Cassidy’s Comments (group member since Jan 04, 2021)

Cassidy’s comments from the Finding Peace During the Healing Process group.

This topic will be used for Day 21, "Tears are for Cleansing."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 21. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) In your opinion, are tears a healthy way of showing emotion?

2.) Have you experienced shedding tears as a form of healing? What was the eventual outcome?

This topic will be used for Day 20, "Memories Can Sustain or Drain Us."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 20. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Do you ever get stuck in a loop of negative memories? If so, how do you pull yourself out of the loop?

2.) Is it easy to become fixated on good memories to the point they drown out negativity that should not be ignored? Have you had a similar experience?

3.) How can a person maintain a balance between the co-existence of positive and negative memories?

This topic will be used for Day 19, "Your Body is a Temple."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 19. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) How do you approach treating your body like a temple? (It can be from a spiritual, emotional, mental, and/or physical perspective).

This topic will be used for Day 18, "There is Power in Words."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 18. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Have you ever said something and immediately wished you could take it back? What were the ramifications of your words?

2.) How do you hold yourself accountable for the things you say?

3.) How would you advise someone on guarding what he or she says? How would you teach him or her to avoid negative or toxic speech and instead embrace positive speech?

This topic will be used for Day 17, "Fostering a Clear Conscience and Transparency. "

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 17. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Have you ever struggled with perfectionism? In what ways can perfectionism become a hindrance or a stumbling block?

2.) Is it possible to live a life of complete transparency? Why or why not? If you believe it is possible to live in complete transparency, how would you go about doing so?

This topic will be used for Day 16, "Fasting."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 16. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) What are the first thoughts that come to your mind when you think about fasting? Are those thoughts negative or positive and why?

2.) If you have fasted before, did you notice any differences afterwards? If so, what were those differences?

This topic will be used for Day 15, "Joy and Faith Create Synergy."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 15. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) In your own words, what is synergy? Why is it important? How does it impact our daily lives?

2.) Has joy been a consistent builder of your faith and vice versa? Why or why not?

This topic will be used for Day 14, "Resisting Temptation."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 14. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) How do you resist temptation? Has it ever been a struggle for you? Why or why not?

2.) Do you feel spiritual leaders address resisting temptation in a concrete way? Do they teach God's people steps for resisting temptation, or do you feel they only tell them they should resist without explaining how?

3.) Do you feel comfortable speaking to others about resisting temptation, or do you feel as they will label you as a 'bad Christian' if you struggle with temptation?

4.) Do you believe certain stigmas are attached to discussing struggling with temptation? Can those stigmas be overcome?

This topic will be used for Day 13, "Self-Discipline Creates Stability."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 13. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) How has self-discipline changed your life? Where would you be without it?

2.) Has there been a time where you operated without self-discipline? How did it impact your relationship with other people?

3.) How did you view yourself whenever you operated without self-discipline? Was your relationship with God still strong? Why or why not?

This topic will be used for Day 12, "Valuing Wisdom."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 12. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Have you ever had to explain to someone the distinction between wisdom and common sense? If so, how did you explain it to him or her?

2.) Has wisdom always been something you valued, or did you learn to value it as you grew and experienced more?

This topic will be used for Day 11, "The Importance of Self-Care."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 11. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) What do you classify as self-care? Do you believe self-care is important? Why or why not?

2.) What do you do to practice self-care? How has practicing self-care affected you spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically? Are you satisfied with the results?

This topic will be used for Day 10, "Seeking Validation from Others."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 10. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Words of affirmation are indeed a part of the 5 Love Languages. (See The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman for reference). However, do you need words of affirmation to feel validated? If no one else ever affirmed you, would you be able to validate yourself with words of affirmation?

2.) If you seek the validation of others, can you pinpoint what caused you to seek it?

3.) In the scriptures, God affirms us as His children. What chapters and verses do you read to remind yourself of the affirmation found in God's Word?

This topic will be used for Day 9, "Being Thankful for the Good Times."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 9. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Has there ever been a time when you took a peaceful season in your life for granted? Did you feel betrayed by God when your season of peacefulness ended, and your season of chaos began?

2.) How did you process the emotions you felt? Were you able to return to a spirit of thankfulness? If so, how and why?

This topic will be used for Day 8, "Being Thankful for the Bad Times."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 8. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) What are some trials or setbacks you have overcome in the past? How have they shaped you into the person you are now?

2.) Without those trials and setbacks, do you think you would have arrived at the same point in your life? Would you be spiritually and mentally more mature or less mature than you are now?

This topic will be used for Day 7, "Freedom in Contentment."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 7. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) In your own words, how would you describe contentment?

2.) Do you believe there is freedom in contentment? Why or why not?

3.) Has complacency ever plagued your ability to move forward in life? How did you overcome it? Was gaining a sense of contentment involved? If so, what part did it play in your ability to overcome and move forward?

4.) Please share a time you re-framed a season in your life? How did you re-frame it? Why did re-framing that season in your life give you victory over it and allow you to keep moving forward?

This topic will be used for Day 6, "Fighting to the End."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 6. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Do you feel you neglect your training? Do you feel spiritually, mentally, and physically prepared when you encounter problems? Why or why not?

2.) What changes can you make to improve your level of preparation for hard times? If you respond well in times of crisis, how can you use your wisdom to help others who are struggling in that area? What advice would you give them?

3.) Why is it crucial to fight to the end? Why would God instruct His people to do so?

This topic will be used for Day 5, "Rallied by Purpose."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 5. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Do you feel God has given you a mission only you can fulfill?

2.) Why do you believe each person is instilled with purpose?

3.) How does that purpose inspire you?

4.) Were there times when your purpose rejuvenated you? How did it help you conquer your obstacle(s)?

Brandy wrote: "3) I think that when you are angry and filled with hate toward someone (like I was with my ex) you have difficulty seeing that they are a complex being too and instead focus on the negative qualities you are fixated on being mad about. I think that by adjusting your view of them as a more complex and human form you are better able to feel love and compassion for their humanity and begin a conversation.

4) I have. I have discovered that my pride kept me from seeing my own culpability in keeping myself in this state. I felt like i was entitled to my victimhood. And by blaming someone else for my problems it was out of my control. I gave my power away. It was in my hands all along. I just had to realize that I have control of myself and forgiveness and love are freeing and as God intended."

Hi, Brandy! :-)

Your responses to questions 3 and 4 really resonated with me. We do sometimes lose sight of how complex other human beings are. During this pandemic, I have had to learn to be patient with others who have difficulty operating in the same "stillness" I have perfected over the years, lol. It would frustrate me when they would put others at risk, specifically my family members. I had to remind myself of what they may be experiencing. While trying to deal with our own situations, we sometimes lose sight of what is going on with the people around us. Considering the complexity of human beings is very helpful advise.

And giving our power away... you said a mouthful. There were times in the past when I would seethe over something and then find out the other person had moved well past whatever the conflict was. Yet I had freely given that person time and space in my mind. I'm much more settled and at peace now that I have refused to give anyone the power to suspend my thought life.

This topic will be used for Day 4, "Investing in Relationships."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 4. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Have you ever been in a toxic relationship or friendship? If so, how did you deal with the negative affects?

2.) Were you able to break free of the toxic relationship or friendship on your own, or did it eventually dissolve over time?

3.) Why do you believe you stayed in the toxic relationship or friendship for as long as you did?

4.) What advice would you give to others who may find themselves in a similar toxic relationship or friendship?

This topic will be used for Day 3, "Overcoming Offense."

Here are a few questions to reflect on and discuss after reading the devotional entry for Day 3. (Only share as much as you feel comfortable sharing in the comments).

1.) Have you considered how your actions may have offended others? Do you plan to make amends? If so, how?

2.) Has offense ever overpowered your thought life? Did you become so obsessed with it that nothing the person did could have made amends?

3.) Do you believe we need to forgive ourselves before we can forgive others?

4.) How can a person allow God to have the final say instead of trying to fix things himself or herself?