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Thanks Roy. Your words have special meaning for me. The last few comments highlight one of the reasons I love this forum so much and why I continue to spend so much time here. That image of the gold-repaired pot brought tears to my eyes. Stunningly beautiful.
In the last 6 months I came to the realization that I was more “broken” then I thought I was due to the responsibilities I was choosing to undertake. I used to tell myself, “That which is is brittle – breaks.” hoping that some of the broken pieces were things I no longer needed. I am coming to understand that when a person is “broken” in one area or another, they are going through the stages of grief regarding that area. For me, I felt most vulnerable and “broken” when I realized that I could no longer handle the load of responsibilities I was carrying with the capacity I had available. There was an element of “Denial” for about 3 months (I’ve got this – it’s just temporary, it’s not too bad), “Anger” (both for myself for failing, and for other people because they required more of me then I could give [or just existed]), “Bargaining” (If I take a bath today I will feel better and it will go away), “Depression” in the sense of mourning/sad that my expectations did not match reality, and finally acceptance.
Through the process, I came to realize that I wasn’t mentally invincible – and that was ok. I could be kinder to myself as I worked on identifying better expectations of myself. I also came to realize that there was a huge hormonal component I could do very little about (the female body transition from pregnant to non-pregnant in terms of hormones does not and should not happen overnight) – and that was ok. I could set up more effective coping mechanisms and try to redirect my thoughts when they became dark and overwhelming. I got to know my limitations a little better – and is good. Since then, I am talking to people about anxiety, and finding that it is almost as universal as the love for chocolate – new friends to bond with.
Thank you for bringing up this old thread. As JS once said about good doctrine, “It tastes good.” AmyJ wrote:component I could do very little about …- and that was ok. I could set up more effective coping mechanisms and try to redirect my thoughts when they became dark and overwhelming. I got to know my limitations a little better – and is good.
This is a huge step in accepting yourself and finding peace, despite the challenges and storms. The impressive thing is how you can feel it is “OK” the way you are.
:clap: Well done. Thanks for your example, and your words.
I re-read the article….this quote struck me: Quote:Why? Because our brokenness connects us to each other, and our brokenness brings us to Christ. It is by bringing our broken hearts to Him that we are made whole.
A couple weeks ago something happened that broke my wife’s spirit a bit. It put her right into the world of my parents when I got married and they were left out of the temple. I mentioned that to her. I could see she was feeling hurt, cut out, ostracized. After I said “I guess you’re feeling how my parents felt when I got married”. She was silent and then said very sincerely that she loves me.
She rarely says that to me. But being broken and coming together in empathy for my parents, and realizing we only had each other at that time triggered loneliness and then a turning of her heart to me, and somewhat, to my parents.
That was a gift.
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