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  • #159786
    Lisa
    Participant

    Anita I have come up with a plan of some sort. It is starting out as the others did with many goals written but this time I added affirmations in the front of my binder to try to change my thought patterns. I know what to do intellectually, it’s my stubborn thoughts that I have been carrying around with me since I was a teen and then my emotions and sometimes my pmdd takes over and I go back to the beginning of feeling I need to do something.

    I don’t know how to get around this because when any of the above kicks in I become incredibly negative and then all the obstacles come up. I don’t know how to participate in something unless everything is perfect. Like if I didn’t have financial woes I could pay for intensive personality makeover or physically be put back into shape.

    I am feeling good about what I accomplished this weekend but know all too well my obstacles sure to come up: fear, hurt, loneliness, judging all by the comments of some. I wanted to share with you my feelings on some of the comments posted after some other online articles but not sure if it’s productive.

    I also need to see some results rather quickly and become discouraged if I take away my coping methods and nothing comes of it. I have so many issues that are interlinked that I can not set aside even one of them.

    I put myself on a more nutritional diet today and plan on walking back and forth to work, as well as some strength training and yoga this week. I want to do it for my health but it’s always in the back of my mind to acheive looking the way I onced looked. I know I am babbling now and even stopped writing about what I am afraid of in my goal settings.

    I have a whole binder of things I need to focus on that I worked on this weekend as well as some physical work around the house maybe I am a little fatigued. I should post tomorrow after a bit of rest…

     

    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    #159796
    Lisa
    Participant

    Angela and Lucy I will respond to your posts by tomorrow morning. Welcome to the forum Angela and thank you both for sharing your stories and advice.

    #159822
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Lisa:

    You wrote: “I don’t know how to participate in something unless everything is perfect. Like if I didn’t have financial woes I could pay for intensive personality makeover or physically be put back into shape”-

    If “everything is perfect” – there would be nothing to fix, nothing to do differently. And there can never be Perfect.

    There are plenty of people with lots and lots of money who can afford the most expensive therapy and makeovers, people who have bought themselves those therapies and makeovers, and did not resolve their lifetime, ongoing distress.

    You wrote: “I am feeling good about what I accomplished this weekend but know all too well my obstacles sure to come up: fear, hurt, loneliness, judging…”- your plan which is about living a better life, will have to include the fact that indeed these distressing feelings will indeed return. And when they do, it should not be a deal breaker for your plan.

    You wrote: “I also need to see some results rather quickly and become discouraged if I take away my coping methods and nothing comes of it.”- Lots of people start functioning better, according to a plan, feel better as a result, get encouraged,  then feel worse, get discouraged and give up. It is when feeling worse- but persisting in functioning better regardless- that most progress is done. Persisting when not seeing results is the way to success. Patience is key.

    You wrote: “I have so many issues that are interlinked that I can not set aside even one of them” – I understand that and it is possible to unravel those issues, little by little, patiently, over time.

    I like you eating better, walking more, yoga… very positive. Try not to take on too much at one time. When you intend to make progress, take it as easy as you can, slow down. Do not rush.

    anita

    #159838
    Lisa
    Participant

    Angela I totally respect your perspective. I really think we are the same people no matter what age we are and the struggle is not allowing our experiences to cover up our true selves. In my case I have let my experiences rule my life and only a handful of people are able to see the real me inside. I don’t even rocognize myself anymore and it often feels like this negative force has taken over my life and I am powerless over it. I have been waiting for someone to rescue me from it.
    I respect your experiences the only difference is the length of time that they have affected our lives.

    Thank you for your empathy. I wish I was more embarrased by my situation because I had a family member once tell me that I really shouldn’t admit out loud that I have never had a relationship. I am way more secretive about it with aquatants and even a few friends. This is why I like posting on a public forum instead of people who know me. I often wish my family was more concerned when I was a teen staying in my room but I was firm and my grandfather who did try to get me help with a counselor eventually just let me do what I wanted. He was grieving his wife at the time and I don’t think he really knew what to do. The allowances he made for me didn’t really sit well with others in the family though. I just had a memory of my guidance counselor who I was in love with really expressing understanding for what I was going through. If everyone had been like him at that time I might have been less resistant to listening. I remember my female gym teacher stood there in the guidance counselors office and said she thought I was throwing a temper tantrum. Maybe I was. I had enough and felt powerless to bullying, to feeling used, to feeling that I was fated to be nothing special, being the recipient of verbal intimidation. Don’t know why that scene just popped in my head.

    Angela I can relate to crying myself to sleep. I hope you do not do that as long as I have and hope you find what you want in your life. I feel for you and can relate to you and I agree, I believe that it won’t be forever for you or for me although I believe more in your ability.

    I was raised Catholic and although I do find some things comforting there are many things I do not get and never did so when it comes to religion or belief rather I think it’s a very personal understanding that you come to. I am very open to hearing about all different perspectives when it comes to what someone believes. I approach it like those holistic flyers you see sometime that have different inspirational words and the flyer says take what you need. I do pray though for me personally but I am very open to all different beliefs

    I have “friends” but I have difficulty maintaining a close relationship with anyone so I came to this forum for advice and an opportunity to communicate with people.
    I absolutely should be doing the things I enjoy on the side but I don’t. I can only compare the reason I do not drive as to my views on living life. I won’t learn to drive because not everyone follows the rules. I won’t participate in a game if I know people might cheat. I do not want to be part of life with other human beings unless everyone is treated as equally valuable. I grew up with the thought that some are for reason just more valuable than others and no matter how well I behaved, no matter what grades I got, no matter how much love I could offer a person they will always see someone else as more valuable than I am. I don’t agree with that way of thinking. It’s just what has developed at a very early age. I literally decided one day in high school that I was going to my room and wanted to be left alone. My grandfather being the age he was compared me to Greta Garbo. Lol. I had heard of her name but I had to look her up in the library to see what he meant. When I was a teenager the library was my internet and it really was the only place that got me out of my room.
    It is on my list of things to do though to get a better paying job hopefully in a stress free environment. Needless to say after losing my grandfather, the man basically taking care of me, I had to go into the cruel working world and it has proven to be a nightmare at times for me who really wanted to stay in my room and let me dream about the way I wish my life was. I was not spoiled or felt entitled is was my safety from the world even though I had enough to deal with at home from other people, not my grandfather. It’s wonderful that you take care of yourself and I as of yesterday will make a real effort to pay more attention to my looks. Getting in shape is part of that plan. I know it should be for myself but I think about how I can look and know it could help me in the relationship department or at least in the attraction department. If only I didn’t have to speak. lol

    I agree with you that there is someone out there for you and for me and taking baby steps to improving myself. I read somewhere recently that you can make all the long term goals you want but if you don’t change your daily habits you will get the same outcome you have always got. I hope and wish for you to find your special someone to share your life with. Thank you again.

    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    #159846
    Lisa
    Participant

    correction: “aquantists should be acquaintances.

    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    #159918
    Lisa
    Participant

    Lucy and Anita I have been interupted by work. Will post tonight. About 7 hours from now.

    #159984
    Lisa
    Participant

    Lucy I am glad to hear someone say that they are inspired to keep trying and if what I write helps that along on any level that makes me happy.

    Thank you Lucy. Right before I joined this forum I was very depressed and have had my ups and downs so I don’t know when I will be feeling optimistic or down. Right now I am very optimistic and it is on my list to soften my down periods so they don’t completely cloud my judgement.
    A certain mantra upsets you or the idea of centering your feelings and letting go upsets you? I think I know what about it bothers you but I think even though it sounds detached the goal is to quiet the mind so I think we can make decisions with more clarity. I fortunality have had very pleasant feelings listening and repeating mantras. My emotions get to be too much when either my hormones kick in or I feel I am being treated as unimportant or as someone who just needs to be tolerated because she’s here. Of course I feel or think those thoughts more deeply other times than now. I think I have a real self esteem issue that like right now I can deal with and want to work on. Unfortunality also when my emotions get to be too much I tend to rant about everything I am feeling. There really isn’t anyone in my personal life I can do that with.

    Yes it is a very important part of my dream to have a relationship with a man and it is one of the reasons I want to change but my ultimate reason is I want to be the person I was meant to be when I was born and part of that is being open to love and acceptance and giving back to people I know and meet. One of my biggest problems in life is my extreme loneliness and I don’t want to be sad most of the time anymore but I have been feeling these things for years. I understand the importance of a person being happy with or without someone else but I want to experience a real connection with someone and have friends and have a family. That is what I dream of and also what I envy in others.

    I felt I did love myself when I was younger but I was an extremely sensitive child and the get up and don’t cry environment amongst the often anger I experienced and saw between others growing up as well as the competitive school I went to where the strongest and happiest excelled…I felt abandoned. If you experienced pain of any kind in my family or the neighborhood your options seem to be to become more stoic and or use drugs to hide your pain. I fortunality did not turn to this growing up but I dealt with my undealt with pain by retreating from the anger in my family, from the other children who I felt just wanted to ridicule me and eventually not giving the rest of the world a chance because of these early experiences. Sadly both of my parents turned to alcohol or drugs as well as some of my mother’s siblings. I went to the library, museums or stayed in my room and imagined myself somewhere else, being someone else.

    I do agree that people are attracted to people who are happy but also to people who show all human emotions in a healthy way. I think when one or two emotions take over our lives we seem less balanced to others. Like Anita and others have said we don’t feel an emotion all the time but people like me with the way I have allowed my life to go I often feel sadness and anger way too much but I never found a way to deal with it thinking if someone loved me and accepted me no matter what I would feel better. The problem is that people you never met before can’t really see the person you are inside and only experience what is on the surface.

    I do think it is important to be yourself and we are ourselves under our pain which is why it might be good for us to let go and release it. We are always ourselves deep down.

    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    #160126
    Lisa
    Participant

    Anita a key word for me would be patience. If it doesn’t happen now I never think it’s gonna happen. I am profoundly immature. The little maturity I have is just from experiencing things. I understand patience but a real tough one is getting over perfectionism. I have not messed up since Sunday but if I do I might go back to not taking care of myself. I also worry constantly about how I come across…if I said anything wrong and then I obsess over it. Another key word for me is relax. I don’t “relax.” I just stop moving when i’m not working. I know it’s not right but I don’t believe I am worthy to seek a relationship unless I look exactly the way I am supposed to look. I am extremely critical of myself.

    I will see how this week goes and I like having a little accountability on this forum. I am as of right now very commited to my change.

    #160134
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Lisa:

    Your perfectionism is a big problem in your attempted progress. Imperfection in your recent endeavor will happen, it is just a matter of time. Somehow you need to prepare for it now. You have to … relax (yes, this thing you don’t do) into the reality of imperfect performance. When it happens, it needs not be a deal breaker, otherwise, this present endeavor will be like the others.

    Will be away from the computer for about 17 hours.

    anita

    #160772
    Lisa
    Participant

    I am feeling so different than I did on May 1st when I created this thread. I am not suddenly cured of my loneliness and I am not 100 percent confidant that my feelings then won’t return but I feel so driven now. I have made an elaborate plan for life goals and how to approach them more involved than I have ever done before. Because I have so much to work on I feel I have to do it this way. So much ties into my feeling alone.

    I have many goals in different areas but my first focus is eating well and sleeping well. Yes my ultimate goal is to do this to properly take care of my body but in my ultimate goal here to help with my loneliness it will help my self confidence to be happier with my body image. I have already made progress but do not want to be obsessed with constantly checking it. Part of me feeling attractive is my taking care of my body by eating foods that help me and drinking plenty of water.

    I have written some affirmations for whenever my feelings start to spiral down so I have that. I also do have this forum and I believe this forum has really inspired me to be as driven as I am right now to do something about my problem.

    As I am focusing on each goal I will not forget to be mindful of my thoughts on men and to change the way I think. Right now I am very optimistic and hopeful.

    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Lisa.
    #160812
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Lisa:

    Your post above reads very promising to me: it includes all the ingredients for success that I can think of. It contains the drive you have, the elaborate planning you believe is necessary, the correct motivations for physically taking good care of yourself, and a realistic, somewhat cautious attitude. Your plan includes the big picture, not just a corner of it. And my favorite part, you included in your plans the affirmations for times of distress, when you will face the unavoidable imperfection in your performance and experience of executing your plan.

    Do use this thread, this site. Whenever I am at the computer, I will reply to you, as I have since you started this thread.

    anita

    #160986
    Lisa
    Participant

    Thank you Anita. Just to somewhat explain what I am doing…I have broken down very important elements I feel will help me change for the better into 50 goals and will focus on each goal for one week and then hopefully have a continuation of that goal carry over into the coming weeks. I am trying to start with what is known as a person’s basic needs which begins by looking after my physical body. I began meditating today to calm myself and ended up taking a 4 hour nap this morning. Luckily I do not have to go to work today. I seem to be on a very good track with my diet eating all fruits and vegetables with light dairy and light protein. I do not eat meat though. I have been following this diet since last Sunday and have lost a few pounds. I feel better physically but feel that little void calling. I am staying strong.  I have other things on my list for my first goal that I haven’t done yet but avoiding perfectionism I am going to keep at it no matter what week I am on.

    The weeks ahead are going to be about financial responsibility and seeking better employment, medical insurance…things I need to be doing/ having to better support myself.

    All the way to November 2nd when my focus will be on the very topic of my thread. Dating and hopefully getting involved in a relationship with a man. I’m not saying it couldn’t happen before or after…it’s just positioned after I focus on things that I should be taking care of myself and not waiting for someone to save me. Hopefully by then I have really been taking care of myself and feel more confidant that I can do this. I really have no idea what to expect.

    It sounds like it is far away but I don’t think I can be ready now to feel attractive enough that someone would be interested in me…and I do have to know what it’s like to want to do these things for myself. That date will be here before I know it. I hope I don’t bore people with my journey. I also hope it somehow helps other people who feel as alone as I do.

    Thank you everyone who has posted so far and thank you Anita for giving so much of your time to posting on my thread. I really do look forward to your thoughts.

     

    #161024
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Lisa:

    It reads good to me, your plan, well thought of, reasonable, sensible, doable. You definitely do not bore me and I imagine people read your thread, many do not comment, but they read and are inspired by you! I think that you are seen-and-heard on this thread.

    Your plan includes the one step at a time concept, basic needs first, the need to be and feel physically healthy first, before meeting a man for the relationship you need. Losing pounds is already giving you tangible results which encourage you to proceed with the plan. Sleeping better is most important. Looking for better employment and medical insurance, very important, practical.

    And you notice “that little void calling”, enduring it. You are also aware of your perfectionism inclination, that is, the all-or-nothing thinking.

    Excellent work on your part, I say. Focus on progress, not perfection. Progress is not a linear process where there is nothing but progress. Within true progress there are times of distress and deterioration of functioning, but these are temporary. Overall, true progress is a line going up with many tiny zigzag lines going down and back up.

    It is during the first zigzag line you encounter, that you figure: I am not giving up, this is only a zigzag. You endure, resume and return to the upward movement of progress.

    anita

    #161774
    Lucy
    Participant

    Hi Lisa,

    My apologies for  my late response. When I’m not feeling ok it’s hard for me to post on a public forum or maybe to communicate my thought at all. I know my mind goes out of control a little bit and I’m thinking of a 100 things all at ones. I hope you don’t mind I’ll respond a little later.

    Lucy

    #162024
    Lisa
    Participant

    Lucy  I do enjoy hearing from you but I wouldn’t want you to feel you have to post…especially if you are not up to it.

    I have a hard time sometimes posting as well. When I go a few days without posting it is usually more than just work (although that is a major factor.)

    Right now I am feeling a little edgy. I know when that time comes up. I will say for myself that I worked pretty hard on my first goal although I have to work on a few aspects of my first goal. It continues on to the next week though like I said and is a work in progress. The best thing I accomplished is changing my eating habits. I keep reminding myself of what is down this path if I go back to eating unhealthy and what could be down this other path if I eat to nourish my body.

    I am missing something and I wish I could find a replacement for what I am missing besides food. I have been so good and trust me I have had several temptations thrown at me but it’s now or never for me. I am telling myself that to motivate myself. I have to do this.

    I did get upset about a half an hour ago wondering where my soulmate is. That void in my life is getting to me right now. I have to hang on and be patient.

    I have lost a few pounds alread just changing my eating, I started Yoga, meditation, walking more. One of my struggles has been drinking enough water…I have to work on that and carry into the new week along with everything else. My weeks of this program I started for myself begin on Thursdays. My second week is all about exercise so this should be interesting. I love to walk and hike on trails and I love swimming. I also love to ride a bike. So it’s exercise this week.

    Like I said, love to hear from you but only if you are ready.

    • This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Lisa.
    • This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Lisa.
    • This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Lisa.
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