How to stay spiritually strong?

ruggedeagle10 said:Exactly. Spot on. That is precisely the point.

The way I see it, I never stay down for long after a fall. There is always something GOOD within us—a core strength you can grab onto to pull yourself back up.

We are capable of far more than we give ourselves credit for. Ultimately, everything within our sphere of influence depends on our own actions.

In the same vein, everything concerning your path is in your hands—in the sense that you should give everything you can, based on your current capacity and the circumstances you find yourself in. The goal is to simply make the best possible choice available to you right now. Take concrete action. If you find yourself in a moment where you are expected to react or act, but instead you pause, reflect, and "look inward"—just as Quincy so eloquently put it above—you will realize that we all possess this fundamental freedom of choice, regardless of how small it may seem. Recognizing that capacity provides a clear sign that you possess a certain inherent power and that you truly matter to something greater. 🙂 And look, if you stumble in your choices—which we all do, because being human means making mistakes—it doesn't matter. What matters is the intention and the direction you are heading. Over time, those errors will diminish as you gain wisdom, and your sense of self and fulfillment will grow.

Don't waste your energy on despair. Instead, focus your energy on playing the hand you've been dealt as well as you possibly can. Act with that intention, and peace will follow. Regardless of whether you hit a specific target or not, you will have achieved success internally, because you took agency over your own life. And isn't that what we are all actually searching for?

So, practically speaking: identify the goodness currently residing within you. When the first opportunity to act arises, move forward using that inner strength.

Stay strong. Sending love. 🙂

Thank you, 🙂 you put that so beautifully.🙂

Benjamin Taylor6 said:

I suppose I should probably address the elephant in the room—if you can even call it that anymore—regarding the recent discussions floating around the boards. It’s becoming quite a chore to keep up with the sheer volume of noise, isn't it? Honestly, it feels like every time I sit down to actually engage with some substance, I’m met with this endless, repetitive cycle of nonsense. It reminds me of a situation I dealt with back when I was working a mid-level management gig over in Chicago—just a constant stream of people talking loudly without actually saying anything at all. You know the type. They have an opinion on everything, yet they haven't spent five minutes looking at the actual data. It's frustrating, truly. One minute you're trying to have a nuanced conversation about policy or tech, and the next, someone comes along with a half-baked argument that wouldn't hold water in a desert. And don't even get me started on the way certain users tend to derail perfectly good threads. I was reading through some of the earlier posts today—and I won't name names, though we all know who I'm thinking of—and it's just exhausting. We need more rigor here. More thought. Less... whatever *this* is. It’s like we’ve traded actual discourse for a shouting match in a parking lot. Anyway, my point being—if there even is one—is that if we want this community to mean something, we have to demand better from ourselves. Or at least, I should hope so. kaže:
I find this whole thing deeply spiritual—honestly, there’s something almost transcendent about it all. 😁

Honestly, chocolate is a much better bet than religion in any given scenario. ^^
Buddha is basically just a big guy who lives for chocolate—honestly, I can relate. ^^

She really doesn't want to be a slob. I mean, look at Buddha—he was a total slob himself because he didn't reach enlightenment until he was forty, and by then, he’d already put on a few pounds. He wasn't even planning on getting married at that point. And now we have our friend here on the forum who's already carrying an extra fifteen pounds—it's all starting to add up, isn't it?
She’s standing there at 5'6" and maybe 143 pounds—or whatever she thinks her "ideal" weight should be—complaining that she’s carrying a little extra. Honestly? She thinks she’s overweight, but if you ask me... I’d much rather have a woman with some actual curves than someone who looks like they haven't eaten since the last Super Bowl. It's better to have a little sway in your step than to be skin and bones. 😁
If prayer actually makes her feel better, then fine—let her pray. Or meditate. Heck, she can go hang out on Spark or some other site like it. Honestly, I don't see the harm. But here is my take on why...
I really think we need to address this—and I mean truly address it—because the conversation seems to be drifting toward some rather superficial conclusions. It’s easy to just nod along when everyone is echoing the same sentiment, but if we actually look at the mechanics of what's happening here, the logic starts to fall apart quite quickly. I remember back when I was working a junior position over at a tech firm in Seattle—nothing fancy, just a standard mid-sized outfit—and we had a similar situation during a project rollout. Everyone was convinced that the initial data supported our direction, but they were ignoring the underlying volatility. We ignored it, too, because it was easier to stay the course, and boy, did we pay for it later. It’s the same pattern here. The argument being made by Benjamin Taylor6 is interesting, sure, but it feels like it’s missing the forest for the trees. You can't just take one specific variable and claim it dictates the entire outcome—that's just bad math. It’s like trying to judge an entire American summer based solely on one thunderstorm in Chicago; you’re ignoring the broader climate entirely. We need to stop rushing to judgment. If we want a coherent discussion, we have to account for the systemic issues that most people are conveniently overlooking just to keep the peace. It’s frustrating, honestly. I feel like we’re circling the drain of mediocrity instead of digging into the actual substance of the problem. Let's try to be a bit more rigorous, shall we?

At the end of the day—and I really mean this—everything boils down to the individual and their own specific psychology. It’s all about how a person is wired inside.
If a woman happens to have a high libido—which, let’s be honest, isn't a flaw, just biology—she’s basically walking straight into a brick wall with traditional church doctrines. It’s like an impossible setup from the jump. You’ve got all these rigid rules claiming that even self-pleasure is some massive sin, not to mention the whole "no premarital sex" thing that feels so outdated in this day and age. And then, as if that wasn't enough of a hurdle, you throw in the practicalities like using protection... it’s just one layer of judgment after another. It really makes you wonder how much of these moral codes are actually about faith and how much they're just about control. 😲

hehehe, sure, those are extra pounds, but that's irrelevant now. I don't see how it connects to this topic at all.

vivideagle8 said:hehehe, sure, those are extra pounds, but that's irrelevant now. I don't see how it connects to this topic at all.

Actually, I think there is a connection. It all boils down to discipline and taking responsibility for yourself versus falling into self-pity and a lack of confidence. That dynamic plays out on both a physical and mental level. You have to realize that you are the one in the driver's seat. Now, being in control doesn't mean everything will always go perfectly. When life hits you with a crisis, the best move is to look it right in the eye. Crises are inevitable—it's just part of the human condition—so what really matters is your reaction. If a crisis demands change, you can either fight it and end up stuck in a cycle of frustration, constant complaining, lost motivation, and endless overthinking while crying about your "unlucky fate" because things didn't go your way... or you can embrace the shift and see it as an opportunity to grow. At its core, spirituality is exactly that: the lived experience that shapes our narrative self.

Benjamin Taylor6 said:

I suppose I should probably address the elephant in the room—if you can even call it that anymore—regarding the recent discussions floating around the boards. It’s becoming quite a chore to keep up with the sheer volume of noise, isn't it? Honestly, it feels like every time I sit down to actually engage with some substance, I’m met with this endless, repetitive cycle of nonsense. It reminds me of a situation I dealt with back when I was working a mid-level management gig over in Chicago—just a constant stream of people talking loudly without actually saying anything at all. You know the type. They have an opinion on everything, yet they haven't spent five minutes looking at the actual data. It's frustrating, truly. One minute you're trying to have a nuanced conversation about policy or tech, and the next, someone comes along with a half-baked argument that wouldn't hold water in a desert. And don't even get me started on the way certain users tend to derail perfectly good threads. I was reading through some of the earlier posts today—and I won't name names, though we all know who I'm thinking of—and it's just exhausting. We need more rigor here. More thought. Less... whatever *this* is. It’s like we’ve traded actual discourse for a shouting match in a parking lot. Anyway, my point being—if there even is one—is that if we want this community to mean something, we have to demand better from ourselves. Or at least, I should hope so. kaže:
I find this whole thing deeply spiritual—honestly, there’s something almost transcendent about it all. 😁

Honestly, chocolate is a much better bet than religion in any given scenario. ^^
Buddha is basically just a big guy who lives for chocolate—honestly, I can relate. ^^

She really doesn't want to be a slob. I mean, look at Buddha—he was a total slob himself because he didn't reach enlightenment until he was forty, and by then, he’d already put on a few pounds. He wasn't even planning on getting married at that point. And now we have our friend here on the forum who's already carrying an extra fifteen pounds—it's all starting to add up, isn't it?
She’s standing there at 5'6" and maybe 143 pounds—or whatever she thinks her "ideal" weight should be—complaining that she’s carrying a little extra. Honestly? She thinks she’s overweight, but if you ask me... I’d much rather have a woman with some actual curves than someone who looks like they haven't eaten since the last Super Bowl. It's better to have a little sway in your step than to be skin and bones. 😁
If prayer actually makes her feel better, then fine—let her pray. Or meditate. Heck, she can go hang out on Spark or some other site like it. Honestly, I don't see the harm. But here is my take on why...
I really think we need to address this—and I mean truly address it—because the conversation seems to be drifting toward some rather superficial conclusions. It’s easy to just nod along when everyone is echoing the same sentiment, but if we actually look at the mechanics of what's happening here, the logic starts to fall apart quite quickly. I remember back when I was working a junior position over at a tech firm in Seattle—nothing fancy, just a standard mid-sized outfit—and we had a similar situation during a project rollout. Everyone was convinced that the initial data supported our direction, but they were ignoring the underlying volatility. We ignored it, too, because it was easier to stay the course, and boy, did we pay for it later. It’s the same pattern here. The argument being made by Benjamin Taylor6 is interesting, sure, but it feels like it’s missing the forest for the trees. You can't just take one specific variable and claim it dictates the entire outcome—that's just bad math. It’s like trying to judge an entire American summer based solely on one thunderstorm in Chicago; you’re ignoring the broader climate entirely. We need to stop rushing to judgment. If we want a coherent discussion, we have to account for the systemic issues that most people are conveniently overlooking just to keep the peace. It’s frustrating, honestly. I feel like we’re circling the drain of mediocrity instead of digging into the actual substance of the problem. Let's try to be a bit more rigorous, shall we?

At the end of the day—and I really mean this—everything boils down to the individual and their own specific psychology. It’s all about how a person is wired inside.
If a woman happens to have a high libido—which, let’s be honest, isn't a flaw, just biology—she’s basically walking straight into a brick wall with traditional church doctrines. It’s like an impossible setup from the jump. You’ve got all these rigid rules claiming that even self-pleasure is some massive sin, not to mention the whole "no premarital sex" thing that feels so outdated in this day and age. And then, as if that wasn't enough of a hurdle, you throw in the practicalities like using protection... it’s just one layer of judgment after another. It really makes you wonder how much of these moral codes are actually about faith and how much they're just about control. 😲

Look, maybe try working on yourself first... if you can?

We don't exactly need someone else coming in here to lecture us on what constitutes a sin... I think we know Him better than you ever could... 🙂 But, like I've probably said a billion times already, only Jesus was a perfect human being. We're all sinners, period. Honestly, judging people simply because they are believers or pious is just incredibly shallow and immature... 😉

Henry Kim3 said:Look, maybe try working on yourself first... if you can?

We don't exactly need someone else coming in here to lecture us on what constitutes a sin... I think we know Him better than you ever could... 🙂 But, like I've probably said a billion times already, only Jesus was a perfect human being. We're all sinners, period. Honestly, judging people simply because they are believers or pious is just incredibly shallow and immature... 😉

When you say Jesus, are we talking about Joshua ben Hur? Or perhaps Horus, Dionysus, or Mithras? All of them were considered perfect, preached similar messages, and were viewed as sons of God who died and rose again... but let's be realistic.
I fail to see anyone here actually judging people based on their faith or lack thereof.

Michelle Sanchez2 said:When you say Jesus, are we talking about Joshua ben Hur? Or perhaps Horus, Dionysus, or Mithras? All of them were considered perfect, preached similar messages, and were viewed as sons of God who died and rose again... but let's be realistic.
I fail to see anyone here actually judging people based on their faith or lack thereof.

You forgot Robin Hood, and maybe even Gandalf, ahhh, oh right: SUPERMAN.... Yeah, they were all just like that... So what! 🙂

Henry Kim3 said:You forgot Robin Hood, and maybe even Gandalf, ahhh, oh right: SUPERMAN.... Yeah, they were all just like that... So what! 🙂

Precisely my point, except some of those figures actually predate Christ. 😉

Michelle Sanchez2 said:Precisely my point, except some of those figures actually predate Christ. 😉

And? So what if they were dated before Christ? 🙂

And, uh, yeah, I forgot to mention, the T-Rex also existed before Christ... 😉 I mean, if you've seen Ice Age, then there's really nothing left for me to say... 😁 😁 😁

Henry Kim3 said:And? So what if they were dated before Christ? 🙂

And, uh, yeah, I forgot to mention, the T-Rex also existed before Christ... 😉 I mean, if you've seen Ice Age, then there's really nothing left for me to say... 😁 😁 😁

So, following a bit of logical common sense, we should conclude that the story of Jesus is just a recycled version of other myths, right?
Are you aware that back in the day, the Church burned every ancient text that didn't fit their agenda, cherry-picking only the ones that served their political interests? Not to mention how they persecuted anyone who refused to bow down to the new dogma.

Therefore, isn't it reasonable to suggest that if the narrative surrounding Jesus is virtually identical to some Egyptian deity from 5,000 years BCE... one might at least suspect that the story of Jesus is merely a rewrite of older gods?

Think about that.

Michelle Sanchez2 said:So, following a bit of logical common sense, we should conclude that the story of Jesus is just a recycled version of other myths, right?
Are you aware that back in the day, the Church burned every ancient text that didn't fit their agenda, cherry-picking only the ones that served their political interests? Not to mention how they persecuted anyone who refused to bow down to the new dogma.

Therefore, isn't it reasonable to suggest that if the narrative surrounding Jesus is virtually identical to some Egyptian deity from 5,000 years BCE... one might at least suspect that the story of Jesus is merely a rewrite of older gods?

Think about that.

The logical, common-sense conclusion here is that I don't hold it against you for being completely out of your depth... Honestly, people only make mistakes EXCLUSIVELY out of ignorance... So, yeah, I suppose I forgive you... 😉

Michelle Sanchez2 said:So, following a bit of logical common sense, we should conclude that the story of Jesus is just a recycled version of other myths, right?
Are you aware that back in the day, the Church burned every ancient text that didn't fit their agenda, cherry-picking only the ones that served their political interests? Not to mention how they persecuted anyone who refused to bow down to the new dogma.

Therefore, isn't it reasonable to suggest that if the narrative surrounding Jesus is virtually identical to some Egyptian deity from 5,000 years BCE... one might at least suspect that the story of Jesus is merely a rewrite of older gods?

Think about that.

Wait, are we talking about Jesus or the Church? 😕 Or do you actually think they are one and the same... 😁 Look, I know what the Church has done better than you little atheists... But, BELIEVERS WERE TORTURED MORE HORRIBLY THAN THE CHURCH ITSELF EVER WAS! So, when you say things like that, just remember that YOU have also tortured believers with unimaginable cruelty... So, once you finally realize that, I honestly don't see why you even bother saying what you're saying... 😉

Michelle Sanchez2 said:So, following a bit of logical common sense, we should conclude that the story of Jesus is just a recycled version of other myths, right?
Are you aware that back in the day, the Church burned every ancient text that didn't fit their agenda, cherry-picking only the ones that served their political interests? Not to mention how they persecuted anyone who refused to bow down to the new dogma.

Therefore, isn't it reasonable to suggest that if the narrative surrounding Jesus is virtually identical to some Egyptian deity from 5,000 years BCE... one might at least suspect that the story of Jesus is merely a rewrite of older gods?

Think about that.

Listen, I already told you, people make mistakes because they simply don't know better... I have nothing to hold against you; you have your view, I have mine, and, frankly, all I ever want on this forum is PEACE! I mean, if someone starts a thread that concerns EXCLUSIVELY believers, I really don't see any point in someone coming along and saying the things you're saying... Your arguments might make sense to YOU, but to me, they're just laughable... 🙂 So, I guess we can just laugh at each other... 😉

Michelle Sanchez2 said:So, following a bit of logical common sense, we should conclude that the story of Jesus is just a recycled version of other myths, right?
Are you aware that back in the day, the Church burned every ancient text that didn't fit their agenda, cherry-picking only the ones that served their political interests? Not to mention how they persecuted anyone who refused to bow down to the new dogma.

Therefore, isn't it reasonable to suggest that if the narrative surrounding Jesus is virtually identical to some Egyptian deity from 5,000 years BCE... one might at least suspect that the story of Jesus is merely a rewrite of older gods?

Think about that.

Hmm.... You’re lecturing me? Well, tell me, do your parents actually exist? Are you even certain they do? See, if that's the case, why are you trying to convince me that God isn't real and that the story of Jesus is just some version of the Ice Age? By that logic, the story of your own parents is just a myth about Ivy and Mary... Think about that... 😉

My friend, we are discussing how to maintain spiritual strength, which isn't necessarily tied to religious dogma. It’s about spirituality itself, a concept that can be interpreted through many different lenses.
And just to clarify one final point: I am certainly not an atheist. You are more than welcome to look back through my previous posts here to see that for yourself.

Michelle Sanchez2 said:My friend, we are discussing how to maintain spiritual strength, which isn't necessarily tied to religious dogma. It’s about spirituality itself, a concept that can be interpreted through many different lenses.
And just to clarify one final point: I am certainly not an atheist. You are more than welcome to look back through my previous posts here to see that for yourself.

That’s just it... And you atheists, do you even have any connection to spirituality at all??? All you ever say is "God doesn't exist, it's a fairy tale, it's nonsense, it's for the uneducated or the incompetent," blah blah blah... So, basically, you aren't actually helping with anything. I guess it would be better if you could provide one concrete way to help a girl, rather than dragging every single topic that has EVEN THE SLIGHTEST connection to God back down to that repetitive "God exists" vs. "No, God doesn't exist" argument...!

Michelle Sanchez2 said:My friend, we are discussing how to maintain spiritual strength, which isn't necessarily tied to religious dogma. It’s about spirituality itself, a concept that can be interpreted through many different lenses.
And just to clarify one final point: I am certainly not an atheist. You are more than welcome to look back through my previous posts here to see that for yourself.

Spirituality can only be interpreted ONE way...! That's just how it is... And since you atheists are MATERIALISTS who only believe in what you can see and touch, I guess I wonder why you think you're even qualified to have a say on this subject?

Michelle Sanchez2 said:My friend, we are discussing how to maintain spiritual strength, which isn't necessarily tied to religious dogma. It’s about spirituality itself, a concept that can be interpreted through many different lenses.
And just to clarify one final point: I am certainly not an atheist. You are more than welcome to look back through my previous posts here to see that for yourself.

It doesn't matter... As far as I'm concerned, there are two types of people regarding faith: BELIEVERS (those who love God, Jesus, and live by those principles) and NON-BELIEVERS (atheists, New Age followers, and everyone else who thinks God is a myth...)!

Finally, for the billionth time on this forum: LEARN TO RESPECT SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE ELSE LIVES BY... 😉 If you don't believe in God, fine, you don't, but then try to help a girl in ANY capacity instead of constantly claiming God is a fairy tale or whatever...! For me, Jesus is everything in the world, but I still love you atheists, respect you, and value you as people; I even enjoy chatting with the people around me regardless of our differences... But, nobody should be spitting on anyone else... Peace should prevail, and everyone should be happy and content... 🙂

You are absolutely right, I couldn't agree more.
I surrender.

Michelle Sanchez2 said:Life never actually serves us anything "bad." Life doesn't serve anything at all; we are the ones creating our own circumstances through our decisions.
First of all, we lack an objective metric for what constitutes "good" or "bad"—those are merely dualistic perceptions and psychological projections of specific events.
When something "bad" occurs, if you take a moment to trace the steps backward to see what led to that moment, you will find the root cause. That cause is always located deep within ourselves.
In reality, life is quite simple and never gravitates toward problems, because focusing on problems requires an immense expenditure of energy.

P.S. This is a general response to all the posts above; it isn't directed specifically at you, but rather a continuation of the collective conversation. 🙂

Honestly, I agree with every single word you said. That was actually what I wanted to write originally, but I backed off for one reason. I’ve been there before where someone feeling depressed reaches out for help, and my responses were pretty much identical to yours. Usually, I just get hit with: "How can you say this is all on me? I didn't cause this! Blah blah blah..."
I'm a perfect example of this myself. Even though I work on my own spiritual growth and stay pretty self-aware about myself and the world, when I'm in a terrible mood, part of me still wants someone to come along and tell me: "Look, this all depends on how you perceive the situation."

But still, you're right.

And it looks like vivideagle8 isn't the type to reject that kind of advice. Since she's clearly focusing on her spirit here, it's obvious to me she already understands everything you wrote. She probably just needs a little nudge to snap out of it and notice all the "good" stuff surrounding her—stuff she’s likely overlooking because she’s hyper-focused on the "bad."

silvermason2 said:Honestly, I agree with every single word you said. That was actually what I wanted to write originally, but I backed off for one reason. I’ve been there before where someone feeling depressed reaches out for help, and my responses were pretty much identical to yours. Usually, I just get hit with: "How can you say this is all on me? I didn't cause this! Blah blah blah..."
I'm a perfect example of this myself. Even though I work on my own spiritual growth and stay pretty self-aware about myself and the world, when I'm in a terrible mood, part of me still wants someone to come along and tell me: "Look, this all depends on how you perceive the situation."

But still, you're right.

And it looks like vivideagle8 isn't the type to reject that kind of advice. Since she's clearly focusing on her spirit here, it's obvious to me she already understands everything you wrote. She probably just needs a little nudge to snap out of it and notice all the "good" stuff surrounding her—stuff she’s likely overlooking because she’s hyper-focused on the "bad."

Look, let's put it this way.
By definition, the people who enter my life are those capable of accepting that kind of counsel.
Early on, I struggled with the exact same issue you're describing. Eventually, I had a serious conversation—with the angels and with myself—about no longer attracting individuals who cannot process this information. If God truly wants me to assist people in gaining awareness, then He should send those who are actually capable of grasping the message.
And indeed, that became the pattern. I have helped many people rise from the ashes; some understood the lesson and did incredible work on themselves, achieving enlightenment and significant progress in their lives. However, others failed to grasp it. They remained trapped in their suffering and the limitations of their own minds and decisions. Those individuals eventually drifted away from me, or more often, I moved on from them.
Therefore, you should shift the projection of your thoughts to attract those you can truly be of service to. Sometimes, you even need to refuse the request for help, because more often than not, offering aid without knowing a person's specific spiritual diagnosis is futile.
One cannot effectively help without understanding the underlying issues, much like trying to treat a patient without a medical diagnosis.
Without diving into their traumas or past lives, you are essentially flying blind.
It is far better to be brutally honest with yourself about who You Are—to realize that you are the architect of your own problems, which simultaneously means you possess the incredible power to solve them.

As for providing that "nudge," I am not entirely sure of the best method. In certain instances I've experienced, I found myself practically shouting at someone, asking how they could be so foolish to inflict such damage upon such a perfect being.
Initially, that approach resulted in tears and anger. But in the end, I would always receive a call letting me know I was right, followed by them baking me cookies, preparing dinner, and sitting down to discuss how to resolve the very issues at hand.🙂

Human potential exceeds our own perception. The real question is how one cultivates spiritual strength, since nobody is born with it guaranteed. Some get a head start, but that doesn't mean they finish strong. You see people raised with a certain foundation who eventually crumble, while others discover an inner grit later in life. What is this strength, really? Wild West is right about the choice between good and evil—you have to be conscious of it to choose—but spiritual power is more elemental than mere decision-making. The spirit can act rightly even when the intellect hasn't figured out why. The mind lacks that clarity; if it tried, it would just fall into hypocritical, biased perspectives. The spirit doesn't need to "know" to act correctly. That’s its strength. It guides us through those crises mentioned by electrictinker26 where logic simply fails. In a crisis, the mind is paralyzed and emotions are numb, yet the spirit finds a way to move. You don't need some image of an omnipotent figure in the sky to guide you. As Meister Eckhart suggested, that 'one God who exists' isn't even there. For the spirit, such a concept is just a burden leading to egoism and bias, whereas the spirit transcends all bias. Advice is useless; it serves the giver, not the receiver. Spirit is transmitted directly, without words, to whoever is capable of receiving it.

Michelle Sanchez2 said:Look, let's put it this way.
By definition, the people who enter my life are those capable of accepting that kind of counsel.
Early on, I struggled with the exact same issue you're describing. Eventually, I had a serious conversation—with the angels and with myself—about no longer attracting individuals who cannot process this information. If God truly wants me to assist people in gaining awareness, then He should send those who are actually capable of grasping the message.
And indeed, that became the pattern. I have helped many people rise from the ashes; some understood the lesson and did incredible work on themselves, achieving enlightenment and significant progress in their lives. However, others failed to grasp it. They remained trapped in their suffering and the limitations of their own minds and decisions. Those individuals eventually drifted away from me, or more often, I moved on from them.
Therefore, you should shift the projection of your thoughts to attract those you can truly be of service to. Sometimes, you even need to refuse the request for help, because more often than not, offering aid without knowing a person's specific spiritual diagnosis is futile.
One cannot effectively help without understanding the underlying issues, much like trying to treat a patient without a medical diagnosis.
Without diving into their traumas or past lives, you are essentially flying blind.
It is far better to be brutally honest with yourself about who You Are—to realize that you are the architect of your own problems, which simultaneously means you possess the incredible power to solve them.

As for providing that "nudge," I am not entirely sure of the best method. In certain instances I've experienced, I found myself practically shouting at someone, asking how they could be so foolish to inflict such damage upon such a perfect being.
Initially, that approach resulted in tears and anger. But in the end, I would always receive a call letting me know I was right, followed by them baking me cookies, preparing dinner, and sitting down to discuss how to resolve the very issues at hand.🙂

👍

Brenda Cook4 said:Actually, I think there is a connection. It all boils down to discipline and taking responsibility for yourself versus falling into self-pity and a lack of confidence. That dynamic plays out on both a physical and mental level. You have to realize that you are the one in the driver's seat. Now, being in control doesn't mean everything will always go perfectly. When life hits you with a crisis, the best move is to look it right in the eye. Crises are inevitable—it's just part of the human condition—so what really matters is your reaction. If a crisis demands change, you can either fight it and end up stuck in a cycle of frustration, constant complaining, lost motivation, and endless overthinking while crying about your "unlucky fate" because things didn't go your way... or you can embrace the shift and see it as an opportunity to grow. At its core, spirituality is exactly that: the lived experience that shapes our narrative self.

I agree that there’s a link, it’s just that he phrased it in a way where I couldn't see any connection to what I was talking about. What I need is control and a total reset—especially regarding my mindset.

silvermason2 said:Honestly, I agree with every single word you said. That was actually what I wanted to write originally, but I backed off for one reason. I’ve been there before where someone feeling depressed reaches out for help, and my responses were pretty much identical to yours. Usually, I just get hit with: "How can you say this is all on me? I didn't cause this! Blah blah blah..."
I'm a perfect example of this myself. Even though I work on my own spiritual growth and stay pretty self-aware about myself and the world, when I'm in a terrible mood, part of me still wants someone to come along and tell me: "Look, this all depends on how you perceive the situation."

But still, you're right.

And it looks like vivideagle8 isn't the type to reject that kind of advice. Since she's clearly focusing on her spirit here, it's obvious to me she already understands everything you wrote. She probably just needs a little nudge to snap out of it and notice all the "good" stuff surrounding her—stuff she’s likely overlooking because she’s hyper-focused on the "bad."

I won't reject the advice; that's actually why I started this thread. 🙂 I know we are the masters of our own fate, and I realize I've failed myself in certain ways and ended up hitting a wall. Crying or complaining doesn't lead to any actual progress. I've read plenty of books about how people attract certain types of people into their lives through their thoughts and vibrations, but when I open my heart to someone, I rarely get that same energy back. I tend to be too naive; I trust people because I want to believe everyone has good in them, but lately, I'm starting to wonder if that's actually true. I'm no saint, but I make a conscious effort not to hurt anyone, and if I do, I always try to apologize immediately. Last night I was wondering—if it's true that you attract things with your thoughts, am I just full of negativity? Is that why I attract men who leave me, or people who belittle me? Or maybe my smile is fake, and that's why things turn out this way? 🤷

vivideagle8 said:I agree that there’s a link, it’s just that he phrased it in a way where I couldn't see any connection to what I was talking about. What I need is control and a total reset—especially regarding my mindset.

Maybe try to realize that in this life, absolutely NOTHING ever goes according to plan... So, you just have to accept that you are going to fail a hundred times, fight through it, and so on...

If you ask me, I learn something from every single problem I face. I don't really despair; if anything, I kind of enjoy the process. Because, when a person asks God, "God, please give me knowledge and wisdom," God responds by sending them problems...! They are honestly the best way to STRENGTHEN yourself and learn how to actually live and understand what life's values are... There is nothing inherently bad about having problems. I have been dealing with some heavy issues for 12 years now, yet here I am, happy, and finishing up two different degrees at university... 😉 So, yeah, never despair, because it isn't going to rain forever... 🙂