Graham, this letter is so, so good. So well written and meaningful. You always talk about the value of integrity and that's the line I had to draw - tolerating lack of integrity. When I finally said, "that's enough", it led to a major shift in my life. I started sleeping at night. My guilt and anxiety became non-existent. I walked away from compromise. Not easy to do, but so freeing. Please keep sharing - you have a teacher's heart and we're all learning valuable lessons that God is giving you.
I identify so much with your writing here. In fact, it could be written for me! My process the past few months has been exactly this. I had gone from being a bubbly outgoing fun person to experiencing some really low moments that incapacitated me completely. I sort of shut down inside - it has taken some major inner work an attack of covid and a scary intrusive nedical procedure to shake me out of it. There's something about reaching a low point that can snap you back into the real world. I totally appreciate the 3 steps you shared and also the video clip too. I believe I can hear your heart ❤ in all of this, and so I want to thank you for your bravery in sharing. It is so important that we all become vulnerable and support each other through this difficult process. I thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤
I don't know how you do it but you always talk directly to me in your Newsletter or Poems. I have been hiding behind insecurities and fears for years and thanks to your writing I now realise that I do have the ability to change. First thing I need to do is like you stop going to Social Media or Videos (especially Heartland) to distract myself from my past and situations in the present. So once again thank you for sharing your inspirations which help each of us to grow,
Wow, you hit the nail on the head! I was actually dealing with these re-occurring toxic thoughts when I woke up this morning, but I decided push those thoughts away and not let them tear me down. With that said and creative writing not one of my gifts, this is what I wrote in my journal:
With God, all things are possible.
My faith in God is strong.
My trust in God is strong.
My "TRUTH" is trusting God to show me the way each day.
The "TIME HAS COME" for me to leave the past and toxic thoughts behind and move forward with boundless determination while remaining steadfastly in the presence of God.
Thanks once again Graham! Can't wait to see the podcast tonight!
As an old wise person said to me years ago, "more of the same ain't working."
We must recognize and break those cycles however blatant or subtle. 💗A huge thank you to Graham for helping us recognize and gain the strength. It is pretty awesome the timing since I started doing Christine Cain's devotion Undaunted which ties in so well with Graham's words.
For me, i lived in a country (iran) with a lot of censorships. Before i was 20( i am 23 now) , i thought everything that my society or government told me is right. Everything was told me i believed and i trusted. But when i went to university and started to work, i was able to see what is really happening. At first it was so hard to erase all those ideology that implanted by government or society in my brain for 20 years. When i was younger i always tried to be a" good person" but what you should do to be a good person? When i was young i thought if i don't break the law or do whatever they told me or please everyone then i am a good person but after couple years i found out that i have losed myself , i don't know who i am , what my passions are. And more importantly i don't feel happy at all. So it was an unhealthy circle for me. So i started to break that circle. I am still in the process. But at least i'm so happy that i'm in the right path.
First step for me, was to know and respect my feelings and my passions and let them free and when i recognized my feelings, i started to express them. Next step was just take an action and do whatever i feel that it is true in my heart.
Maryam, thank you for sharing your story. May you continually be strengthened to walk in truth to whom you were created to be. So many of us have, at times lives in cultures (be it family or country) that was a 'power over' system. Sadly, much of what is happening in Canada, especially BC, is slowly sliding to that. Here is hoping we can be more aware of who we are and our 'calling/destiny' and walk in that gifting. My prayer is even in this next week you are filled with soul gifts that ignite who you are and feel fulfilled walking in that. 💗You are loved. You are beautiful.
Graham. My heart is pumping so fast reading what you wrote today. I can’t respond right now. It’s overwhelmingly emotionally charged for me right now. I need to sit with this. I will be back to write later. I need to reach out to someone right now.
Graham, I don't even know what to say about this. I feel like its directed right at me. As I've said before, I lost my husband of 46 years to ALS. Hes been gone almost 6 years. I have not been able to get back to normal. I always have this part of me that is so very sad, I cry so easily, I haven't been able to move on. You are going to make this happen for me. I see this happening. "ENOUGH" IS right where I am. Jeffreys comment about why bother getting out of bed and now this particular writing you did. Its Time for me. I can feel it. God is also always there for me. But I have needed more of a push. Thanks Gaham! Hugs.
Sorry for your loss, Donna. You can get “ back to normal”, it will come. My husband passed 16 years ago, for 2 years I was going through the motions of daily life, my heart was sad most of the time, and I cried at mention of his name. My getting back to normal began when I had emotional breakdown at women’s retreat, I felt the comfort of God, and my heartache started to heal. It took some time and I still have days when part of me feels the sadness/ loss again. My faith carries me through the emotional times, I can now share precious memories of our life together. Sending you hugs and strength.
Thanks Graham this has been one of your best newsletters so far as it really resonated with me. I have a challenging job and used to come home exhausted and all I wanted to do is just sit on the couch and had no energy. A year ago I decided to step out of my comfort zone. I took a leap of faith and decided to sign up to my local gym with a personal trainer. This took a lot of courage to walk through the door.After 12 months of hard work I’m proud to say that I have lost over 30 kilos with healthy eating and daily work out . For me I have broken the cycle and with my regular regime and this has given me the confidence that I needed . I’m happy to say that my health has improved and I feel fantastic!!🙏
Graham, I just received your email and the timing could not be more fortuitous. The past year has been very difficult; my husband was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s last year on top of some other chronic and serious health issues that he’s had for years. I’m a strong person and didn’t think I was broken, but I am and had decided over the weekend to seek professional help.
Thank you for your insightful posts. This one will certainly make a difference. I’ve discovered your podcasts as well and enjoy them.
Bless you. My Dad has dementia as well as chronic heart and Lung Disease. Some days I struggle with it. What helps me is try and remember the Happy Times we had as a family. 🤗
Anna it must be so difficult to stay positive but for me the memory board really did help. In your case looking at photos and keeping your memory full of things that make you feel at peace with what you are dealing with. Some things we can not change but we can try to find ways to make it through. Too happy times/memories. I'M keeping you in my heart and hope you are well.
my sister at age 75 ( shes 20 years older) recently died from alzheimers and i havent seen her in almost 3 years with the covid restrictions . i brought old photos and made a picture memory board i worked on it for quite a while then framed it with a picture of me and her together. I too have found graham and found comfort in his words.
Bless you. You are strong. My mother-in-law is almost 87 and she has Alzheimer's. She lives alone next door to us. We take care of her. It is a difficult situation and we are blessed to still have her. She goes to Adult Day Care twice a week and loves it. She makes me laugh most days but she still knows that I take good care of her and she trust me. Prayers....
I am actually now breaking free from a cycle of anxiety, and depression. Im in therapy at last getting my freedom. Thank you Graham. This is amazing. Keep humble and doing all this good for the world. God bless you always. 🙏❤️🙏❤️
Wow again you read my mind … again I’ve been putting off getting out more and forcing myself to change my habits walking more taking better care of myself and stop living in a state of anxiety .. after this weekend my best friend losing her husband and the funeral it all was too much .. I just thought omg life is too short I can’t do this anymore … looking at my girlfriends face and knowing from experience the agony she is about to endure .. I know of this book you and I think Scott Harris has talked about .. Atomic Habits I’ve been putting off ordering it I will today I truly believe we have to force ourselves into living out of our comfort zone .. thank you again for this inspiring me and making me think and realize what I have to do Your truly a blessing I’m grateful everyday that I found you ❤️🙏
Graham, for me I tend to withdraw when I go through loss. I didn't recognize the pattern at first, but now I can recognize it and turn it around. Just as you it's when I put mind numbing activities, watching TV or spending time with social media. Doing a different action, getting out of the house breaks the cycle.
What can I say, but thank you🙏. Your writing gives me hope that I am heading in the right direction. Not always easy, but I know I can do it. I have broken that cycle of monotony, of numbness that I found myself in due to Covid & other factors. One day, after something you wrote & said snapped me out of the cycle I was in. I had a new purpose. A passion that I am acting on that brings me joy & peace. In the last couple of weeks I have been struggling with the 1st anniversary of my mum's passing soon approaching (day before my birthday). You offered words of wisdom🙏, as did others🙏, & I am working on pushing through & not going back to locking myself away, as I have felt the pull of that easy habit. That it's okay to celebrate my birthday. That I can get through this.
Christine, I believe you will! You offer such kind words of encouragement to others! You have so much to offer! Yes, please celebrate your birthday! Blessings!🙏
Graham, this letter is so, so good. So well written and meaningful. You always talk about the value of integrity and that's the line I had to draw - tolerating lack of integrity. When I finally said, "that's enough", it led to a major shift in my life. I started sleeping at night. My guilt and anxiety became non-existent. I walked away from compromise. Not easy to do, but so freeing. Please keep sharing - you have a teacher's heart and we're all learning valuable lessons that God is giving you.
I identify so much with your writing here. In fact, it could be written for me! My process the past few months has been exactly this. I had gone from being a bubbly outgoing fun person to experiencing some really low moments that incapacitated me completely. I sort of shut down inside - it has taken some major inner work an attack of covid and a scary intrusive nedical procedure to shake me out of it. There's something about reaching a low point that can snap you back into the real world. I totally appreciate the 3 steps you shared and also the video clip too. I believe I can hear your heart ❤ in all of this, and so I want to thank you for your bravery in sharing. It is so important that we all become vulnerable and support each other through this difficult process. I thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤
You are very special to so many of us here.
He is making my whole life get back on track
I agree Graham is special and glad we are all able to accept his words and put them into actions
Special people leave footprints on the heart.
I don't know how you do it but you always talk directly to me in your Newsletter or Poems. I have been hiding behind insecurities and fears for years and thanks to your writing I now realise that I do have the ability to change. First thing I need to do is like you stop going to Social Media or Videos (especially Heartland) to distract myself from my past and situations in the present. So once again thank you for sharing your inspirations which help each of us to grow,
I too, feel like Graham is talking to me.
Well said ❤️
Wow, you hit the nail on the head! I was actually dealing with these re-occurring toxic thoughts when I woke up this morning, but I decided push those thoughts away and not let them tear me down. With that said and creative writing not one of my gifts, this is what I wrote in my journal:
With God, all things are possible.
My faith in God is strong.
My trust in God is strong.
My "TRUTH" is trusting God to show me the way each day.
The "TIME HAS COME" for me to leave the past and toxic thoughts behind and move forward with boundless determination while remaining steadfastly in the presence of God.
Thanks once again Graham! Can't wait to see the podcast tonight!
God is the answer to all. Faith and prayers. 🙏❤️🙏❤️
He definitely is! Blessings to you!
Reading this I kept repeating something I learned a long time ago,,if you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.
As an old wise person said to me years ago, "more of the same ain't working."
We must recognize and break those cycles however blatant or subtle. 💗A huge thank you to Graham for helping us recognize and gain the strength. It is pretty awesome the timing since I started doing Christine Cain's devotion Undaunted which ties in so well with Graham's words.
For me, i lived in a country (iran) with a lot of censorships. Before i was 20( i am 23 now) , i thought everything that my society or government told me is right. Everything was told me i believed and i trusted. But when i went to university and started to work, i was able to see what is really happening. At first it was so hard to erase all those ideology that implanted by government or society in my brain for 20 years. When i was younger i always tried to be a" good person" but what you should do to be a good person? When i was young i thought if i don't break the law or do whatever they told me or please everyone then i am a good person but after couple years i found out that i have losed myself , i don't know who i am , what my passions are. And more importantly i don't feel happy at all. So it was an unhealthy circle for me. So i started to break that circle. I am still in the process. But at least i'm so happy that i'm in the right path.
First step for me, was to know and respect my feelings and my passions and let them free and when i recognized my feelings, i started to express them. Next step was just take an action and do whatever i feel that it is true in my heart.
Maryam, thank you for sharing your story. May you continually be strengthened to walk in truth to whom you were created to be. So many of us have, at times lives in cultures (be it family or country) that was a 'power over' system. Sadly, much of what is happening in Canada, especially BC, is slowly sliding to that. Here is hoping we can be more aware of who we are and our 'calling/destiny' and walk in that gifting. My prayer is even in this next week you are filled with soul gifts that ignite who you are and feel fulfilled walking in that. 💗You are loved. You are beautiful.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Maryam - thank you so much for sharing your story. Take one day at a time!
Thank you for reading my story.
Graham. My heart is pumping so fast reading what you wrote today. I can’t respond right now. It’s overwhelmingly emotionally charged for me right now. I need to sit with this. I will be back to write later. I need to reach out to someone right now.
Old wounds are so hard to heal,
disillusionment in the eyes of father and mother
the rejection of my love in my young adult life,
A body that let me down during the pregnancies
A spouse who valued autonomy over connection
And yet
Through the steps you described,
Through the discovery of Mathemagical,
By being a part of your search and poetry
By reading many books on spirituality and integrity
By talking to friends, brother and sisters,
I have silenced my inner critic voice
Enough!
I broke the cycle
and started to love myself
I look at my mistakes with kindness
and know that these are moments of growth.
I learn, I learn so much every day.
And when the world overwhelms me
such as with what is happening in Ukraine now,
I can only turn to a higher power and ask for help
And I have faith...
Thank you so much for the inspiration you are for me! You changed my life.
Love it!
Graham, I don't even know what to say about this. I feel like its directed right at me. As I've said before, I lost my husband of 46 years to ALS. Hes been gone almost 6 years. I have not been able to get back to normal. I always have this part of me that is so very sad, I cry so easily, I haven't been able to move on. You are going to make this happen for me. I see this happening. "ENOUGH" IS right where I am. Jeffreys comment about why bother getting out of bed and now this particular writing you did. Its Time for me. I can feel it. God is also always there for me. But I have needed more of a push. Thanks Gaham! Hugs.
Sorry for your loss, Donna. You can get “ back to normal”, it will come. My husband passed 16 years ago, for 2 years I was going through the motions of daily life, my heart was sad most of the time, and I cried at mention of his name. My getting back to normal began when I had emotional breakdown at women’s retreat, I felt the comfort of God, and my heartache started to heal. It took some time and I still have days when part of me feels the sadness/ loss again. My faith carries me through the emotional times, I can now share precious memories of our life together. Sending you hugs and strength.
Thank You LInda
Hope it helps, you are welcome.
Thanks Graham this has been one of your best newsletters so far as it really resonated with me. I have a challenging job and used to come home exhausted and all I wanted to do is just sit on the couch and had no energy. A year ago I decided to step out of my comfort zone. I took a leap of faith and decided to sign up to my local gym with a personal trainer. This took a lot of courage to walk through the door.After 12 months of hard work I’m proud to say that I have lost over 30 kilos with healthy eating and daily work out . For me I have broken the cycle and with my regular regime and this has given me the confidence that I needed . I’m happy to say that my health has improved and I feel fantastic!!🙏
Thats such good news! You are an inspiration to me.
Proud of you Irene. ❤ 👍
Thanks Anna❤️
So freaking proud of you! 👏👏
Thanks Aimee 🤗
Fantastic Irene,so proud of you 💪♥️
Thanks Becky 🤗
Graham, I just received your email and the timing could not be more fortuitous. The past year has been very difficult; my husband was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s last year on top of some other chronic and serious health issues that he’s had for years. I’m a strong person and didn’t think I was broken, but I am and had decided over the weekend to seek professional help.
Thank you for your insightful posts. This one will certainly make a difference. I’ve discovered your podcasts as well and enjoy them.
Bless you. My Dad has dementia as well as chronic heart and Lung Disease. Some days I struggle with it. What helps me is try and remember the Happy Times we had as a family. 🤗
Anna it must be so difficult to stay positive but for me the memory board really did help. In your case looking at photos and keeping your memory full of things that make you feel at peace with what you are dealing with. Some things we can not change but we can try to find ways to make it through. Too happy times/memories. I'M keeping you in my heart and hope you are well.
Thanks Bonnie 🙏❤
my sister at age 75 ( shes 20 years older) recently died from alzheimers and i havent seen her in almost 3 years with the covid restrictions . i brought old photos and made a picture memory board i worked on it for quite a while then framed it with a picture of me and her together. I too have found graham and found comfort in his words.
Bless you. You are strong. My mother-in-law is almost 87 and she has Alzheimer's. She lives alone next door to us. We take care of her. It is a difficult situation and we are blessed to still have her. She goes to Adult Day Care twice a week and loves it. She makes me laugh most days but she still knows that I take good care of her and she trust me. Prayers....
Leaving a toxic job even though I earn a third of my salary, the sense of peace, calm and doing community work allows for total calm and inner peace
I am actually now breaking free from a cycle of anxiety, and depression. Im in therapy at last getting my freedom. Thank you Graham. This is amazing. Keep humble and doing all this good for the world. God bless you always. 🙏❤️🙏❤️
Wow again you read my mind … again I’ve been putting off getting out more and forcing myself to change my habits walking more taking better care of myself and stop living in a state of anxiety .. after this weekend my best friend losing her husband and the funeral it all was too much .. I just thought omg life is too short I can’t do this anymore … looking at my girlfriends face and knowing from experience the agony she is about to endure .. I know of this book you and I think Scott Harris has talked about .. Atomic Habits I’ve been putting off ordering it I will today I truly believe we have to force ourselves into living out of our comfort zone .. thank you again for this inspiring me and making me think and realize what I have to do Your truly a blessing I’m grateful everyday that I found you ❤️🙏
Graham, for me I tend to withdraw when I go through loss. I didn't recognize the pattern at first, but now I can recognize it and turn it around. Just as you it's when I put mind numbing activities, watching TV or spending time with social media. Doing a different action, getting out of the house breaks the cycle.
I can relate Bev.
What can I say, but thank you🙏. Your writing gives me hope that I am heading in the right direction. Not always easy, but I know I can do it. I have broken that cycle of monotony, of numbness that I found myself in due to Covid & other factors. One day, after something you wrote & said snapped me out of the cycle I was in. I had a new purpose. A passion that I am acting on that brings me joy & peace. In the last couple of weeks I have been struggling with the 1st anniversary of my mum's passing soon approaching (day before my birthday). You offered words of wisdom🙏, as did others🙏, & I am working on pushing through & not going back to locking myself away, as I have felt the pull of that easy habit. That it's okay to celebrate my birthday. That I can get through this.
Christine, I believe you will! You offer such kind words of encouragement to others! You have so much to offer! Yes, please celebrate your birthday! Blessings!🙏
Anne, I have trouble accepting compliments from others, but I thank you for your lovely words. I am really touched.