reply to post by The Quiet Storm
Oh there is definitely some social programming going on. Proof? Well duh...just look around. It's so obvious I'm amazed at the people who can't
see it. So much of our media, pop culture, literature, advertising has elements in it that are designed to pit everyone against everyone else. Men
vs. women, religion vs. religion vs. atheism and agnosticism. Citizens vs. legal immigrants vs. illegal immigrants. Races are being played against
each other. Why else would so many of the existing laws that used to serve us well in the past to help people get along being scrapped or ignored.
Why did we have social liberation movements and civil rights movements that were supposed to accomplish good things get mixed in with elements against
all common sense that ended up tearing us apart and pitting us against one another?
We can believe it's all random and coincidental that all these elements converge at this point in time to make society so incredibly volatile and
unstable or we can think there is some "intelligent design" to borrow a term, behind it all.
But for the sake of your mental health I would NOT get too caught up in thinking everything is specifically designed to make you, a particular
individual, miserable. Don't start thinking you're alone. Isolation and a sense of helplessness and hopelessness plays into the hands of negative
forces in our society. It will also be extremely detrimental to your brain chemistry. Instead, recognize that you have the recognition and
affirmation of good kind people and that there are many others like yourself out there. Good people dealing with complete and utter buttmunches.
Cultivate your sense of humor. Learn to shrug off the things you can't change and learn that while you can't control certain things you can control
your reactions to them. Focus on what you CAN do. Don't wallow in angst and fear over the things you can't do. When you do have moments of
introspection and self awareness, focus on how you might be thinking and acting from a place of negativity and instead think of what ELSE you could be
doing that is positive. Think how you can change your attitude to be more positive. And don't think it is futile. Never give up, never give in.
Even if you worry you'll go down, at least go down fighting.
I've battled depression, I've battled bad circumstances, I've battled illness. I'm always swinging, dude. Always fighting. I come from a long
line of fighters who battled much worse than I've ever had to see so far.
I've known personally and read of women from Africa who survived horrors beyond imagining. Mutilation of their bodies. Loved ones killed right in
front of them. Yet somehow they show dignity, courage and warmth that defies what you'd expect of someone who survived what they did. Nothing about
them says "I'm beaten". They've kept their faith in God when others would have cursed God for all that was permitted to happen to them. So to
you I say, what's some social persecution from a bunch of idiots against all that? If those women can triumph, I'm sure you, who surely must have
had more advantages than they, can surely do so. Find your inner strength and if you have a faith in God, call upon it. If not, tap into whatever
positive elements you do have faith in.
And please do keep us posted on how you're doing. I've got this thread subscribed. I do genuinely care what happens to you and how you handle it
all.