Are You Taken Seriously?

If you've ever experienced from family or friends the sense that you aren't taken seriously, you'll know this is a frustrating experience.

I have. It made me sad and very frustrated to be mocked, considered dishonest or manipulative. But you know what? It also strengthened my resolve to stand true to what I believe and know is right and truth.

I encourage you not to be disheartened when you think you are all alone. Standing alone can feel lonesome but it also is empowering.

The difference between an atheist and a theist (one who believes in God, a creator, a supernatural/omnipotent power) is that sense of total isolation versus intangible company.

You can choose what you believe in. To me, we are never absolutely alone. And to me, that is very comforting.

Whenever I didn't feel like I was being taken seriously, I wish I'd known I could talk to God. I know now and that has made a great difference in my life, because I know someone listens and takes me seriously.

I don't believe we're alone and the entity who watches over us is not a harsh judge who looks to thump us when be mess up. Nor is he a candy-man who glazes over all our short-comings. Rather, he is one who looks to our mistakes as learning opportunities and simply wants to help us to grow into the persons he created us to be, free to be all we can be, irrespective of whether others take us seriously or not.

The mountains are high in this world. There is always a climbing buddy available. It's as simple as taking a step of faith and uttering a whisper, to invite him to let you know he's there.

thank you to the anonymous photographer

More about taking yourself seriously!

MEMOIRE

There are moments in our lives when we just have to draw in from what's going on and look back to see where we've come from to get the perspective that life is picking up!

When I was 30 life slammed me a big bucket of crap and what did I do? I observed. I was in shock at revelations of my passed that I'd buried deeply and efficiently way behind my memory. And shock saved me a lot of pain. I processed a history I'd forgotten I'd lived, an abusive history, and because I was in shock I intellectualized the ugly truth, which spared me emotional agony. And once I'd gotten used to the idea of what had been my young life at home, I finally could feel again and the feelings and the tears surfaced and were shed so that I could breathe and exists and thrive.

I'd lived under a cloud most of my life and I didn't even know there was sun! But repressed memories will surface when it's safe for us to cope.

I clung to 3 bits of wisdom through this:

SOAR! Glimpse from Far Above to See How Vast the Future Is

1. Have a small circle of friends you can count on to download a little every now and then. I believe I never burdened or dumped on anyone, but there were a handful of trusted friends I could go to, one-on-one, from time to time, just to share a piece I didn't want to carry. THANK YOU DEAR FRIENDS.

2. Believe and trust yourself. There will be the temptation to doubt but that's part of the cloud. You've stepped out so stay out! If you weren't strong enough to handle this, you wouldn't have made it this far. And anyway, truth sets us free to freedom is at hand.

3. Trust and believe in the Holy Spirit. Without Him, I can't imagine how I'd have coped. He gave me comfort and assurance beyond human understanding.

I've not described any gory details. None are necessary. The point is that life is truth and freedom. There is plenty of room for privacy but no need for secrecy or shame. You've come this far under a cloud. Imagine what lies in store without it!?



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