AB Gracey

Main Stream Churches can use tactics that harm just as cults do I found in my spiritual journey that it was easy for my spirituality to be “above ground” as it were. I followed the rules, I adhered to the doctrines, I submitted to authority. I believed that this was what I needed to do to be faithful. But in my reading of the Gospels, Jesus had issues with this kind of “faithfulness” even to the point to calling those who promoted it as “whitewashed coffins with dead bones in them.” (not a direct quote). When I look back, I see how this faithfulness worked in the beginning. I imagined myself becoming holy, acceptable to God, on my way to perfection. Then when life changed and things got hard with my soul filled with darkness instead of light, my joy evaportated. I sought help from the leaders who instructed me in my faith, but they continued giving me the same lines, that if I had more faith, I wouldn't be struggling. They told me I lacked generosity and was unwilling to carry my c...

People pleasers. It's a brand that others like, but that damages ourselves. I know. I'm one. But how do we stop being people pleasers and begin to do what we want without the guilt? Here are five ways: Remember that pleasing others is not a virtue, but rather a deficit. It makes you easy to manipulate. Keep that in mind when someone asks you for something and you need to say no thank you. Strike the fear of change. Most change is good. Lack of change will keep you stuck. It's a trap. Look to the future. Constantly thinking of the past keeps you in a place gone but still alive and well in your mind. You cannot do anything about what happened, only about how you will now live. Ruminating thoughts. Learn self-soothing techniques to help calm overthinking. Each time you find yourself on that roller coaster of worry, do some deep breathing, some meditation, or sit and read a book.