[Discussion] Are you faithful?

Submitted by MelkaThePhilosopher t3_zk34t7 in GetMotivated

Do you believe you as a person are better than where you are physically?

Do you believe you can rise above the situation that you’re in right now?

It seems that this belief is the starting point for any hope of consistent action.
Action seems futile if we believe that we’re trapped, or that nothing can be done. In fact, it’ll fill us with negative emotion, and if we can somehow still muster up the desire to escape or act, and are met with resistance, it further reinforces the belief that we’re trapped, and can’t change, and are stuck.

We begin to attribute that failure to our character, and believe the problem is with us. Not to say the problem isn’t with us. After all, it might be with us, in this specific time, but not forever and always.

That belief to overcome, to change, to know that progress is possible, is what is important.

So, this is a reminder: no matter how bad the situation (save death), we are not trapped physically, if we are not mentally trapped. Even a prisoner is free in the confines of their own mind. If they are free in mind, they believe that they can be free in reality. The hope keeps them going, trying, and persisting. All their attempts might still prove to be futile. There is no guarantee for success, but the alternative is surrendering all hope, and accepting whatever life throws at you.

We deserve some faith that we can change. We might not be in the city we want, social status, car, maybe even relationship that we want, but we're only trapped if we believe that we cannot change it. As soon as you start believing that you can rise above, then ideas begin to start popping into your mind, seemingly out of nowhere, on possible solutions.

These might not be THE solution, but at least it’s instilling hope. Hope that we can improve, that this situation can be shaken off, that there is more in us, that we are deserving, and that we have what it takes, if not now, then we’ll work on it and obtain it in the future. We can bend and shape our lives away from the randomness of fate, and if there is any free will at all, it resides in faith.

Faith that change is possible, even if that only begins with our thinking.

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Darktrigger2 t1_izyjf3b wrote

I’m trying to fight my desires but feel stuck. I know what’s wrong and right. I always fall victim to my whims which ultimately makes my faith weaker. I believe the best thing for me is solving my desires by sorting them out and doing what’s beneficial in order to progress further in life.

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MelkaThePhilosopher OP t1_izzmrxc wrote

Replying to Darktrigger2 (#915,000)

Hey Darktrigger2, I just want to suggest that it's not something you deal with once and it's set for life. You don't develop this kind of faith, and then everything gets easy and you don't have that internal struggle anymore. There will be times you still lose, but I think you're right. If you come to a decision, in the strong sense, then it'll be easier to decide when you're being distracted, and when you're making progress.

Having a main goal is crucial. Then reminding yourself how badly you want it... ideally wanting it more than the other temptations. We'll win some time, lose some time, but keep making progress. If you want to chat more, you can always message me.

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