I'm just reading this discussion and it appears that some posts have either been deleted or altered so I'm not sure if I can get the gist of the whole thing.
I know prayer doesn't always work the way we think it should, but not because we don't believe in God, it's because it's human nature for us to do the opposite. How many times I've prayed for God to help me stop doing something, then that is all I can think of doing and I start doing it. Pray for what you WANT to do instead of what you DON'T want to do. What do you truly WANT to do?
I believe in order to feel better you really need to take the focus off yourself so much. Your thoughts and feelings seem to be revolving around and around about the way you feel.
I think that is what the other folks were trying to share with you about focusing on God. Because when you focus on something bigger than yourself, you pay attention to it more and your own problems don't seem so overwhelming.
Can I ask - are you volunteering or serving others in any capacity? This way you can get a good dose of reality - #1 that you are not alone and #2 that there are people who probably have a harder life than yourself. This would make the perception easier.
Also no matter what we do, we are all terminal. Our mortality rate is 100%. Many people ARE scared. But to me it would be scarier to think I won't be going to paradise. Why run away from it? We all should be facing our fears to get over it. No we shouldn't dwell on our fears until they drive us insane, we should allow ourselves to think what we think, just accept our silly thoughts so we can move on. It's the fighting in our heads that make those thoughts continue to haunt us.
"Why am I thinking about this...oh, am I thinking about this again?....what's wrong with me?...I'm so stupid....nobody else thinks like this...okay, I need to stop thinking about this RIGHT NOW....Ugh, again?....why does this thought keep coming up??"
You see...it doesn't work. You have to figure out a way to "change the channel" in your brain...let yourself think the stupid thought, and then MOVE ON. Go DO something to distract yourself, something physical. Or call a friend. Take a walk with your IPOD. Go for a drive and enjoy the scenery. Clean out your closet! Make something in the kitchen. Go to the bookstore.
Every time you are haunted by the thought, you should follow a protocol. Tell yourself what you need to do, write a list of things to go through whenever that thought comes to mind.
My deepest darkest thoughts..
-
Guest