Getting started
Hi,
Glad to find 7 Cups. I'm still a little bit nervous about this type of environment, though I'm hopeful that I can let some things out and I haven't been able to share fully. Have a lot of shame and guilt it's been holding me back. I need a safe place.
Thanks
@CatDaddy60 Welcome! We are happy you are here and it’s ok to be nervous. This is an open, positive space to support you. 😊Something to consider is that shame and guilt are appropriate emotional reactions to situations and interactions. Just like anger, happiness, and fear, shame is just another emotion that informs us of that experience/interaction. No emotion is ever wrong and they are meant to ebb and flow like the tides of the ocean. Over time, I’ve learned that when emotions become static states of being, is when we are held back.
Instead of letting the shame/guilt come and go, when we exist in perpetual state of shame, we become stuck in a toxic cycle that can seem impossible to escape.
Luckily that is not true- overcoming shame and guilt is not only very possible, but something you deserve as a birth right on this Earth!
It takes practice to begin to shift from a constant shame state to simply feeling shame, letting it inform us and moving forward so that we can live in alignment with our system. Some questions you may want to ask yourself:
- What purpose does staying in a state of shame serve you?
- How can you practice self compassion without judgment?
- What would it take for you to forgive yourself for things you may feel shame about?
- What would you say to the person you care about most if you knew they were carrying around the burden of constant guilt and shame?
- What would it feel like physically and emotionally to release the weight of all the shame you’ve been carrying?
- What would you be able to accomplish without being held back by shame?
You are not alone. We are here to support you in this journey. And, thank you self for the courage it took to show up for yourself by reaching out! Take care and reach out whenever you need to. ❤️
@sereneSunshine00 That was indeed a ray of sunshine. It is interesting that in my brief time on 7 Cups = about a week = I have experienced such affirmation as yours, apparrently overloaded a Listener so that they bailed out of a session 🙃 gotten myself involved with another member slipping into what has been my problem, managed to grapple out of that quagmire, met some sincere souls that are willing to share a walk, and starting to sense that having confessed and said some things out loud on here that I already feel better ... still gotta watch it and not stumble, while moving along to a consistent walk where I am sincere with myself and others. Thanks, Sunshine
@CatDaddy60
@Tinywhisper11
Hi - a fine Bibleverse: Psalm 31:15 "My times are in your (Gods) hand;"
Good morning Helga and tiny, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers which began as soon as I woke up this morning. God loves you and I do too.
@CatDaddy60
@Tinywhisper11
Thank you.
Tiny - congrats with the new prime-minister in your country England! (I watch the news every day -I think you said somewhere at this time of your life it's too much for you to watch).
I watched a bit of GodTV today. Cat - I like very much to watch Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen also - he's so very positive. Well - this song was played: "Turned it around" by Rikki Doolan. I liked it very much and what I want for all 3 of us - that Jesus Christ/God shall turn around everything in our lives so we live our lives to the fullest each day and experience the glory of God. Cat - I write Christ/God because Tiny don't label herself with any spesific label of religion. It's not a secret - I have seen her telling that several times at 7Cups. (I can also understand a bit of that since the sect she was in called themselves Christians - what a shame. - I'm just now following at TV a so called Christian sect from New zeeland - after 50 years they are in the court. Lots of s e x there also. I cannot understand why the authorities of N.Z. let them go on for so long. It really make me feel angry - well. well.)
@Helgafy I have noticed you've using God/jesus Christ when speaking to me lately ❤ thankyou your just the sweetest person in the world ❤ and yep, we got a new prime minister, a new party in control. I wish them good luck ❤ I'm not sure how long the cult I was in as been going. But power, money, I guess the law and government just ignore it😥 it's very sad.
I really hope we all live out the rest of our lives with joy in our hearts, God by our sides🙂
@CatDaddy60 good morning ❤ yes we are all so blessed to have God and each other ❤❤
@Helgafy perfect bible verse ❤❤ I'm definetly in the palms of God ❤❤ thankyou
@CatDaddy60
Hi. Hi Cat.
@Tinywhisper11
Hi Tiny and Cat.
A fine Bible verse for us:
Psalm 143:8 "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust
in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."
I wish us all a fine day. Remember to eat something good! From Helga.
@Helgafy thanks ❤ trying to get through this month the best I can🙂 I hope God continues to keep me strong. Hugs you tightly, I hope you have a great day ❤
@Tinywhisper11
Here is a wonderful word for you Tiny. Psalm 41:11-13 "I know that
you are pleased with me, (for my enemy does not triumph over me). Because of my integrity
you uphold me and set me in your presence forever."
@Helgafy sometimes the bible versus you write, bring me lots of comfort and tears to my eyes🙂 I think you must be my Angel sent from God. Thankyou Helga ❤
@Tinywhisper11
lol - not an angel Tiny, but very often the verses I give are verses that have helped and still help me.
@Helgafy ❤❤ your a earth angel ❤
@Helgafy
Very lovely. I appreciate the scriptures you write🌹
Thank you helga. It's important to start the day focused on God and the path is laid before us. It was a great day in church yesterday. I had been talking to a lady last week who grew up Roman Catholic her husband is a Methodist they're trying to get back in church but yet she has a lot of social anxiety. So we were able to gently greet her when she arrived and get her settled in a back pew and she seemed to respond well. I feel like I did a good thing yesterday.
@CatDaddy60
look at that! Thank you Cat for telling. I have seen from sharing circle here that many persons have social anxiety. And as you know I also want @Tinywhisper11 to explore the beautiful world out there more. Tiny - you don't have to tell this if it bother you. I know that you can eat delicious food now. Can we (Cat and I) ask what you ate in your "prison". Please don't tell if it's unconvinient for you Tiny - a beautiful rose on this earth.
@Helgafy ok this is a bit embarrasing and shameful, but I had no choice. We were made to eat dog food from a bowl on the floor, if we didn't eat it, or was sick from it. We were beaten with a chain😥 I'm sorry I ate that stuff, but it wasn't my fault😞
@Tinywhisper11
Why should you be sorry Tiny. The dogs often eat the same as human beings. But it is so very wrong that they didn't treat you as human beings. Of course we give the dog food bought in boxes. There are a lot of proteins and vitamines in the boxes. But for human beings we make other kind of food, served at the table, heated up for dinner sometimes - if not green salat. I'm sorry I ask Tiny - please (as I said before) keep your bondaries of what you rather just want to tell your therapist. - The old fairytailes in Norway often had trolls in them. But the trolls could not bear to see light, then they exploded in thousand pieces. I hope for the same with your bad memories, if you tell - maybe sometimes the shame (if you feel that) goes away.
Maybe this is too much for now; - did you enough clothes and shoes and socks to keep you warm.
One more
@Helgafy I don't mind answering your questions, I'm always as open about my past as I'm allowed to be. trigger warning - abuse.....We were not allowed clothes or beds, we were only fed that stuff once every 2 days, and water was given twice a day. We were made to sleep in cages. It was freezing a lot of the nights, I didn't think I'd wake up the next day. Luckily I would be able to sleep, but purely from exhaustion
@Tinywhisper11
Very hard experiences Tiny. I bless your past (if it is possible) in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that the memories will go away.
Oh Tiny, my heart goes out to you. Nothing for you to be sorry for, you were victimized and exploited. Thank you for sharing as hard, as it is.
@CatDaddy60
very well said
@BlossomGirvan ❤❤
@CatDaddy60 ❤🙂❤
@CatDaddy60 Hi there! Excited to have you here. The Welcome Pack is very helpful (Blue text is clickable)
@healingsoul4892
thanks for linking this!
Hi there!
I also feel a bit nervous, but am hopeful to find some friends and connection. Sometimes it's just nice to know someone is reading.
Know that whatever it is you're experiencing that taking the step to admit it takes a lot of strength. I have many dark things in my past that I feel shameful about too and it's a burden that weighs me down
Keep going forward! Oh and I'm a cat father as well 😊
@Phoenix22k
Thank you for reaching out and sharing a bit about yourself. It's completely natural to feel nervous, but I'm glad you're here and hopeful to find friends and connection. It really does make a difference knowing that someone is reading and listening.
Your words about admitting our struggles resonated with me deeply. It takes immense strength to confront and share the darker parts of our past, and you're not alone in feeling that burden. It's a heavy weight to carry, but taking steps to address it is incredibly brave.
Keep moving forward, and remember that you're not defined by your past. You have the strength to overcome it and find brighter days ahead.
And as a fellow cat parent, I can totally relate! Our feline friends can bring so much joy and comfort into our lives. 😊
Sending you support and a virtual high-five!
@CatDaddy60
@Helgafy
Thank you for sharing a part of your story with us. It takes a lot of courage to open up about your experiences, especially when dealing with something as challenging as ME/CFS. I'm so sorry to hear about the difficulties you've been facing and how it's affected your daily life.
Your strength and resilience in the face of such a tough illness are truly inspiring. Even though you may be confined to your bed or couch, the fact that you're reaching out and connecting with others shows tremendous bravery and determination. I admire your faith and trust in God through this, as it must be a source of comfort and strength for you.
Sending you warm thoughts and gentle hugs.
@BlossomGirvan
Very nice written. Thank you!
Helga, thank you for sharing that with me. It helps me to at least catch a glimpse into your world and your experiences. I'm sorry to hear that and know that you long for the outdoors and more General contact. I'm praying for you, but you are such a positive presence here that you are making a difference in the lives of others. Not only mine, but I can see it in that of others. Thank you for all that you do to support this community.
@CatDaddy60
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the very fine words - and being prayed for! (some said it is the highest job - (I don't know)). Well. well - I always try to see my suffering in contrast to what's on the news. Yesterday childrens hospital was bombed by the Russian in Kiev - Ukraine. So now is the NATO-meeting in Washington. And guess what! The leader Jens Stoltenberg is from Norway!!! (proud me). He has been for a loooong periode, but now is a new leader from the Netherlands coming.
@CatDaddy60
Hi. Hi Cat.
I just think you missed my message to you here above - a bit about Jens Stoltenberg. And yes - he was honored by a prize given at the NATO-meeting giving by president Biden. (Poor fellow - storms around him these days). Mother Theresa also had this prize.
@CatDaddy60
@Tinywhisper11
Hi Tiny - Good morning to you.
Tiny) will neither slumber nor sleep.5The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;6the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.7The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;8the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
@Helgafy
Thank you for sharing such a comforting scripture and prayer. It's reassuring to be reminded of the Lord's watchful care over us. Your words resonate deeply, and I appreciate the encouragement they bring. Wishing you a blessed day ahead! [If it is day time for you]
Warm regards, Ruth (BlossomGirvan)
@Helgafy good morning sweetie ❤❤ thank you for that. I'm in God's light now🙂 and to God I pray that he looks after us all ❤ hope you have a great day ❤