Comments on: The Willingness Factor: Learn to Avoid Avoidance

By: maryann thompson

maryann thompson — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:19:42 +0000

P.S.: I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR BRILLIANT, UNIQUE SENSE OF HUMOR -
EVIDENT IN YOUR OTHER MESSAGES, BUT STILL EVER-PRESENT!

MANY THANKS FOR CONSISTENTLY INSPIRING AND UPLIFTING…..

MARY ANN

By: maryann thompson

maryann thompson — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:27:03 +0000

I AM READING THIS AGAIN TODAY. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

I KNOW YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE NOCEBO/PLACEBO EFFECT (OUR
DEAR FRIEND LISSA RANKIN COVERS IT WELL). ONE COULD WRITE AN
ENTIRE BOOK ABOUT THAT – IN FACT, LISSA DID!

GETTING OFF ALL PHARMACEUTICALS WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I
HAVE EVER DONE FOR MYSELF. STILL, TO EACH HIS/HER OWN; THE
BODY-MIND CONNECTION IS SO INTIMATE AND SOMETIMES BEYOND
OUR LIMITED UNDERSTANDING. EACH INDIVIDUAL/SITUATION IS
PROFOUNDLY UNIQUE. HAVING EXPERIENCED SEVERE DEPRESSION AND
THE INSANITY OF MANIA, I HAVE INDEED LEARNED TO RIDE THE WAVES
AND MY SPIRIT/SOUL FEELS MORE LIBERATED AND “HEALTHY” WITHOUT
THOSE PILLS.

FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, I AM NO LONGER WILDLY MANIC, AND MY
DEPRESSIVE EPISODES DO NOT PARALYZE ME, AS IN THE PAST. SUFFICE
IT TO SAY THAT I HAVE DONE MUCH WORK ON MYSELF.

ONE THING WHICH HAS HELPED ME ENORMOUSLY IS SIMPLY SEEING LIFE
FROM A PRIMARILY CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE – MY OWN PERSONAL FORM
OF CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT ALL THE INSANE DOGMA AND PROSELYTIZING,
WHICH TO ME IS INSANE. I SAID “SIMPLE” BUT IT IS COMPLICATED IN A
WAY, BECAUSE I AM, AFTER ALL, A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL.

GIVING UP ANGER, AS WELL AS GUILT, IS A BIG DEAL AND VERY IMPORTANT
TO ME PERSONALLY. HOW OTHER PEOPLE DEAL WITH THEIR ANGER ISSUES
IS NOT MY FOCUS; I ONLY KNOW THAT NOT BEING REACTIVE TO WHAT
SEEMS TO BE INSENSITIVITY/THOUGHTLESSNESS HAS FREED ME AND GIVEN
ME GREATER PEACE IN MY OWN LIFE.

SOMETHING MAGIC AND WONDERFUL HAPPENS WHEN WE STOP JUDGING
AND CONDEMNING OTHERS AND SIMPLY STRIVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
ANGRY PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM A PLACE OF FEAR, AND SIMPLE COM-
PASSION GOES A LONG WAY; STILL, IF COMPASSION DOES NOTHING FOR
THEM, IT CERTAINLY DOES SOMETHING FOR WHAT I VIEW AS MY OWN
SOUL.

WE BOTH KNOW IT TAKES GREAT COURAGE TO LIVE ONE’S LIFE AND DARE
TO STRIVE TO UNDERSTAND: AN INSIDE JOB FOR SURE! AND A LIFELONG
ONE!

I APRECIATE YOUR WISDOM AND HONESTY: YOU ARE TRULY A GOD-SEND!

THIS PARTICULAR MESSAGE IS MY OWN PERSONAL FAVORITE, AND I HAVE
FORWARDED IT TO SEVERAL PEOPLE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING WITH US! YOU ARE A WONDER AND A
JOY!

LOVE AND BLESSINGS,
MARY ANN

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:33:51 +0000

This is so timely. Just what I would expect as a “wayfinder”…
I just wrote this poem yesterday before reading this….

A cork
Floating with the ebb
And flow
Of the tides
Sometimes
Floundering
Without direction
Trying to follow
The stars
No compass
No charts or maps
Missing a rudder
How do I
Expect
To find my way?

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:58:31 +0000

Thanks for your words—came at just the right time. I’m going for my dream job!

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:08:48 +0000

Wow! Martha, on January 1st when I walked the labyrinth, our leader said to ask Spirit for a word and the word I got was Allow. There were things I did not want to allow, things I was trying to accept but certainly not allow, and this article has put a whole new slant on it. I will read it again and again, whenever I get into emotional pain over this situation I am working with. Already I see the gifts in the allowing since January when I started working with it. Amazing!

By: Martie Thomalla

Martie Thomalla — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:52:13 +0000

This is so well said. It is what I would have replied if I had the skill.
I started reading Martha in Oprah and now get her daily messages. My yoga teacher trained as a coach under Martha, and gives us many words of wisdom. Thank you, Diane, for your very wise and articulate response.

By: Diane H

Diane H — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:08:52 +0000

As a psychiatric nurse, I can tell you that when someone is so biologically depressed that they cannot even get out of a chair, eat or engage in other routine functions, it is unlikely that they will be able to mobilize the psychological energy to engage in psychotherapy or explore how to improve their life. Medication can be very helpful in addressing this phase of depressive illness. If someone needs this assistance for a time, it is not particularly supportive to label this aid as a “crutch” or to discourage people from using something that might be a great help to them. Just because someone isn’t on your path doesn’t mean that they are lost. And just because these medications were not helpful to you doesn’t mean that they might not be lifesaving for someone else.

By: Marjorie

Marjorie — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:15:47 +0000

OMG, every divorced person whould read this. It will take everyone a different amount of time but eventually you notice that this is all TRUE and worth pursuing, in particular when you have children. Face the FEAR! FOr me it was facing Him, but I started doing it and believe it or not, I did not burn or die at the moment he looked me in the eye as if I were nothing more than a person on the street. Does it hurt? Yes, but I can face the fear for the sake and happiness of my children. They deserve a father and a mother who does not impede deserved love from either.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 03:24:54 +0000

Gosh I needed to read this. It is always amazing to me that the gifts we need come to us at the moment we need them. I have lived for 10 years on a caffeine high and when I took away the crutch I discovered I finally have to deal with the wave of emotions I have been burying… It’s been the hardest to deal with fear… fear of moods, fear of mortality, fear of the “new normal”… but each day another piece of armor is attacked, weakens and falls. Please keep writing…

By: Luciana

Luciana — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:21:21 +0000

That’s the inspiration I needed right now!
It touched me very deep… It hurts. But I know for sure that there is no life without suffering at some point.