What does the word "faith" mean to you? (Full Version)

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kiarsia -> What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 5:50:15 AM)

I'm not asking for a religious discussion, I'm asking for a semantics one.

What does the actual WORD "faith" mean to you?

How (if at all) does it effect your day to day life.



sunshinemiss -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 6:02:01 AM)

Faith affects me a lot actually.  I have to be careful what I say because I tend to get it - so much so that my friends actually joke about it. 




rulemylife -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 6:08:38 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kiarsia

I'm not asking for a religious discussion, I'm asking for a semantics one.

What does the actual WORD "faith" mean to you?

How (if at all) does it effect your day to day life.


I have faith this is going to quickly become a religious discussion.



NuevaVida -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 6:40:16 AM)

It means lacking doubt that things will work out (and I seriously did not intend for that to rhyme, but now that it does, I'm keeping it).

And I'm with sunshine - I have to be very aware of what I focus my thoughts and words on, because that's what will come to me.

Faith is unwavering belief.  I have faith in my ability to do ________ (whatever it is).  I have faith in YOUR ability. I have faith that a friend of mine is going to get through the things that are ailing her.  And so on.  That's how it applies in my daily life.



kiarsia -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 7:02:35 AM)

"Faith is something you believe that nobody in his right mind would believe."

- Archie Bunker


This is kind of where I'm at with faith right now. I'm having a lot of trouble with the word. Mainly because I feel like I need it, but I'm not really sure where to get it.

I need faith that things CAN be better and that I CAN make the right choices for myself. But I also know that faith by itself isn't enough. I need to act. But right now I still have too much fear that ill make the wrong choice and my action won't be the right one.

How do you have enough faith to live your life, but not so much that you stop living by common sense?



CaHeaven -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 7:16:48 AM)

Faith means conviction. It means hope for the future. It is a warm, fuzzy feeling deep inside that tells you to get up and put one foot in front of the other because lying in bed isn't going to get you closer to your goals.

Faith is believing the bungee cord attached to your harness is going to keep you from hitting the ground when you leap off that bridge. I think that this will turn into a religious discussion in the end, but I do not feel that you have to be religious to have faith in something.



sunshinemiss -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 7:21:34 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kiarsia

I need faith that things CAN be better and that I CAN make the right choices for myself. But I also know that faith by itself isn't enough. I need to act. But right now I still have too much fear that ill make the wrong choice and my action won't be the right one.


So what?  So you make a wrong choice.  You've made collossal mistakes in the past, ridiculous, unwarranted, dreadful, I-can't-believe-I-was-so-FRICKING-stoopid mistakes.  We ALL have.  You've handled all of them, haven't you?  Maybe you didn't handle all of them WELL - non of us have.  So what?  Live and here's the important part - LEARN. 

So you make a bad decision?  You change it.  Not rocket science - it just takes some courage.  Frankly, you have enough people in your corner that if you let them, they will tell you when you are being a fool.  G*d knows my friends do! 

good luck.



sunshinemiss -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 7:23:24 AM)

quote:

It is a warm, fuzzy feeling deep inside that tells you to get up and put one foot in front of the other because lying in bed isn't going to get you closer to your goals.



For me, there are times that this is spot on and others when this couldn't be further from the truth.  Sometimes it's a completely analytical, calculated, cold decision made with steel.  



DesFIP -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 7:31:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kiarsia

"Faith is something you believe that nobody in his right mind would believe."

- Archie Bunker


This is kind of where I'm at with faith right now. I'm having a lot of trouble with the word. Mainly because I feel like I need it, but I'm not really sure where to get it.

I need faith that things CAN be better and that I CAN make the right choices for myself. But I also know that faith by itself isn't enough. I need to act. But right now I still have too much fear that ill make the wrong choice and my action won't be the right one.

How do you have enough faith to live your life, but not so much that you stop living by common sense?


God helps those who helps themselves. Which means there's nothing wrong in asking for advice from those more wise than you. A therapist if you need help learning how to pick the healthiest option for you. A lawyer, an accountant, a religious leader. There are experts in every field and nothing says it's wrong to consult one. If it was a medical problem you wouldn't just deal with it yourself, you would see a doctor, then a specialist and maybe even get a second opinion.




CaHeaven -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 7:44:33 AM)

The longer you spend worrying about a decision being right or wrong, the more time you spend in a bad situation. Sometimes you just have to look at the options, and ask yourself if this choice will get you closer to the goal you have for yourself. Make sure the goal isn't illegal, and make your move.

If you get it wrong, it's not the end of the world. Pick your ass back up, dust yourself off, and get moving again. I am grateful everyday for a girlfriend who yanked me aside and spoke to me when I needed to be told off. "Girl, you are dying. We are watching you die a little more everyday. No one can handle this. Do yourself a favor, do us a favor. Either decide you want to live, or please commit suicide. You are like a zombie and it's breaking our hearts to see you now." I was stunned, I was angry, I was hurt, but in my heart of hearts, knew she was right. I was dead inside because I had reached rock bottom, and was too sad, scared and stubborn to ask for help. I realized that day that I was going through the motions, waiting to die, but too cowardly to pull the trigger.

That kick in the ass got me into therapy where they started working with me to get past the attack, move past the flashbacks so I could live in my house. Faith was the therapist reaching her hand out to me and saying, "You are going to get past this, you just have to allow yourself to heal, and learn to forgive yourself before you can learn to forgive the ones who hurt you. You are strong enough to do it, and I will help you if you want to be helped." Faith, for me, was believing that I could go on when I hurt so badly.

As my Grandma would say, "Honey, you come from pioneer stock, pull yourself up off that floor and do what needs doing. Stop wallowing with the hogs feeling sorry for yourself."



kiarsia -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 7:55:48 AM)

I feel like that's all I'm doing, wallowing around feeling sorry for myself.

If I knew damn well that I could make a choice and live with the consequences, good or bad, this would be easy. But what about when choices effect others? And innocent people have to live with the consequences of our choices? How do you ever have enough faith to take that leap?



CaHeaven -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 8:03:56 AM)

As I do not know which choice you are making, or the others involved, I cannot answer this.

If you have no other option, sit yourself down and make a list. Pros/Cons. Do it for each option. Sometimes the best choice for you is not the best choice for those around you, you must then decide if you are living for them or for yourself.

It sounds as if you need more than a sounding board, perhaps it is time to sit down with these innocent people and talk to them about the decisions you need to make?



kiarsia -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 10:17:55 AM)

Dammit I think I derailed my own thread.

I really am interested in everyones thoughts on faith itself..



LinnaeaBorealis -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 10:55:11 AM)

Faith for me is not a blind faith. But more faith that if I make informed decisions that they will turn out ok. I have great difficulty with making decisions. Last year, I did what I termed a "leap of faith" & left Oregon & His Evilness for a chance at living with a poly family & being a 24/7 live-in service submissive. Within a month I knew I'd made a bad choice, but I still have no regrets about making it, because I wanted to see if I could do that & I found out that I could, just not with those particular people. There was way too much drama. But I still have faith that something like that is possible for me.

I have faith that I will never be given anything that I can't handle. I have faith that I will be ok, no matter what befalls me. I have faith in myself, but more importantly, I have faith in something greater than myself. I call it "The Universe". I have faith that if I put something out to the Universe that I will receive it. Maybe not in my time frame, but I will receive it.

I was talking with my sister about a decision that I was trying to make & my general difficulty with making any decisions for myself & she told me this: "Whatever decision you make is the right decision, by definition." I think about that when I'm faced with a decision I'm having difficulty making. And it restores my faith that whatever decision I end up making will be the right one for me.

My life has been a huge challenge from the beginning, when I was born 6 weeks prematurely, right up to today. But I look for the good, the blessings & I have faith that I will continue to not only survive but to thrive.

This is what faith means to me. It's not really a religious thing, perhaps a spiritual thing.



LaTigresse -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 11:59:30 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida


Faith is unwavering belief.  I have faith in my ability to do ________ (whatever it is).  I have faith in YOUR ability.   That's how it applies in my daily life.



This is my definition.

There have been many times in my life that by all outwards appearances, things were going horribly wrong. That something or some one, was going down a path of absolute destruction. For whatever reason I have always had the gift of knowing that somehow, whatever happened, it really was going to be okay. That faith has kept me sane and given me strength during the worst moments of my life.



Arpig -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 12:49:22 PM)

~FR~
To me faith is the belief in something (anything at all) in the absence of direct evidence to support that belief. One based more on past experience. I have faith in my ability to fix my friend's computer when he brings it over, not because I have dealt with this particular problem before, but because I have a darn good knowledge and understanding of computers and how to fix them, and almost always manage to do so. I have faith in Sunny's ability to make me smile while she makes a valid and valuable point, not because I know in advance what she will post, but because she is smart and witty and has a very sweet outlook on life and she almost always does post something worthwhile in a way that makes me smile.

That's what faith means to me.



sunshinemiss -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 2:34:27 PM)

Speaking of regrets... I thought you might find this an interesting video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP7pdAn3foE

50 people, one question.
sunshine




FelineFae -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 2:35:29 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Arpig

To me faith is the belief in something (anything at all) in the absence of direct evidence to support that belief.


This.



littlewonder -> RE: What does the word "faith" mean to you? (7/2/2011 3:38:45 PM)

unwavering love, trust, commitment and belief. it doesn't just play a part in my life, it IS my life.



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