Comments on: Safe

By: Flickering Faith « Motherese

Flickering Faith « Motherese — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:23:55 +0000

[...] on faith and safety. Many of my thoughts were inspired by Lindsey’s remarkable post, “Safe.” I am profoundly grateful to Lindsey for sharing with us more of her ideas on the question of [...]

By: Christine LaRocque

Christine LaRocque — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:26:01 +0000

I can identify with this post in a very profound way. Earlier this year I resolved to start my journey to really discover myself. It’s a scary place to go, outside of my comfort zone. Much like you, I tend to keep things safe. I worry lots, I stress, I overanalyze. I try to control life. My journey is about discovering how to live from the heart and less from the mind. A very hard thing to do when you want to “stay safe” as you’ve said. Now that I’ve found your blog, I am so keen to read more. It’s so comforting to know their are others who feel and think the same.

By: Why Is This So Hard For Me? | ivy league insecurities

Why Is This So Hard For Me? | ivy league insecurities — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:49:47 +0000

[...] that I will be safe. When my girls are out of my view, I do not have evidence of their well-being. Recently, one of my good friends mused about the core desire to feel safe. Intellectually, I know that flying is quite safe and that my girls will be just fine at home, but [...]

By: Liz

Liz — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:13:25 +0000

I read this days ago and have been wanting to comment but just now got around to it! This post was very honest, and I could relate to it almost word for word. I am a worrier. I HATE it. I know I am passing it on to my boy, and I hate that even more. (Of course, then I worry about that, and the cycle continues…) The worry extends from big (medical issues) to inconsequential (will the party napkins match the cups?). I obsess. About a lot. And the noise in my head is almost always too much to bear. I keep trying to figure out how to let it go, b/c I, too, have noticed that when I am able to not worry, to surrender, I enjoy life so much more. And I do understand that worry has absolutely no benefit, no purpose. Although I am sorry to know you too struggle, it always reassuring when you find out someone else feels the same way you do. Thanks for this post.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:50:03 +0000

If there is “no meaning without safety” that would mean millions of people hang in the balance, no? How many of us feel safe? Truly safe? And what about the difference between FEELING safe and BEING safe. I think as with many other states of being, our soul just has to catch up with the present moment and settle into it. And THEN there is no whole issue of expectations. Don’t expectations add tremendously to–are possibly responsible for–the feelings we need to feel and the feelings we want to feel.

It gets a little fuzzy when trying to condense this into a few sentences–clearly this is full of much LARGER thoughts. But it’s 7 am(ish) and I’m just taking my first sips of coffee. I read this the other day and didn’t have the time to respond, but I immediately thought the same things then that I think now after reading it again. Something about “state of mind” and “reality vs. perception” and “needs.”

Hmmm. I suppose I should dive a little deeper once the coffee’s gone.
Cheers!

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:53:58 +0000

But sometimes we need to feel the chaos in order to recognize the calm of safety – so, I guess I find meaning in chaos, too.

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:19:23 +0000

All of us desires safety. But the reality of life requires us to move out of safety and experience the uncertain. If we keep on holding safety, it will not benefit us in the end because we refuse to face our fears.

By: Suzicate

Suzicate — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:27:32 +0000

I am ten years older than you, and I was exactly the same way as you are at your current age. A whole realm of anxieties. I took me until almost forty to get a handle on it and find that inner peace, the ability to let go of the things I had no control over and to try to stop fighting and controling every thing else in my life. All I can say is that when you reach is, it is such a relief!

By: becca

becca — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:09:39 +0000

I also never feel completely safe. Maybe it’s because I feel like I’m never 100% honest with myself in how I feel. I feel like I may be “found out” at any moment. That the real me will become clear to all of the people who I count on to keep me safe and when they discover this “real me” they will no longer want to stick around… I am also a hypochondriac of the worst kind and never feel safe with my health. I fear the worst, always.
I also believe that feeling lonely is the equivalent to feeling unsafe. Because at least for me, being alone is to not be wrapped in the safety of others. You are not alone in how you feel. Not alone at all.

Thanks for these words that resonated with me. xo

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:12:50 +0000

This post is so moving.

Your life is SO not small. It’s as grand as anyone else’s.

And you show with every post how incredibly brave you are, despite feeling anything but sometimes.

You really are an artist with words. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. I am so grateful for your many seeds of wisdom.