Saturday, August 15, 2009

Stand for something, or fall for anything

I need to figure out what I stand for. I have seriously lost my identity over the last two years. I have experienced significant loss and I'm not sure how to go about putting myself back together again.
I lost all my properties, I lost my business, I lost my job(s), I lost many of my friends; but worse of all, I lost who I thought I was, I lost my ability to dream big and to have a positive outlook in life.
In the past, I suffered from depression and it wasn't related to money. I was rich back then. I remember having closed on one of my houses a few years ago. I went to the bank to make a deposit. Since I had several CD, MMA, and Checking accounts, I asked for an accounts summary report. I was feeling really down at the time. I remember driving home with tears in my eyes because I had an account balance of $265,000, and yet I was so unhappy. I couldn't understand what was wrong with me.
Fast forward to this last year. Pretty much all my material possessions are gone. As unfortunate as it is I, like most people associate my identity with my possessions. I have been trying really had to overcome that. It would be great to have stuff again, but it really isn't my main priority anymore.
I need to find a job that pays the bills so that we can move out to our own apartment. I think now my real struggle is spiritual. I am trying to figure out who I am as a person, not as a person with stuff.
A friend recommended I read/listen to Eckhart Tolle to change the way I see the world. I listed to about an hour of his stuff on YouTube, I also bought the book (which I didn't read). While the guy is interesting and makes compelling arguments, I don't think I'm ready to view the world the way he does.
Another friend recommended I listen to Joel Osteen. This guy is pretty good, he makes a lot of sense in the things he says. My problem with him is that he portraits himself, and his followers see him as a spiritual leader. The guy is a pastor, but he offers a watered down gospel that focus more on having things than anything else. I would say his sermons are like Snapple drinks. They contain only 5 - 10% juice.
I may have to keep looking, but I'm not sure where, because I also have a problem with the traditional Christian establishment. I want to figure out what I am really all about. I want to be able to say I stand for something. But right now I'm what I can not to fall for anything.

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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

I have not seen my best days yet

I will live my life with purpose.
I will run my life like a profitable business
I will make a difference in peoples lives
I will make myself and my family proud
I will be diligent and dutiful in the things that need to get done
I will focus and if I fall, I will get up and keep on going
I will have spirituality in my life
I will look at what is ahead instead of what I left behind
I will be thankful for all the great things in my life
I will have goals, visions, plans, dream, projects
I will be successful intentionally, not accidentally

What a mess

I have so much in my mind, that I don't know where to begin. I abandoned this blog and now feel the need to write on it again. None of the people who used to read my posts ever come here anymore, and that is fine. I am on Facebook, but it just isn't the same there. It's so superficial. If it wasn't for the couple of people I get to talk to every once in a while, I wouldn't log in there.
Anyways, I have so much to say and so little energy to say it. Maybe I should just list the things that are on my mind and then elaborate on them. I feel so alone in my problems, I can't talk to my wife or family about them because they just don't understand. I need to do something cathartic, and I hope this is it.
problem 1: haven't found a job in over 7 months.
problem 2: don't have a place of my own to live in
problem 3: I am depressed about everything
problem 4: I feel I have lost all my friends
problem 5: I'm worried about my wife and her job
problem 6: I'm afraid of my wife getting sick again
problem 7: I'm worried about my daughter's health
problem 8: I'm tired of feeling useless
problem 9: I'm have lost my selfesteem
problem 10: I don't know what to do about my sleep
problem 11: I am hate feeling that no one respects me
problem 12: I can't stay focused enough to find out what i really want to do with my life
problem 13: I can't stop feeling guilty for what my family is going through
problem 14: I feel like I've lost all my friends and nobody wants to be around me
problem 15: I no longer have dreams or a plan of action

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