes but I’m not that good at them. Soccer in middle school, I was pretty good at it, then I lost my height advantage & stunk. I switched to cross country & track in high school. I wasn’t varsity material, but I did it anyways & liked it. Now only real sport I do is golf outside of 'working out' (I never liked that term, I always preferred 'exercising', ha ha, just something dumb I think) – I feel like I’m close to playing it in leagues, but after not playing this past winter, I’ve regressed s lot. I just play regularly for fun.

I love watching sports. The 4 major ones are my favorite. I've been trying tow atch more soccer, but games I tend to catch are 1-1 ties. ._____.

Y tu?

I like sports, but I was never very athletic, haha. It's cool though that you ran cross country and track in high-school. I used to enjoy running too. I was never fast, but I enjoyed going for long jogs. I didn't start enjoying jogging though until I was in my early 20's. I think I really liked jogging as a stress reliever and a way to push myself. I liked the challenge. I ran a lot of half marathons, etc over a period of years. I ended up finding it too hard on my joints though. My last half marathon was in 2019. Now I just focus on trying to stay healthy. I will do short/ less intense cardio workouts when I feel up to it.

 

[DragonFox91]

I like sports, but I was never very athletic, haha. It's cool though that you ran cross country and track in high-school. I used to enjoy running too. I was never fast, but I enjoyed going for long jogs. I didn't start enjoying jogging though until I was in my early 20's. I think I really liked jogging as a stress reliever and a way to push myself. I liked the challenge. I ran a lot of half marathons, etc over a period of years. I ended up finding it too hard on my joints though. My last half marathon was in 2019. Now I just focus on trying to stay healthy. I will do short/ less intense cardio workouts when I feel up to it.

I never liked the term ‘working out’ b/c to me it sounded like something a gym rat would say. That’s why I like the word ‘exercising’ better. But lots of non gym rats say ‘working out’ so I guess I’m just ignorant.

Family liked watching sports, that’s why I learned to like doing it even tho I stunk.

Yeah, someday I want to do 5K’s again. Someday. One day I just need to start working at it.

 

[TheLastGeek]

Wow! Oh my goodness! So I was thinking a BUNCH of negative thoughts. Just really bad. My spirit was crying, it was making me want to cry......
And suddenly I got a wave of a BUNCH of super positive thoughts. Like, out of nowhere. In a blink of an eye. Completely opposite. Super-optimistic. Super hopeful. Unbelievably good thoughts. Thoughts that excited me! I don't know if they're true or where they came from exactly, but it should be impossible to suddenly go from as negative as I was thinking, to overwhelmed with joy & excitement & hope. That's not how it's supposed to work. When you're thinking that negative, you're not supposed to suddenly flip from that negative to being joyful w/out other stimulus. The brain isn't wired to do that. I don't it's some stupid biological coping mechanism like they probably want you to think, b/c it should happen more frequently if that was the case......
I don't know, it sure was strange, unexplainable to me...........

EDIT: I'm looking up mood swings right now, no it wasn't like that! & I don't have a history of bipolar symptoms, my mood's always affected by stimulus one way or the other. If I get upset about something, I find something enjoyable, it doesn't change in a flash for me. IDK try to rationalize it all you want, I'm not buying it. I don't have a history of that. No, I get upset about this & find something enjoyable to get my mind off it. I just can't flip it with a switch, especially from being that negative. This is something for years I've struggled being hopeful about!

I'm in an administrative office work kind of job.
Yes I'm financially good.
Not necessarily. Just curious in growing.
Job hunting, applying, & interviewing, plus then quitting where I'm at.
Okay, yes, makes sense. Contentment about singleness doesn't mean you can't grow in other ways if you're interested.

I really, really hope you keep the appointment that you have with the therapist.

If you're happy with your current job, but still want to grow, then go for it. Look for something you can use your current skills to build off of, like maybe an office manager or executive assistant. There are certifications out there now for administrative specialists, too, that could beef up your resume.

 

[DragonFox91]

I really, really hope you keep the appointment that you have with the therapist.

I am not surprised at your answer. It is how I thought you'd respond if you did. A 'you have something really, really, really, really wrong with you, & dude, you need to see a therapist to fix you' kind of response. I hope you don't mean it like that when you give routine responses like that. You probably don't mean it like that. I believe since you are a Christian you don't mean it like that. But it sure comes off that way. A 'I don't understand your issue, you're too messed up for me or anyone else to get, & we're not even gonna try, & a therapist can fix you.' It comes across as not really caring, & not really caring to understand & learn.

I understand harsh truth is needed. Sometimes people do need to get help. But I believe encouragement should go with harsh truth. I found a ton of optimism & hope & 'where are all these good thoughts coming from I couldn't possibly have imagined' in my post' but there was not a sign of you read that in your post. Not even a 'I think a therapist would be good for you because blah blah blah. It'd be so amazing for you if they could figure something out for you.' Or any kind of questions or nothing.

I'm sorry I'm pushing back in your response. Let me explain: When I was growing up, when I was little, the next door neighbors told my parents I was weird, they needed to get me to a shrink. My parents were appalled at the rudeness. Maybe if the neighbors hadn't been so rude, & approached my parents with kindness, a wanting to see me do well, & not a 'he needs fixing & only a shrink can do that' kind of attitude, maybe they would've got me help early on & things would've been different & better. But my neighbors didn't. They did it wrong. I'm sorry to say this, but without the encouragement in your post, I can see some of the same wrong attitude, the same wrong approach. There's no tenderness. There's no empathy. Tell me I need to go to a shrink all you want, but without hope & optimism, it's only inviting push-back.

No, I have no intention of canceling. I am very interested in meeting him. I want to hear what he has to say. I want to listen. I want him to listen to me. I want him to understand where I'm coming from. I don't want him to make jokes about it, & for him to think it's insignificant or it's no big deal (& maybe it is no big deal, but again, without showing an understanding, it only provokes pushback b/c it comes across as rude). But maybe it'll be very good. Maybe it'll be very encouraging. I do need to understand not everything can get addressed first appointment, it may take some time to feel like I'm benefiting. But I really do want to go.

I do appreciate the response.

If you're happy with your current job, but still want to grow, then go for it. Look for something you can use your current skills to build off of, like maybe an office manager or executive assistant. There are certifications out there now for administrative specialists, too, that could beef up your resume.

This is great advice. Thank you. I told a coworker not that long ago who was moving on & kind of nervous about it, that you wouldn't have applied & they wouldn't have hired you, & you wouldn't be quitting & moving on, if you didn't think you could grow & benefit from it. I need that same attitude I tried to give her.
Office manager -no, not really my thing. I went to school for accounting. I want something more related to that. My current job gets into it a little bit, but I want more of it.
Certifications or additional training - absolutely, great idea. My buddy is always finding ways to get certified from courses! He says I should to & you say it too!

 

[LoveDivine]

I am not surprised at your answer. It is how I thought you'd respond if you did. A 'you have something really, really, really, really wrong with you, & dude, you need to see a therapist to fix you' kind of response. I hope you don't mean it like that when you give routine responses like that. You probably don't mean it like that. I believe since you are a Christian you don't mean it like that. But it sure comes off that way. A 'I don't understand your issue, you're too messed up for me or anyone else to get, & we're not even gonna try, & a therapist can fix you.' It comes across as not really caring, & not really caring to understand & learn.

I understand harsh truth is needed. Sometimes people do need to get help. But I believe encouragement should go with harsh truth. I found a ton of optimism & hope & 'where are all these good thoughts coming from I couldn't possibly have imagined' in my post' but there was not a sign of you read that in your post. Not even a 'I think a therapist would be good for you because blah blah blah. It'd be so amazing for you if they could figure something out for you.' Or any kind of questions or nothing.

I'm sorry I'm pushing back in your response. Let me explain: When I was growing up, when I was little, the next door neighbors told my parents I was weird, they needed to get me to a shrink. My parents were appalled at the rudeness. Maybe if the neighbors hadn't been so rude, & approached my parents with kindness, a wanting to see me do well, & not a 'he needs fixing & only a shrink can do that' kind of attitude, maybe they would've got me help early on & things would've been different & better. But my neighbors didn't. They did it wrong. I'm sorry to say this, but without the encouragement in your post, I can see some of the same wrong attitude, the same wrong approach. There's no tenderness. There's no empathy. Tell me I need to go to a shrink all you want, but without hope & optimism, it's only inviting push-back.

No, I have no intention of canceling. I am very interested in meeting him. I want to hear what he has to say. I want to listen. I want him to listen to me. I want him to understand where I'm coming from. I don't want him to make jokes about it, & for him to think it's insignificant or it's no big deal (& maybe it is no big deal, but again, without showing an understanding, it only provokes pushback b/c it comes across as rude). But maybe it'll be very good. Maybe it'll be very encouraging. I do need to understand not everything can get addressed first appointment, it may take some time to feel like I'm benefiting. But I really do want to go.

I do appreciate the response.

This is great advice. Thank you. I told a coworker not that long ago who was moving on & kind of nervous about it, that you wouldn't have applied & they wouldn't have hired you, & you wouldn't be quitting & moving on, if you didn't think you could grow & benefit from it. I need that same attitude I tried to give her.
Office manager -no, not really my thing. I went to school for accounting. I want something more related to that. My current job gets into it a little bit, but I want more of it.
Certifications or additional training - absolutely, great idea. My buddy is always finding ways to get certified from courses! He says I should to & you say it too!

If I may offer some input here, I think she was concerned about what you shared and she was trying to urge you to keep your appointment. I don't think she was trying to imply that you are a lost cause or can only be fixed by a shrink. I've read several of her other posts, and she has a very positive view of therapy/counselling. I think she's reminding you and urging you, because she thinks it will really help you.

I don't want to offend you, but honestly, I think your anxiety and highs and lows are stemming from a very specific problem. I'm not claiming to be an expert or diagnosing you. This is just my opinion. I've noticed that in your recent posts, you want to think positively and to feel hopeful. That's a good thing. At least you don't want to be bitter or wallow in misery. What I think is the problem is that you are trying to convince yourself. I see it in all your posts and even in the truths thread. While I think it is a good practice to reject negative thoughts and remind yourself of Biblical truths and positive thoughts, you can't force yourself to feel positive. It's like a war is going on inside your brain/soul. You don't feel positive at all, but you know you should feel that way, so you are trying to repeat things to yourself/force your brain to think that way. It may help you momentarily, but it doesn't have a lasting effect and then you crash. Thus the seeming mood swings. It comes off like you are crazy (but I don't think you are ). No one can do that and not drive themselves mad. While you are fighting this hard to hang onto a dream and to feel positive about it at the same time, you are going to be frustrated, anxious, miserable. I started to try to share this awhile ago in your truths thread, but you didn't like it, lol. I'm going to share it again here in the hope it helps you. You need to relax and just let this all go. If you stare down the worst thing possible (that you feel is the worst) that may happen to you and accept it, you will feel peace. I'm not saying you should give up. But, you need to surrender this to God and trust him. So long as you feel that not being in a relationship is the worst thing that can happen to you, you will be filled with anxiety and not be able to cope. In the truths thread, I shared that things get easier to accept with time. What I meant by that is that you can think that if something bad happens or something good doesn't happen for you, you can't survive it or be at peace. Then, as time goes on, you will realise that you are still okay and surviving despite your circumstances. You do truly need to accept your life as it is and enjoy it and stop worrying about what hasn't happened yet.

 

[GodDoesListen55]

Never a dull moment.

 

[DragonFox91]

If I may offer some input here, I think she was concerned about what you shared and she was trying to urge you to keep your appointment. I don't think she was trying to imply that you are a lost cause or can only be fixed by a shrink. I've read several of her other posts, and she has a very positive view of therapy/counselling. I think she's reminding you and urging you, because she thinks it will really help you.

I don't want to offend you, but honestly, I think your anxiety and highs and lows are stemming from a very specific problem. I'm not claiming to be an expert or diagnosing you. This is just my opinion. I've noticed that in your recent posts, you want to think positively and to feel hopeful. That's a good thing. At least you don't want to be bitter or wallow in misery. What I think is the problem is that you are trying to convince yourself. I see it in all your posts and even in the truths thread. While I think it is a good practice to reject negative thoughts and remind yourself of Biblical truths and positive thoughts, you can't force yourself to feel positive. It's like a war is going on inside your brain/soul. You don't feel positive at all, but you know you should feel that way, so you are trying to repeat things to yourself/force your brain to think that way. It may help you momentarily, but it doesn't have a lasting effect and then you crash. Thus the seeming mood swings. It comes off like you are crazy (but I don't think you are ). No one can do that and not drive themselves mad. While you are fighting this hard to hang onto a dream and to feel positive about it at the same time, you are going to be frustrated, anxious, miserable. I started to try to share this awhile ago in your truths thread, but you didn't like it, lol. I'm going to share it again here in the hope it helps you. You need to relax and just let this all go. If you stare down the worst thing possible (that you feel is the worst) that may happen to you and accept it, you will feel peace. I'm not saying you should give up. But, you need to surrender this to God and trust him. So long as you feel that not being in a relationship is the worst thing that can happen to you, you will be filled with anxiety and not be able to cope. In the truths thread, I shared that things get easier to accept with time. What I meant by that is that you can think that if something bad happens or something good doesn't happen for you, you can't survive it or be at peace. Then, as time goes on, you will realise that you are still okay and surviving despite your circumstances. You do truly need to accept your life as it is and enjoy it and stop worrying about what hasn't happened yet.

I don't have an opinion on your post one way or the other. I am completely neutral to it. I want to not like it b/c there's some things I disagree w/. I want to agree with it b/c I do see some truths. It's a lot to think about.

I appreciate your insight & time.