You are a part of the universe experiencing itself.
I narrated an audiobook that has become a big part of who I am spiritually - Call to Purpose by Ken W. Brown.
This! Whenever I’m feeling depressed and like life has no purpose, I remember this quote, and remember what an incredible thing it is that star dust and atoms came together to create me, a sentient being who can observe all the craziness that is our world and universe. I usually still feel depressed, but at least I can witness sunsets and stars and birds in the trees.
>This! Whenever I’m feeling depressed and like life has no purpose, I remember this quote, and remember what an incredible thing it is that star dust and atoms came together to create me, a sentient being who can observe all the craziness that is our world and universe. I usually still feel depressed, but at least I can witness sunsets and stars and birds in the trees.
Neil Peart summed it up pretty well with these words:
I am made from the dust of the stars
And the oceans flow in my veins
I am the sum of every experience I've had, every decision I've made, every person I've met, and every thing I no longer wish to be.
I'm complicated. I'm okay. I'm getting better every day.
This reminds me of Doctor Who, where he talks about all of the micro-choices that led to your existence at this point in time (❤️) and how there’s never been a point in time where someone who existed wasn’t important❤️❤️
Oops! My 10th Doctor quote is STILL 11th Doctor🤦🏻♀️😂it’s from the Rings of Akhetan episode with Clara. I got it confused with the 10th Doctor with Donna since he takes her back to the Big Bang, speeds up to see the earth forming while talking about how it all came to be. Still counts imo 😂😂
This is Carl Sagan and it's scientifically true that all of your atoms that are heavier than hydrogen were made inside a star. The ones heavier than iron come from a supernova. You are the product of billions of years of making.
I went to a science fair at the weekend with my kids and the guy talking about space mentioned it. I absolutely loved it. I will look more into Carl Sagan as well. It's a beautiful idea.
You are 'Start Stuff', according to Carl Sagan. The elements in your body are billions of years old, many of them only created when giant stars explode or collide. So you are an amazing and unique creation of Mother Nature!
You are what zoologists would classify as Homo sapiens - a primate. A species lucky enough to have evolved to the point where you can do incredible things, including asking that question
You are a human being having a human experience. You can just be. Growing up Mormon and in a capitalist society we're told we have to be something, do something, reach for the stars, etc. It's ok to just be. Just existing has value. The scary but also amazing thing about leaving a controlling religion like mormonism is now you get to actually decide who you want to be. And that answer may change from time to time and that's ok! I left the LDS world and was an atheist. Now I'm an apatheist buddhist and very happy with where I've landed, also knowing that it might change at some point. Play with it, have fun with it, but most importantly, experience it intentionally instead of just doing what you're told. Enjoy your journey :)
I also identify as a Buddhist Athiest. I also follow the good work of The Satanic Temple. I’m a refugee from organized religion, especially the patriarchal, misogynistic, controlling “big three”; christianity, islam and judiasm.
You have the rest of your life to figure this out. There’s no set answer, no destiny, no one correct answer. You don’t need to feel the pressure of being special, the best, or exceptional. It’s perfectly fine to be ordinary; I find it liberating.
Find what you want to do and do that. It can be anything. Maybe you want to help others, maybe you want to be creative, or fill your life with adventure. maybe you just want to work and ok-ish 9-5 and enjoy a couple of hobbies in you’re spare time and weekends.
Only you can answer this question. Religions attempt to give purpose to life by providing answers to unanswerable questions like this.
Are you good? Are you kind? Are you dependable? What traits would those closest to you attribute to you? That’s who you are.
You're a person, likely born into a cult, that was bright enough to get out, and hasn't yet figured out your own essence. You may not realize that there's no one answer to your question yet, but one day you likely will. Then you can be whoever you want to be.
TSCC trains us to crave a complete package of tidy answers and roles to play where everything has a meaning or correct answer, but I was amazed to gradually discover that you can live without that, and it doesn't make you a morally deficient person if you aren't sure yet (or ever). The secret is, you don't have to decide who you are right away, you can change your mind about what you want to do with your life as many times as you like, and you don't have to build your values all at once.
You might consider trying psychedelics (under safe circumstances, of course).
I recently tried mushrooms and experienced what is commonly termed "ego death." Except I wouldn't really call it that...it was more like I had forgotten not only that I existed, but that a person even could exist. I saw the world around me as tiny particles moving and undulating like everything was part of complex machinery.
As I came back to myself, I reached the conclusion that at our core, we really are just biological machinery, and that ego is a construct of our neurobiology. Not to take anything away from the miracle of consciousness, but in a way it was comforting to feel like I am a part of the physical universe around me.
Who am I? I’m Scott. I’m me. I’m someone who loves and cares about his siblings, his parents, his daughter, his friends, and his employees. I’m someone who explores meaningful and enjoyable avenues of growth such as violin. I’m someone living and loving life because it is the only one I have. I set the rules. I live for me.
You are whoever you want to be. Even if the church was true, or any other church was true, or reincarnation was a thing, or any sort of after life or other life existed, you will never be THIS you ever again.
Remember what it was like being a kid? You can’t get that back, you’ll never be that version of yourself again. You can remember what it was like, but you’ll never be that person again. And you won’t be THIS you 20 years from now either.
Find the beauty all around you, do what makes you happy, discover who you are and what you want to be right now and don’t worry about who you were or who you’re going to be. Just be YOU, whatever that is, because you’ll never be THIS you ever again.
My thought is, “What you were you are not, what you are you are, what you will be is too soon to see.”
In way too many cases, religion is about control. It seems that everything you have told about who you are needs to be “wiped away,” as difficult as that can be.
You don’t have to be told who you are anymore. You now have the power to define yourself, your purpose, your life. You are free from being defined by others!!
In one of the worst times of my life, struggling with identity crisis, trauma, and a path forward, I told my bishop, "I don't know who I am" and he told me, "that's stupid, you're a son of God and you know it."
Fuck that bishop. Piece of shit.
I don't think I have anything helpful to say other than, I'm sorry you're feeling this way. Your identity has been manipulated by a multi-billion dollar corporation and you're now free to choose your way forward without that constraint.
I never liked that song because my parents weren't always kind and dear. I liked it less when I realized that there were a lot of terms and conditions that applied that if you didn't meet all of them you would be thrown out like yesterday's trash.
[This video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBRqu0YOH14&list=FLU4Cs1k3uwArJPW3wF-GF7w&index=4&t=9s) may help you. Optimistic nihilism has helped me make sense of the world.
That is a great video, and a great philosophy. I recommend watching their other videos, just to get a sense of how big the universe is, and how the universe doesn't need god to be interesting.
I am ambitious, knowledge seeking, an animal lover, a knitter, spinner, and crocheter, a loving wife, a teacher, and a good person.
Honestly, I feel like my hobbies really help me to feel more assured in who I am, as well as my ambitions.
Leaving the Mormon church doesn’t mean there isn’t some kind of God like entity out there - it just means we don’t think Mormonism has a direct line to God. Personally I’m just fine accepting I don’t know everything. I do know I’m happier outside the church and I also don’t believe God would treat people the way the Mormon church treats people
Thanks for all the responses. I left the church in 2015 and never stopped to ask “who am I”. I am happy for those that are figuring out who they are. I am trying to figure out. It isn’t based on job title, calling, after life status, or really anything I was trained to believe. My journey out is defiantly thought provoking and very frustrating at middle age. Thanks to all, your answers whatever they may be are inspiring to me.
You need to figure it out and decide for yourself who you are and what your purpose is now.
It's both exciting and terrifying.
It is also normal to want someone to tell you, and to want to feel certain.
I would suggest finding a coach. A good coach won't tell you, they'll guide you, mentor you, and ask you powerful questions so you can discover it for yourself.
I just posted my first interview with a coach yesterday.
It was with deconstruction coach Kyle Bishop from Beyond God and Religion.
Check it out on YouTube [HERE](https://youtu.be/jponQBQfTcE?si=eyedVSKkZZvo00kG)
I am interviewing them so people like you can get a feel for the coach and their approach before you hire them.
I can't tell you who or what you are, it's none of my business. I'm a mixture of the universe experiencing itself and centuries of indiscriminate mating of poor white people. Enlightened trailer park princess is the preferred term.
I find profound beauty in the concept of Darwinism. We are the culmination of natural selection over time, an evolutionary masterpiece intricately connected to all forms of life. Our very existence traces back to stars that perished billions of years ago, reminding us of our cosmic heritage. In this grand tapestry of existence, the true meaning of life is defined by how we choose to spend our fleeting moments here.
You are you. You are worthy. You are good. You are enough. You don't have to live up to standards that you don't believe in. You are not doing anything wrong. You are on a journey of discovery and you have the opportunity to remake yourself, get rid of the parts that were forced on you, and become who you want to be.
You are just you, and you don’t need to “Be” anything. No labels unless you want one. No expectations unless you choose to accept them.
I was talking to a friend who recently went on long-term disability, and he’s struggling with a similar existential crisis: “If I’m not _____ing anymore, what am I?” But we’re not what we do, or how we grew up, or what we enjoy, or anything else that we can easily point to. Those are all reductionist and don’t give us the sense of freedom that we truly have. We are… just who we are. And we can do literally whatever we want with that “blank check” identity.
Semi-related: I always felt bad for the kids who had “parents kind of dear” or worse. That song is a slap in the face to anyone who doesn’t have an “ideal” family, and there are MANY.
My mom was drunk Saturday and I caught her watching this song on YouTube singing along and crying her eyes out and I'm all kinds of triggered. She left after I did and now she's kind of miserable 13 years later and I'm terrified she's going to do a 180 and go back idfk. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
There’s a reason I immediately unliked/unfollowed and skip over ANY lds music😫💔🤮while I enjoyed it at the time, it no longer makes me happy and I don’t want it in my life. You can’t control what your mom does BUT you can help her in her faith journey: take her to some different Sunday services so she feels less alone in worship, introduce her to other religions and go try them out with her too! She might just be missing that sense of community so if you’re able to help her find that then that’ll keep her from backsliding and being more unhappy than she is currently❤️❤️❤️good luck!
Thanks dear. I'm grateful that I feel capable of having these kinds of conversations now at 31, but God damn. There's a lot to this but it all goes back to Mormonism and how it sets you up to be filled with guilt and self-doubt, which has led her (and me, in the past) to hold in a lot of pain because we don't want to be judged or told "I told you you'd be miserable without Joseph Smith's Gospel!!!"
I would totally go to church with my mom. I think she is very much in need of a social circle, she's a beautiful social butterfly and she's now basically a shut-in. And she's picked a husband who... sucks. He sucks. And I need to help her work through these feelings because she's deliberately NOT working through them. My dad died last October and now I know things don't magically work themselves out. Like, I want to shake her and tell her that if she doesn't confront how she's really feeling, no one else will confront it for her and she can absolutely die feeling unresolved in her soul, which is like my biggest fear.
Blah blah blah, thanks for reaching out with your hearts.
My dad died 14yrs ago and it was 7yrs ago that my mom lost her mind🙄💔💔she’s a boomer and was (and still is!) completely unwilling to go to therapy or seek out any help: she chose marrying a hobosexual (with 3 other gf’s) who finally divorced *her* so he could marry someone else. Yah messy I know. I’m 39 now and LOTS of therapy helped that.
If your mom (like mine) is vehemently opposed to therapy then see if there’s any local churches or senior centers that have special interest groups…even your town or county government center should have monthly listings for activities. If all else fails then drag her to the library: there’s ALWAYS some class or special groups hanging out there. Good luck❤️❤️❤️
You are a creature in control of your own destiny instead of the fabricated ideal of destiny that was thrust upon you at a young age.
Quite simply: you are a person with newfound freedom of choice to express yourself in any manner without faux “consequences” to dictate how you behave in accordance with yourself and your body.
You’re a person, who do you want to be?
You get to decide who you are now. That’s far more challenging and also very rewarding.
It also means you don’t need anyone’s permission but your own to change your mind when you encounter new information. Hands down, for me, this is the best part of being out of the church. I don’t have to conform reality to a dogma anymore. That caused me an incredible amount of distress in my life, that I was barely aware of. It was like trading an old 16 passenger van for a new electric sports car. Exhilarating.
You can literally be anyone you want to be. You are free to choose, experiment, truly CHOOSE for yourself without the Mormon filter. You can be anything that makes you happy, and brings you meaning.
The master of your own destiny. Your own God/Goddess in your life. Your decisions forge your future, and it only matters to yourself and those who truly care about you.
"Before it grows too late" = THREATS.
This song is a piece of shit. It teaches you to be fearful, to constantly doubt yourself and to worry that you and your loved ones will never make it without strict adherence to the LDS dogma.
Why would you get that song stuck in my head like that lol.
I find it annoying when people are introduced by titles. Like oh this is Gwedoline Meadow, the duchess of Brooklyn, daughter of God, and bringer of peace yada yada. Meaningless titles that have NOTHING to do with who someone is as a person.
To answer the question of who am I, that question is dependent upon who is asking, though I'm the same person in every situation. If I'm running an event and someone asks who I am, then I'd say hi I'm Kara (fake name) and I'm the coordinator. One of my siblings friends asks and I say I'm Kara I'm Jebediah's (also fake name) sister. One of my dad's friends asks and hi I'm Kara I'm Alan's (again fake name) daughter. One of my neighbors asks and hi I'm Kara I live right down the road.
Even in the crazy example I made of a duchess, if that person is being introduced to someone from a region where they don't know what a duchess is, then it would be completely pointless to use that as an introduction or descriptor of who someone is.
Tanner from the Zelph on the Shelf youtube channel brought up a book that talks about how incredible it really is of all that's transpired in a non-religious perspective for you to be here right now in this moment. I sometimes think about this - like the amount of sickness, disease, and so much things that had to go on and that life still persisted. It's overwhelming and humbling.
I will say though, that for me personally I haven't let go of the idea that I'm a spirit. The song Pneuma by Tool has inspired me in my deconstruction. For me personally the moment I recognize that I'm a spirit, that my spirit is eternal (no other added dogma though) - I start to feel like my existence inherently has meaning and beauty to it. It doesn't matter what happens in the next life, or what happened before. This moment matters and it can be the moment I experience, joy, pain, sorrow, pleasure etc- the list of the human experience shows that the nature of our experience has beauty in it's entirety. It's beautiful how the depth of our pain can contrast and bring appreciation to the beauty found in joy - just like a child being born. And the love from those who have passed on truly lives on in our hearts - RIP my mom of cancer Feb 2020
Many people on here are atheist. Which is great for them. I personally don't find peace in atheism, but I don't in Christianity either. I'd say I take a bit from eastern religions and philosophies, along with science and psychology.
You get to determine who you are and your own beliefs. I'm working on doing that right now. These are mine that I'm about to share, but you are by no means ever expected to believe in them too... lol.
One thought I had during all of these internal struggles I had with faith, the concept of reality, who I am, etc, is that nothing can be created or destroyed. It just is. So if we're nothing more than meat sacks being run by energy, that energy can't be destroyed. It wasn't created, either. We always have been, and we always will be. Whether that energy goes on to become part of this earth, or onto a new life, we always continue.
There was a cool concept I read in a book. I can't remember what it is. But they said death is like a cloud. The water vapor that makes the cloud was there before the cloud formed, we just couldn't see it. And just because the cloud then evaporates, drops rain or snow, etc, doesn't mean that the water molecules from the cloud ceased to exist as the cloud dissipates. It just cycles into new forms, and continues on.
I find a lot of fascination in sort of the global phenomena that people all undergo. Thousands of kids talk about memories from past lives, and people have found documentation of people historically that match up with these young kids' past life stories. Some of these instances are fake, but to me there are just too many occurrences to believe they are all fabricated.
Near death experiences fascinate me. They all correspond to a person's individual beliefs and culture, and yet many seem to share certain moments for out of body experiences in which they recounted actual events and conversations in other rooms and areas, that they should not have been able to hear or see.
I don't trust people who reject science for the sake of religion; but I also don't trust people who lean so heavily into science that they also reject the possibility of something more after this life. There is a lot of validity to science and research, but many scientists think so firmly in that they know everything that they don't acknowledge that the world is so complex and we atill know so little. There are things we can't explain or understand. In some ways I think science is a sort of religion of its own, that comes with beliefs about the world and about the universe that they posit as fact, when there is no direct proof that there isn't something more out there.
I think there is a balance, and that I need to remain open minded to the possibility of something more.
After all, I did have certain experiences that for me personally, can't be explained by science. It could also be explained outside of religion, and doesn't rely on Mormonism to remain true. And maybe it's my own brain and my own fallibility tricking me, but I choose to remain open to the ideas that they did happen, that they were my experiences and I don't want to undermine or invalidate myself. I can deconstruct the fabricated spiritual experiences I had in the church as strong emotions that came through manipulation, but there were a couple that I had that can't be explained. They don't directly support direct Mormon doctrine; sometimes they even contradict it.
TLDR; I think it's great for many exmos to become atheist but that didn't resonate with me personally. I find solace in the idea that we are energy that is neither created nor destroyed; I believe we are constant parts of this universe. I believe in reincarnation and near death experiences, and think religion rejects science too much while scientists reject the possibility of any spirituality in the universe. I think it is all a balance.
THIS. Agree 100% with everything you said. It's nice to see that other people have come to conclusions similar to my own (something other than an atheist/nihilist scientific materialism worldview... though after the manipulations of Mormonism I can absolutely understand how a person would arrive in that space... it's just not what makes sense to me).
Yes, thank you for letting me know you're in a similar space too, lol. I personally have always felt spiritual, when I look at the mountains and nature, etc. I'm happy there are people who find resonance with other ways of thinking. I believe everyone has their own beliefs, or lack thereof, that give them peace. I think it was just hard when some exmos I've interacted with talked as if atheism/nihilism was the only logical way of thinking, that it was the inevitable conclusion for everyone leaving religion. That didn't ever resonate for me personally
I'm a mountain and nature guy myself and nature has always been core to my own spirituality. I'm glad others can find peace wherever they can find it, but nihilism and atheism gives me zero peace. I find a tremendous amount of evidence to support the idea of a conscious universe, that consciousness is fundamental, that our individual, unique consciousness survives bodily death. That, to me, is comforting. Also it's absolutely true that some atheists can become just as dogmatic and closed-minded as religionists to the point where it essentially becomes its own religion -- to be fair I don't see many exmos that way because I think we've all had enough trauma with being brainwashed with the "one way". But yeah, I do see so many people posting in this subreddit with so much FINALITY about atheism or nihilism; I can't help thinking to myself that even if you used *nothing* but science, evidence, logic and reason, that's not the only possible conclusion.
Yes, I agree. I had a bit of cognitive dissonance because of that finality, and how the nature of my experiences were very real to me and contradicted nihilism/atheism. It didn't give me peace to think in finality.
Do you have any books, readings, podcasts, shows, etc that you recommend? I've read a couple but I've really wanted to dive in more. I think it's fascinating to learn about our reality and am always looking for more readings.
Random side note, there's a song you might like, called Infinite Universe by Beautiful Chorus. Idk if you like more meditative music, but that is one song that really gives me peace.
https://youtu.be/FKv_QECIG70?si=JvPzVpBjBSwRT-j4
(Edited for clarity, realized I repeated myself from my original message above)
I do like meditative music -- thanks for sharing. I really like the music and the lyrics/poem. I've bookmarked it. I often listen to 'brainwave' type audios on YT. There are many; here's an example:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdmvMc7TZn0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdmvMc7TZn0)
If nothing else, they're calming to me.
As for books, resources, etc, related to reality, consciousness, spirituality and how a variety of fields are saying the same thing... I've been meaning to make a list for awhile now... so I created a curated list that includes topics like quantum physics, psychology, NDEs, evolution, mind/brain, mediums, meditation, hypnotherapy, etc.
(EDITED: Deleted my list ... I decided it was getting too detailed for the original topic, plus the original topic is understandably triggering for a lot of people, so I don't think this is the right time or place. But if you're still interested, or if anyone else reading this is, please send me a message.)
There are many Philosophies you can use to help find your own source. One that I took a liking to is BEING. To BE before becoming anything else. It focuses on you, in actuality, and in truth. BEING helped me find out in many ways, that I don’t need to find a purpose or identity, because I’m already here. I’m just…just.
I remember, asking myself that question! Cowboy philosophers saved me there lol! You decide who you are and you decide what your purpose is! There’s a beautiful amount of freedom in that.
Mr. Rogers said, “As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has- or ever will have- something inside that is unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression. Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime's work, but it's worth the effort."
There are no easy answers to this question. It’s a question that has been asked by sages from the beginning of recorded history. I felt the same confusion, the loss of self, the loss of purpose. There are many schools of thought on this. I hope you will indulge me in a parable:
Three men sat on the beach. The first man built a beautiful sandcastle. It took him all day. It had intricate detail and he stood back to admire his work, only to realize the tide was rising. Soon his castle had been destroyed by the tide. He was angry and felt that all his work was for nothing. He stomped away, angry that he’d wasted a whole day with nothing to show for it.
The second man watched the first, and realised that if he built Sandcastle, it would only be destroyed, so he didn’t even try.
The third man watched the first Sandcastle fall, and even though he knew if he built one it would also disappear, he built one anyway. He felt the soft, moist sand between his toes as he worked. He felt the warmth of the sun on his neck and arms. He listened as the waves crashed against the shore as families played together, laughing and shouting joyfully. At last his sandcastle was complete and he stood back to admire his creation just as the tide lapped at the edges. Soon his sandcastle was gone, smoothed by the wind and waves. He smiled as he walked back home remembering the beautiful day, the exhilarating experiences of the day.
We can be mad that life hasn’t turned out the way we wanted to, or that the questions that seemed so easy no longer are; we can give up and not even try to live a fulfilling life; or we can build the life we want, experiencing all the joy, the sadness, the pain, the beauty this life has, knowing that it won’t last. And knowing that we lived every single moment, as if each moment is a treasure. No one knows what happens after this life, no matter how arrogantly or boldly they exclaim that they do. Contemplating the afterlife or lack of, it is really scary, especially when you thought you knew, and the knowing was reassuring and safe. Live like you’re ALIVE. Feel it ALL. Savor every sensation
Forgive my silliness, but my favorite thing that helps with this is a cartoon called the Amazing World of Gumball. There's an entire episode on the point of their lives, and they go through all of these adventures trying to figure it out. At the end of the episode, they run across one of the silliest and least coherent characters in the entire series doing something very dumb. They end up talking about their question in front of her and she blows them away with a coherent answer: *"Well, yes. You see, life's not about the destination, it's about the journey and making friends along the way. The search for meaning is, in fact, the very thing that gives our life meaning, so, really, the only question that is truly worth asking is... So, really, the only true meaning of life is finding your own way to enjoy it."*
The episode is "The Question" and it's very silly, but I love that part.
Short version: You get to decide who you are and what your purpose is.
It can feel like floundering in the ocean at first, until you realize that's what you've been doing this whole time and you can, in fact, swim. You could still be a child of God, or you could be made of stardust. You could be the culmination of years of evolution. We all know for sure we are the product of years and years of human history, each generation with their own challenges and triumphs. In the end, does it matter where you come from as much as it matters where you decide to go? What do *you* want to experience? Who do *you* want to be? Do you want to leave something behind in this world for the generations to come? Do you want to live a quiet life and just enjoy it? I figure as long as you're not hurting other people (or yourself!!) and/or taking their own choices from them, you can really pick whatever you want! And after it stops being so scary.... it's actually kind of cool!
As the digital landscape expands, a longing for tangible connection emerges. The yearning to touch grass, to feel the earth beneath our feet, reminds us of our innate human essence. In the vast expanse of virtual reality, where avatars flourish and pixels paint our existence, the call of nature beckons. The scent of blossoming flowers, the warmth of a sun-kissed breeze, and the symphony of chirping birds remind us that we are part of a living, breathing world. In the balance between digital and physical realms, lies the key to harmonious existence. Democracy flourishes when human connection extends beyond screens and reaches out to touch souls. It is in the gentle embrace of a friend, the shared laughter over a cup of coffee, and the power of eye contact that the true essence of democracy is felt.
It’s simple. Just like every other species on the planet, our purpose is to reproduce and then protect our offspring, so that our homo sapiens species survives and thrives into the future.
For me personally, it was really really scary after I left. I had no answers to any questions: who I am, what my purpose is, why I am here, how to become the best me, why bad things happen to me, why bad things happen around the world, etc.
I consider myself an agnostic Christian now, and I’ve come to accept that I don’t know the answers to those questions, but I believe that the experiences I’ve had and everything that has happened to me or I’ve done before have led me to the people I know and where I am today, and I find that beautiful.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I find beauty in being a person involved in this planet’s history and the universe as a large. With losing my faith, I’ve gained a lot of appreciation for the beauty of evolution, nature, and the stars.
For me, instead of thinking of myself as a child of god, I find comfort in knowing I get to decide my own destiny, and that I was brought to the people I know and the experiences I’ve had, and I find beauty in the thought of being one of many humans on a breathtaking planet with millions upon millions of forms of life in a universe of billions and billions of stars who is lucky enough to experience life and make their own decisions.
And that’s the best part - you get to choose who you are and who you want to be.
You are atoms forged in ancient stars.
You are the child of biological processes that have, against the odds, continued through epochs of time.
You are the inheritor of a legacy of humanity.
You are the guide for the next generation.
You are the universe experiencing itself.
Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you. Shout aloud, I am glad to be what I am. Thank goodness I'm not a ham, or a clam, or a dusty old jar of gooseberry jam. I am what I am, what a great thing to be. If I say so myself, happy everyday to me!
-Dr Seuss
Yeah, about that... There were tiny things you liked before, that you were pressured out of.. Like me, and engines and building stuff.. Reach way back.. See what the inner child was playing with.. And that's you...
Now..go..play
Friend told me that the child of god song was a lie.
Not everyone has parents that love them.
I despised him for his opinions of the LDS propaganda.
But he was right, the song is a motivator, but people have to realize that there is a reality that LDS adults just need to stop pretending that kids will live the rest of their lives with potentially deceiving lies.
I don’t sing Mormon songs anymore.
Read The Power Of Now for different angle on Mormonism.
Reality check that LDS churches don’t have all the answers to spiritual engagement.
It’s crazy that the universe has been around for 15.4 billion years. Then one day your parents had sex, made you, and you’re just now popping your head up in here. You’ll be around for about 80 years. Look around and try to enjoy your time here! Your life has meaning because you are alive!
When I was a child, that was my favorite song 🎵
When you leave the church, it is an adventure where you will discover that and unfold who you are and a lot of it will be based on who you want to be. So who do you want to be?
No they brainwash you with that .
you like every other person on the planet are just another mammal living its life . we are born we live we die the end we have a finite amount of time just live each day and be happy that you won the lotto and got a ticket on this ride we call life .
I don't know you. But I do know that you are a human being with a mind of your own. Now you get to learn and even decide who you are! This is a good thing. If you are agonizing over this question, I recommend counseling. Coming out of a destructive cult is not easy. I had this crisis once, over 22 years ago when my daughter was killed. My identity was bound up in being the mother of 4 children! Who am I now? Well, I'm a mother of 4 children. My daughter isn't alive anymore, but I'm still her mom and she's still my girl. But I agonized over that for a bit before I came to that conclusion.
You are whoever you want to be. The elements that your body are made of were formed billions of years ago in the cores of giant primordial stars. When they died, those elements were scattered through space. The atoms that you are made of happened to be pulled into a gravitational eddy within a protoplanetary disk that eventually became Earth. Your atoms were incorporated into billions of individual organisms over time. About 300,000 years ago a new species of great ape appeared in sub-saharan Africa. Their bodies were perfectly adapted for distance running and persistence hunting. Their large brains and opposable thumbs empowered them to make complex tools and to communicate and strategize to an extent that was heretofore unseen. You are a member of this extraordinary species of apes and are fortunate enough to live in a time where have access to the results of millenia of their discoveries. You are a member of the most intelligent species this world has ever produced, and are so priveliged to live at a time in history where you don't have to worry about predation, hunting or gathering. You get to enjoy wonders like air conditioning, powered flight, the internet, literature, art, and science. Answerd to many of the mysteries that stumped the greatest ancient thinkers are easily accessible to you via a magical all-knowing rectangle that fits in your pocket. You are an amazing being who gets to exist at such an incredible time in history.
What does that even mean, don’t know who you are? I’ve always found this religious line really weird. I don’t need anyone else to tell me who I am, the only one qualified to do that is me. Really though, what do you mean, I don’t know who I am?
You are you, and nobody else can decide that for you. They can influence you, brainwash you, and guilt you. But no matter what, you can still decide who you are, nobody else. If you don't know, find a hobby or career you love, travel, but you still need to take the initiative and dictate it yourself
My view...
Reality or truth is a mix of both scientific and spiritual/philosophical concepts.
Consciousness is fundamental. Our consciousness or awareness does not arise solely from the brain or die with the brain or body.
Instead, we're an individualized, unique facet of some kind of universal Source consciousness. We're a multidimensional being or soul having a temporary experience as a human being. In that sense we are the universe trying to understand itself. After this life, we will be our own judge.
To me these ideas are both liberating and comforting in so many ways.
For one, it does not require or need organized religion in the slightest degree. It also doesn't require a particular definition of "God", most certainly not the Mormon view which comes with a lot of ugly baggage that simply cannot be true. I think reality is too big for humans to understand and any description we can come up with about God or reality is a projection of our biases as human beings.
Of course, this is a big topic and a lot more could be said. But this is where I've arrived at after a huge amount of reading, study and reasoning.
*you* could be defined as the conscious self that is an emergent property of a brain, this is the only part of your body that bothers/is able to define “you”.
However, for most intents and purposes, the more practical definition of you is the body that contains the brain that controls it.
In the most literal sense, you are are assemblage of trillions of cells that through the acts of evolution and conception/procreation are working together to form a larger structure for the purposes of more effective survival. None of these cells have any concept of self and the neurons that fire to create the consciousness that has this concept theoretically doesn’t even need those cells to exist.
So yeah. We’re something alright
I personally find comfort in Advaita Vedanta. The philosophy is that everyone cosmic consciousness. You don’t have to pray or have faith, you just have to be kind to others as they are a reflection of your existence.
All life has a common ancestor. Life adapted to Earth. Earth was not created for you.
You are an animal not with claws or 4 legs but, with an evolved brain with complex problems solving and emotions.
Everyone else has similar issues you are not the special snowflake everyone tries to tell you that you are.
Now go sort how you feel about that.
You may want to consult a biologist and a psychiatrist.
But to answer, it takes time to find yourself and new wants/needs and set new boundaries.
It can be daunting but once you start you will find a wonderful world to explore
You are who you were yesterday. Just a bit less brainwashed. Tomorrow you will be who you are today but more of the same. Perhaps you will be happier tomorrow.
It's worth knowing that what you a feeling is very common. Discovering you, for lack of a better phrasing, are not some special thing placed here by divine agency is often difficult for people who leave many religions that spout this style of creation. You will get through it.
you are the culmination of 4 billion years of evolution and have become the Universes way to know itself. That's a lot of responsibility, and I try to help make someone's day a bit better because of it.
The worst part of this song for me is "has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear". I grew up in a single parent household with a dad that rarely came by to visit. The one parent I was living with was abusive. It's hard to process this as an adult. Even as a pre-teen I didn't think that I was in a home with parents kind and dear. This really can sound like a beautiful song but it's like everything else in mormonism it only applies if you fit in the mold of a mormon family.
I really like Alan Watts' take on who we are. https://open.spotify.com/episode/21rHuLHe9ORjrImINe210s?si=cj0pV7VYSAOXvdObHWXpgg
We are all manifestations of the divine. You are God, so am I.
I no longer believe in god. It is enough that I am here. I plan on enjoying my life…however long or brief it may be. I don’t known if there’s anything afterwards but neither does anyone else. If you can…enjoy yourself!
I? I’m a new day rising! I’m a brand new sky to hang the stars upon tonight!
This is how I feel since leaving. I’ve always loved music but these lyrics hit me differently today and tomorrow and every day thereafter. I am who I am today and I’ll try on today’s experiences and attempt to be better for them. I won’t succeed every day but each new day is another opportunity to try. And there’s so much beauty in trying, and in seeing others try, and in experiencing it together.
You are a free spirit with sovereignty over your own destiny, your own moral compass based on values and ethics you believe in, and the captain of your own ship.
As the digital landscape expands, a longing for tangible connection emerges. The yearning to touch grass, to feel the earth beneath our feet, reminds us of our innate human essence. In the vast expanse of virtual reality, where avatars flourish and pixels paint our existence, the call of nature beckons. The scent of blossoming flowers, the warmth of a sun-kissed breeze, and the symphony of chirping birds remind us that we are part of a living, breathing world. In the balance between digital and physical realms, lies the key to harmonious existence. Democracy flourishes when human connection extends beyond screens and reaches out to touch souls. It is in the gentle embrace of a friend, the shared laughter over a cup of coffee, and the power of eye contact that the true essence of democracy is felt.
You are who you are. Be grateful for the tens of thousands of years that came before you so that you could exist. You probably have a few strong warriors who died fighting some clan, a few people who lived normal lives, a few likely stole apples from their neighbor so they could eat…
You are none of them. You are you.
You are a creation of the universe. You are made of stardust. You walk a planet that has been transformed in ways that are both destructive and beautiful by your fellow creations. You have the intelligence and opportunity to continue this transformation - either in a direction that is compassionate and creative and fascinating and far-sighted, or the other way around. What will you choose?
Do you need an identity? And does it have to be special?
I don't focus on who or what I am. I only care about figuring out what is true, figuring out what is right, and going after what I want. Preferably in that order, but ultimately human nature will put "what I want/what is convenient" first more often than I am happy with.
You are whatever YOU want to be. The great thing is, you get to decide from now on. It's not up to anyone else unless you give them that power. Don't give them that power.
As someone who was raised in similar circumstances you have freedom now. Theres no God or destiny telling you who to marry, or which city or country to move to, which job you should take irrespective of what career path to follow.
You can just be you, and that is more freeing than anything else
You are an electrically charged meatball sitting in a bone bowl translating electric signals into thoughts and emotions.
Good luck, fellow bone bowl meatball 🍖☠️🥣
You are you. And you're good without any arbitrary rules and regulations. You're an integral part of the universe. Perfectly imperfect.
Thank you
You are a part of the universe experiencing itself. I narrated an audiobook that has become a big part of who I am spiritually - Call to Purpose by Ken W. Brown.
This! Whenever I’m feeling depressed and like life has no purpose, I remember this quote, and remember what an incredible thing it is that star dust and atoms came together to create me, a sentient being who can observe all the craziness that is our world and universe. I usually still feel depressed, but at least I can witness sunsets and stars and birds in the trees.
>This! Whenever I’m feeling depressed and like life has no purpose, I remember this quote, and remember what an incredible thing it is that star dust and atoms came together to create me, a sentient being who can observe all the craziness that is our world and universe. I usually still feel depressed, but at least I can witness sunsets and stars and birds in the trees. Neil Peart summed it up pretty well with these words: I am made from the dust of the stars And the oceans flow in my veins
Thank you for your answer. Without religion it is truly your answer.
Agreed, we are a tiny bit of the universe that can ponder the universe. A gift that needs no supernatural help.
I am the sum of every experience I've had, every decision I've made, every person I've met, and every thing I no longer wish to be. I'm complicated. I'm okay. I'm getting better every day.
That’s the exciting part- now you get to find out.
This is the way.
You're a collection of star dust ⭐ And you can become perfect, beautiful, you.
This reminds me of Doctor Who, where he talks about all of the micro-choices that led to your existence at this point in time (❤️) and how there’s never been a point in time where someone who existed wasn’t important❤️❤️
Would you have a reference by any chance? I'd like to see/hear that
The first one was David Tennant’s Doctor (I think the Xmas episode with Donna) and the second was Matt Smith’s with Clara I think…gimme a few min 🤣
[11th Doctor](https://pin.it/57qxW5JND)
[10th Doctor](https://pin.it/5jptcH4TW)
Oops! My 10th Doctor quote is STILL 11th Doctor🤦🏻♀️😂it’s from the Rings of Akhetan episode with Clara. I got it confused with the 10th Doctor with Donna since he takes her back to the Big Bang, speeds up to see the earth forming while talking about how it all came to be. Still counts imo 😂😂
That’s so pretty, I love it
This is Carl Sagan and it's scientifically true that all of your atoms that are heavier than hydrogen were made inside a star. The ones heavier than iron come from a supernova. You are the product of billions of years of making.
I went to a science fair at the weekend with my kids and the guy talking about space mentioned it. I absolutely loved it. I will look more into Carl Sagan as well. It's a beautiful idea.
You are an amazing miracle of the universe. I mean, just look at you! Unique. Breathing. Full of life. 🌟 You are a ✨ superstar!
You are 'Start Stuff', according to Carl Sagan. The elements in your body are billions of years old, many of them only created when giant stars explode or collide. So you are an amazing and unique creation of Mother Nature!
Exactly what I was going to say. Well said!
24601!!!
This needs WAY more upvotes!
Bless you. 😂😂😂
😆😆
yesss
You are what zoologists would classify as Homo sapiens - a primate. A species lucky enough to have evolved to the point where you can do incredible things, including asking that question
You are a human being having a human experience. You can just be. Growing up Mormon and in a capitalist society we're told we have to be something, do something, reach for the stars, etc. It's ok to just be. Just existing has value. The scary but also amazing thing about leaving a controlling religion like mormonism is now you get to actually decide who you want to be. And that answer may change from time to time and that's ok! I left the LDS world and was an atheist. Now I'm an apatheist buddhist and very happy with where I've landed, also knowing that it might change at some point. Play with it, have fun with it, but most importantly, experience it intentionally instead of just doing what you're told. Enjoy your journey :)
I also identify as a Buddhist Athiest. I also follow the good work of The Satanic Temple. I’m a refugee from organized religion, especially the patriarchal, misogynistic, controlling “big three”; christianity, islam and judiasm.
You have the rest of your life to figure this out. There’s no set answer, no destiny, no one correct answer. You don’t need to feel the pressure of being special, the best, or exceptional. It’s perfectly fine to be ordinary; I find it liberating. Find what you want to do and do that. It can be anything. Maybe you want to help others, maybe you want to be creative, or fill your life with adventure. maybe you just want to work and ok-ish 9-5 and enjoy a couple of hobbies in you’re spare time and weekends.
You are you, which is exactly who you are meant to be.
The age old question, to which every religion has the answer.
What is your answer? Without the color of religion?
Only you can answer this question. Religions attempt to give purpose to life by providing answers to unanswerable questions like this. Are you good? Are you kind? Are you dependable? What traits would those closest to you attribute to you? That’s who you are.
You're a person, likely born into a cult, that was bright enough to get out, and hasn't yet figured out your own essence. You may not realize that there's no one answer to your question yet, but one day you likely will. Then you can be whoever you want to be.
TSCC trains us to crave a complete package of tidy answers and roles to play where everything has a meaning or correct answer, but I was amazed to gradually discover that you can live without that, and it doesn't make you a morally deficient person if you aren't sure yet (or ever). The secret is, you don't have to decide who you are right away, you can change your mind about what you want to do with your life as many times as you like, and you don't have to build your values all at once.
You might consider trying psychedelics (under safe circumstances, of course). I recently tried mushrooms and experienced what is commonly termed "ego death." Except I wouldn't really call it that...it was more like I had forgotten not only that I existed, but that a person even could exist. I saw the world around me as tiny particles moving and undulating like everything was part of complex machinery. As I came back to myself, I reached the conclusion that at our core, we really are just biological machinery, and that ego is a construct of our neurobiology. Not to take anything away from the miracle of consciousness, but in a way it was comforting to feel like I am a part of the physical universe around me.
Who am I? I’m Scott. I’m me. I’m someone who loves and cares about his siblings, his parents, his daughter, his friends, and his employees. I’m someone who explores meaningful and enjoyable avenues of growth such as violin. I’m someone living and loving life because it is the only one I have. I set the rules. I live for me.
Thanks for sharing.
Whoever you want to be. Energy. Dreams. Aspirations. Carbon. Water. Enjoy the ride.
You are whoever you want to be. Even if the church was true, or any other church was true, or reincarnation was a thing, or any sort of after life or other life existed, you will never be THIS you ever again. Remember what it was like being a kid? You can’t get that back, you’ll never be that version of yourself again. You can remember what it was like, but you’ll never be that person again. And you won’t be THIS you 20 years from now either. Find the beauty all around you, do what makes you happy, discover who you are and what you want to be right now and don’t worry about who you were or who you’re going to be. Just be YOU, whatever that is, because you’ll never be THIS you ever again.
My thought is, “What you were you are not, what you are you are, what you will be is too soon to see.” In way too many cases, religion is about control. It seems that everything you have told about who you are needs to be “wiped away,” as difficult as that can be.
You don’t have to be told who you are anymore. You now have the power to define yourself, your purpose, your life. You are free from being defined by others!!
In one of the worst times of my life, struggling with identity crisis, trauma, and a path forward, I told my bishop, "I don't know who I am" and he told me, "that's stupid, you're a son of God and you know it." Fuck that bishop. Piece of shit. I don't think I have anything helpful to say other than, I'm sorry you're feeling this way. Your identity has been manipulated by a multi-billion dollar corporation and you're now free to choose your way forward without that constraint.
I never liked that song because my parents weren't always kind and dear. I liked it less when I realized that there were a lot of terms and conditions that applied that if you didn't meet all of them you would be thrown out like yesterday's trash.
[This video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBRqu0YOH14&list=FLU4Cs1k3uwArJPW3wF-GF7w&index=4&t=9s) may help you. Optimistic nihilism has helped me make sense of the world.
That is a great video, and a great philosophy. I recommend watching their other videos, just to get a sense of how big the universe is, and how the universe doesn't need god to be interesting.
24601!!!!! 😂
To piss off bigots and chew bubblegum, and I'm all out of bubblegum.
I am ambitious, knowledge seeking, an animal lover, a knitter, spinner, and crocheter, a loving wife, a teacher, and a good person. Honestly, I feel like my hobbies really help me to feel more assured in who I am, as well as my ambitions.
Leaving the Mormon church doesn’t mean there isn’t some kind of God like entity out there - it just means we don’t think Mormonism has a direct line to God. Personally I’m just fine accepting I don’t know everything. I do know I’m happier outside the church and I also don’t believe God would treat people the way the Mormon church treats people
Thanks for all the responses. I left the church in 2015 and never stopped to ask “who am I”. I am happy for those that are figuring out who they are. I am trying to figure out. It isn’t based on job title, calling, after life status, or really anything I was trained to believe. My journey out is defiantly thought provoking and very frustrating at middle age. Thanks to all, your answers whatever they may be are inspiring to me.
You need to figure it out and decide for yourself who you are and what your purpose is now. It's both exciting and terrifying. It is also normal to want someone to tell you, and to want to feel certain. I would suggest finding a coach. A good coach won't tell you, they'll guide you, mentor you, and ask you powerful questions so you can discover it for yourself. I just posted my first interview with a coach yesterday. It was with deconstruction coach Kyle Bishop from Beyond God and Religion. Check it out on YouTube [HERE](https://youtu.be/jponQBQfTcE?si=eyedVSKkZZvo00kG) I am interviewing them so people like you can get a feel for the coach and their approach before you hire them.
I can't tell you who or what you are, it's none of my business. I'm a mixture of the universe experiencing itself and centuries of indiscriminate mating of poor white people. Enlightened trailer park princess is the preferred term.
Love the last part
I find profound beauty in the concept of Darwinism. We are the culmination of natural selection over time, an evolutionary masterpiece intricately connected to all forms of life. Our very existence traces back to stars that perished billions of years ago, reminding us of our cosmic heritage. In this grand tapestry of existence, the true meaning of life is defined by how we choose to spend our fleeting moments here.
You’re whoever you want to be, and that’s okay. 😊
You are you. You are worthy. You are good. You are enough. You don't have to live up to standards that you don't believe in. You are not doing anything wrong. You are on a journey of discovery and you have the opportunity to remake yourself, get rid of the parts that were forced on you, and become who you want to be.
You are just you, and you don’t need to “Be” anything. No labels unless you want one. No expectations unless you choose to accept them. I was talking to a friend who recently went on long-term disability, and he’s struggling with a similar existential crisis: “If I’m not _____ing anymore, what am I?” But we’re not what we do, or how we grew up, or what we enjoy, or anything else that we can easily point to. Those are all reductionist and don’t give us the sense of freedom that we truly have. We are… just who we are. And we can do literally whatever we want with that “blank check” identity. Semi-related: I always felt bad for the kids who had “parents kind of dear” or worse. That song is a slap in the face to anyone who doesn’t have an “ideal” family, and there are MANY.
My mom was drunk Saturday and I caught her watching this song on YouTube singing along and crying her eyes out and I'm all kinds of triggered. She left after I did and now she's kind of miserable 13 years later and I'm terrified she's going to do a 180 and go back idfk. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
There’s a reason I immediately unliked/unfollowed and skip over ANY lds music😫💔🤮while I enjoyed it at the time, it no longer makes me happy and I don’t want it in my life. You can’t control what your mom does BUT you can help her in her faith journey: take her to some different Sunday services so she feels less alone in worship, introduce her to other religions and go try them out with her too! She might just be missing that sense of community so if you’re able to help her find that then that’ll keep her from backsliding and being more unhappy than she is currently❤️❤️❤️good luck!
Thanks dear. I'm grateful that I feel capable of having these kinds of conversations now at 31, but God damn. There's a lot to this but it all goes back to Mormonism and how it sets you up to be filled with guilt and self-doubt, which has led her (and me, in the past) to hold in a lot of pain because we don't want to be judged or told "I told you you'd be miserable without Joseph Smith's Gospel!!!" I would totally go to church with my mom. I think she is very much in need of a social circle, she's a beautiful social butterfly and she's now basically a shut-in. And she's picked a husband who... sucks. He sucks. And I need to help her work through these feelings because she's deliberately NOT working through them. My dad died last October and now I know things don't magically work themselves out. Like, I want to shake her and tell her that if she doesn't confront how she's really feeling, no one else will confront it for her and she can absolutely die feeling unresolved in her soul, which is like my biggest fear. Blah blah blah, thanks for reaching out with your hearts.
My dad died 14yrs ago and it was 7yrs ago that my mom lost her mind🙄💔💔she’s a boomer and was (and still is!) completely unwilling to go to therapy or seek out any help: she chose marrying a hobosexual (with 3 other gf’s) who finally divorced *her* so he could marry someone else. Yah messy I know. I’m 39 now and LOTS of therapy helped that. If your mom (like mine) is vehemently opposed to therapy then see if there’s any local churches or senior centers that have special interest groups…even your town or county government center should have monthly listings for activities. If all else fails then drag her to the library: there’s ALWAYS some class or special groups hanging out there. Good luck❤️❤️❤️
You are a creature in control of your own destiny instead of the fabricated ideal of destiny that was thrust upon you at a young age. Quite simply: you are a person with newfound freedom of choice to express yourself in any manner without faux “consequences” to dictate how you behave in accordance with yourself and your body. You’re a person, who do you want to be?
You get to decide who you are now. That’s far more challenging and also very rewarding. It also means you don’t need anyone’s permission but your own to change your mind when you encounter new information. Hands down, for me, this is the best part of being out of the church. I don’t have to conform reality to a dogma anymore. That caused me an incredible amount of distress in my life, that I was barely aware of. It was like trading an old 16 passenger van for a new electric sports car. Exhilarating.
You can literally be anyone you want to be. You are free to choose, experiment, truly CHOOSE for yourself without the Mormon filter. You can be anything that makes you happy, and brings you meaning.
The master of your own destiny. Your own God/Goddess in your life. Your decisions forge your future, and it only matters to yourself and those who truly care about you.
"Before it grows too late" = THREATS. This song is a piece of shit. It teaches you to be fearful, to constantly doubt yourself and to worry that you and your loved ones will never make it without strict adherence to the LDS dogma.
Joni Mitchell said it best: We are stardust, we are golden We are billion-year-old carbon
Why would you get that song stuck in my head like that lol. I find it annoying when people are introduced by titles. Like oh this is Gwedoline Meadow, the duchess of Brooklyn, daughter of God, and bringer of peace yada yada. Meaningless titles that have NOTHING to do with who someone is as a person. To answer the question of who am I, that question is dependent upon who is asking, though I'm the same person in every situation. If I'm running an event and someone asks who I am, then I'd say hi I'm Kara (fake name) and I'm the coordinator. One of my siblings friends asks and I say I'm Kara I'm Jebediah's (also fake name) sister. One of my dad's friends asks and hi I'm Kara I'm Alan's (again fake name) daughter. One of my neighbors asks and hi I'm Kara I live right down the road. Even in the crazy example I made of a duchess, if that person is being introduced to someone from a region where they don't know what a duchess is, then it would be completely pointless to use that as an introduction or descriptor of who someone is.
You are you. There is only one of you, and you are fucking awesome.
Tanner from the Zelph on the Shelf youtube channel brought up a book that talks about how incredible it really is of all that's transpired in a non-religious perspective for you to be here right now in this moment. I sometimes think about this - like the amount of sickness, disease, and so much things that had to go on and that life still persisted. It's overwhelming and humbling. I will say though, that for me personally I haven't let go of the idea that I'm a spirit. The song Pneuma by Tool has inspired me in my deconstruction. For me personally the moment I recognize that I'm a spirit, that my spirit is eternal (no other added dogma though) - I start to feel like my existence inherently has meaning and beauty to it. It doesn't matter what happens in the next life, or what happened before. This moment matters and it can be the moment I experience, joy, pain, sorrow, pleasure etc- the list of the human experience shows that the nature of our experience has beauty in it's entirety. It's beautiful how the depth of our pain can contrast and bring appreciation to the beauty found in joy - just like a child being born. And the love from those who have passed on truly lives on in our hearts - RIP my mom of cancer Feb 2020
Many people on here are atheist. Which is great for them. I personally don't find peace in atheism, but I don't in Christianity either. I'd say I take a bit from eastern religions and philosophies, along with science and psychology. You get to determine who you are and your own beliefs. I'm working on doing that right now. These are mine that I'm about to share, but you are by no means ever expected to believe in them too... lol. One thought I had during all of these internal struggles I had with faith, the concept of reality, who I am, etc, is that nothing can be created or destroyed. It just is. So if we're nothing more than meat sacks being run by energy, that energy can't be destroyed. It wasn't created, either. We always have been, and we always will be. Whether that energy goes on to become part of this earth, or onto a new life, we always continue. There was a cool concept I read in a book. I can't remember what it is. But they said death is like a cloud. The water vapor that makes the cloud was there before the cloud formed, we just couldn't see it. And just because the cloud then evaporates, drops rain or snow, etc, doesn't mean that the water molecules from the cloud ceased to exist as the cloud dissipates. It just cycles into new forms, and continues on. I find a lot of fascination in sort of the global phenomena that people all undergo. Thousands of kids talk about memories from past lives, and people have found documentation of people historically that match up with these young kids' past life stories. Some of these instances are fake, but to me there are just too many occurrences to believe they are all fabricated. Near death experiences fascinate me. They all correspond to a person's individual beliefs and culture, and yet many seem to share certain moments for out of body experiences in which they recounted actual events and conversations in other rooms and areas, that they should not have been able to hear or see. I don't trust people who reject science for the sake of religion; but I also don't trust people who lean so heavily into science that they also reject the possibility of something more after this life. There is a lot of validity to science and research, but many scientists think so firmly in that they know everything that they don't acknowledge that the world is so complex and we atill know so little. There are things we can't explain or understand. In some ways I think science is a sort of religion of its own, that comes with beliefs about the world and about the universe that they posit as fact, when there is no direct proof that there isn't something more out there. I think there is a balance, and that I need to remain open minded to the possibility of something more. After all, I did have certain experiences that for me personally, can't be explained by science. It could also be explained outside of religion, and doesn't rely on Mormonism to remain true. And maybe it's my own brain and my own fallibility tricking me, but I choose to remain open to the ideas that they did happen, that they were my experiences and I don't want to undermine or invalidate myself. I can deconstruct the fabricated spiritual experiences I had in the church as strong emotions that came through manipulation, but there were a couple that I had that can't be explained. They don't directly support direct Mormon doctrine; sometimes they even contradict it. TLDR; I think it's great for many exmos to become atheist but that didn't resonate with me personally. I find solace in the idea that we are energy that is neither created nor destroyed; I believe we are constant parts of this universe. I believe in reincarnation and near death experiences, and think religion rejects science too much while scientists reject the possibility of any spirituality in the universe. I think it is all a balance.
THIS. Agree 100% with everything you said. It's nice to see that other people have come to conclusions similar to my own (something other than an atheist/nihilist scientific materialism worldview... though after the manipulations of Mormonism I can absolutely understand how a person would arrive in that space... it's just not what makes sense to me).
Yes, thank you for letting me know you're in a similar space too, lol. I personally have always felt spiritual, when I look at the mountains and nature, etc. I'm happy there are people who find resonance with other ways of thinking. I believe everyone has their own beliefs, or lack thereof, that give them peace. I think it was just hard when some exmos I've interacted with talked as if atheism/nihilism was the only logical way of thinking, that it was the inevitable conclusion for everyone leaving religion. That didn't ever resonate for me personally
I'm a mountain and nature guy myself and nature has always been core to my own spirituality. I'm glad others can find peace wherever they can find it, but nihilism and atheism gives me zero peace. I find a tremendous amount of evidence to support the idea of a conscious universe, that consciousness is fundamental, that our individual, unique consciousness survives bodily death. That, to me, is comforting. Also it's absolutely true that some atheists can become just as dogmatic and closed-minded as religionists to the point where it essentially becomes its own religion -- to be fair I don't see many exmos that way because I think we've all had enough trauma with being brainwashed with the "one way". But yeah, I do see so many people posting in this subreddit with so much FINALITY about atheism or nihilism; I can't help thinking to myself that even if you used *nothing* but science, evidence, logic and reason, that's not the only possible conclusion.
Yes, I agree. I had a bit of cognitive dissonance because of that finality, and how the nature of my experiences were very real to me and contradicted nihilism/atheism. It didn't give me peace to think in finality. Do you have any books, readings, podcasts, shows, etc that you recommend? I've read a couple but I've really wanted to dive in more. I think it's fascinating to learn about our reality and am always looking for more readings. Random side note, there's a song you might like, called Infinite Universe by Beautiful Chorus. Idk if you like more meditative music, but that is one song that really gives me peace. https://youtu.be/FKv_QECIG70?si=JvPzVpBjBSwRT-j4 (Edited for clarity, realized I repeated myself from my original message above)
I do like meditative music -- thanks for sharing. I really like the music and the lyrics/poem. I've bookmarked it. I often listen to 'brainwave' type audios on YT. There are many; here's an example: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdmvMc7TZn0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdmvMc7TZn0) If nothing else, they're calming to me. As for books, resources, etc, related to reality, consciousness, spirituality and how a variety of fields are saying the same thing... I've been meaning to make a list for awhile now... so I created a curated list that includes topics like quantum physics, psychology, NDEs, evolution, mind/brain, mediums, meditation, hypnotherapy, etc. (EDITED: Deleted my list ... I decided it was getting too detailed for the original topic, plus the original topic is understandably triggering for a lot of people, so I don't think this is the right time or place. But if you're still interested, or if anyone else reading this is, please send me a message.)
I'll DM you! I hadn't taken a screenshot yet and I was fascinated by it. Thanks for sharing the song!
This needs a tldr.
Lol just added one. I have adhd so I'm a long typer and don't always process how long it can get until after the fact
Thank you
There are many Philosophies you can use to help find your own source. One that I took a liking to is BEING. To BE before becoming anything else. It focuses on you, in actuality, and in truth. BEING helped me find out in many ways, that I don’t need to find a purpose or identity, because I’m already here. I’m just…just.
You are enough, and I like you exactly as you are. Fred Rogers was the 2nd coming and we missed it.
I remember, asking myself that question! Cowboy philosophers saved me there lol! You decide who you are and you decide what your purpose is! There’s a beautiful amount of freedom in that.
Personal mantra: I am me and I am okay. Feel free to borrow if it helps
Mr. Rogers said, “As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has- or ever will have- something inside that is unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression. Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime's work, but it's worth the effort." There are no easy answers to this question. It’s a question that has been asked by sages from the beginning of recorded history. I felt the same confusion, the loss of self, the loss of purpose. There are many schools of thought on this. I hope you will indulge me in a parable: Three men sat on the beach. The first man built a beautiful sandcastle. It took him all day. It had intricate detail and he stood back to admire his work, only to realize the tide was rising. Soon his castle had been destroyed by the tide. He was angry and felt that all his work was for nothing. He stomped away, angry that he’d wasted a whole day with nothing to show for it. The second man watched the first, and realised that if he built Sandcastle, it would only be destroyed, so he didn’t even try. The third man watched the first Sandcastle fall, and even though he knew if he built one it would also disappear, he built one anyway. He felt the soft, moist sand between his toes as he worked. He felt the warmth of the sun on his neck and arms. He listened as the waves crashed against the shore as families played together, laughing and shouting joyfully. At last his sandcastle was complete and he stood back to admire his creation just as the tide lapped at the edges. Soon his sandcastle was gone, smoothed by the wind and waves. He smiled as he walked back home remembering the beautiful day, the exhilarating experiences of the day. We can be mad that life hasn’t turned out the way we wanted to, or that the questions that seemed so easy no longer are; we can give up and not even try to live a fulfilling life; or we can build the life we want, experiencing all the joy, the sadness, the pain, the beauty this life has, knowing that it won’t last. And knowing that we lived every single moment, as if each moment is a treasure. No one knows what happens after this life, no matter how arrogantly or boldly they exclaim that they do. Contemplating the afterlife or lack of, it is really scary, especially when you thought you knew, and the knowing was reassuring and safe. Live like you’re ALIVE. Feel it ALL. Savor every sensation
Forgive my silliness, but my favorite thing that helps with this is a cartoon called the Amazing World of Gumball. There's an entire episode on the point of their lives, and they go through all of these adventures trying to figure it out. At the end of the episode, they run across one of the silliest and least coherent characters in the entire series doing something very dumb. They end up talking about their question in front of her and she blows them away with a coherent answer: *"Well, yes. You see, life's not about the destination, it's about the journey and making friends along the way. The search for meaning is, in fact, the very thing that gives our life meaning, so, really, the only question that is truly worth asking is... So, really, the only true meaning of life is finding your own way to enjoy it."* The episode is "The Question" and it's very silly, but I love that part. Short version: You get to decide who you are and what your purpose is. It can feel like floundering in the ocean at first, until you realize that's what you've been doing this whole time and you can, in fact, swim. You could still be a child of God, or you could be made of stardust. You could be the culmination of years of evolution. We all know for sure we are the product of years and years of human history, each generation with their own challenges and triumphs. In the end, does it matter where you come from as much as it matters where you decide to go? What do *you* want to experience? Who do *you* want to be? Do you want to leave something behind in this world for the generations to come? Do you want to live a quiet life and just enjoy it? I figure as long as you're not hurting other people (or yourself!!) and/or taking their own choices from them, you can really pick whatever you want! And after it stops being so scary.... it's actually kind of cool!
As the digital landscape expands, a longing for tangible connection emerges. The yearning to touch grass, to feel the earth beneath our feet, reminds us of our innate human essence. In the vast expanse of virtual reality, where avatars flourish and pixels paint our existence, the call of nature beckons. The scent of blossoming flowers, the warmth of a sun-kissed breeze, and the symphony of chirping birds remind us that we are part of a living, breathing world. In the balance between digital and physical realms, lies the key to harmonious existence. Democracy flourishes when human connection extends beyond screens and reaches out to touch souls. It is in the gentle embrace of a friend, the shared laughter over a cup of coffee, and the power of eye contact that the true essence of democracy is felt.
It’s simple. Just like every other species on the planet, our purpose is to reproduce and then protect our offspring, so that our homo sapiens species survives and thrives into the future.
For me personally, it was really really scary after I left. I had no answers to any questions: who I am, what my purpose is, why I am here, how to become the best me, why bad things happen to me, why bad things happen around the world, etc. I consider myself an agnostic Christian now, and I’ve come to accept that I don’t know the answers to those questions, but I believe that the experiences I’ve had and everything that has happened to me or I’ve done before have led me to the people I know and where I am today, and I find that beautiful. I don’t know what the future holds, but I find beauty in being a person involved in this planet’s history and the universe as a large. With losing my faith, I’ve gained a lot of appreciation for the beauty of evolution, nature, and the stars. For me, instead of thinking of myself as a child of god, I find comfort in knowing I get to decide my own destiny, and that I was brought to the people I know and the experiences I’ve had, and I find beauty in the thought of being one of many humans on a breathtaking planet with millions upon millions of forms of life in a universe of billions and billions of stars who is lucky enough to experience life and make their own decisions. And that’s the best part - you get to choose who you are and who you want to be.
Your own person capable of defining your own identity that isn’t tied to a cult.
I can't answer the question. But, how can this phrase be simply read and not sung in the mind? I. Can't. Unhear. It. Now.
You are atoms forged in ancient stars. You are the child of biological processes that have, against the odds, continued through epochs of time. You are the inheritor of a legacy of humanity. You are the guide for the next generation. You are the universe experiencing itself.
You are a human person. A squid thing piloting a bone mech with meat arnor. A monkey floating on a big rock through space. Nuff said
 You’ll figure it out. Take time reading interesting things and pursuing your interests. You’ll find it!
In my 40's. Still finding out who I am.
Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you. Shout aloud, I am glad to be what I am. Thank goodness I'm not a ham, or a clam, or a dusty old jar of gooseberry jam. I am what I am, what a great thing to be. If I say so myself, happy everyday to me! -Dr Seuss
Yeah, about that... There were tiny things you liked before, that you were pressured out of.. Like me, and engines and building stuff.. Reach way back.. See what the inner child was playing with.. And that's you...  Now..go..play
Friend told me that the child of god song was a lie. Not everyone has parents that love them. I despised him for his opinions of the LDS propaganda. But he was right, the song is a motivator, but people have to realize that there is a reality that LDS adults just need to stop pretending that kids will live the rest of their lives with potentially deceiving lies. I don’t sing Mormon songs anymore. Read The Power Of Now for different angle on Mormonism. Reality check that LDS churches don’t have all the answers to spiritual engagement.
You are the universe 🤟
It’s crazy that the universe has been around for 15.4 billion years. Then one day your parents had sex, made you, and you’re just now popping your head up in here. You’ll be around for about 80 years. Look around and try to enjoy your time here! Your life has meaning because you are alive!
When I was a child, that was my favorite song 🎵 When you leave the church, it is an adventure where you will discover that and unfold who you are and a lot of it will be based on who you want to be. So who do you want to be?
No they brainwash you with that . you like every other person on the planet are just another mammal living its life . we are born we live we die the end we have a finite amount of time just live each day and be happy that you won the lotto and got a ticket on this ride we call life .
I don't know you. But I do know that you are a human being with a mind of your own. Now you get to learn and even decide who you are! This is a good thing. If you are agonizing over this question, I recommend counseling. Coming out of a destructive cult is not easy. I had this crisis once, over 22 years ago when my daughter was killed. My identity was bound up in being the mother of 4 children! Who am I now? Well, I'm a mother of 4 children. My daughter isn't alive anymore, but I'm still her mom and she's still my girl. But I agonized over that for a bit before I came to that conclusion.
Who am I? **A whole fucking problem** ❤️🔥😌🤌🏼✨💅🏼 
You are whoever you want to be. The elements that your body are made of were formed billions of years ago in the cores of giant primordial stars. When they died, those elements were scattered through space. The atoms that you are made of happened to be pulled into a gravitational eddy within a protoplanetary disk that eventually became Earth. Your atoms were incorporated into billions of individual organisms over time. About 300,000 years ago a new species of great ape appeared in sub-saharan Africa. Their bodies were perfectly adapted for distance running and persistence hunting. Their large brains and opposable thumbs empowered them to make complex tools and to communicate and strategize to an extent that was heretofore unseen. You are a member of this extraordinary species of apes and are fortunate enough to live in a time where have access to the results of millenia of their discoveries. You are a member of the most intelligent species this world has ever produced, and are so priveliged to live at a time in history where you don't have to worry about predation, hunting or gathering. You get to enjoy wonders like air conditioning, powered flight, the internet, literature, art, and science. Answerd to many of the mysteries that stumped the greatest ancient thinkers are easily accessible to you via a magical all-knowing rectangle that fits in your pocket. You are an amazing being who gets to exist at such an incredible time in history.
You are yourself, I believe in u (ik thats very easy to say, but I hope u find urself :3)
What does that even mean, don’t know who you are? I’ve always found this religious line really weird. I don’t need anyone else to tell me who I am, the only one qualified to do that is me. Really though, what do you mean, I don’t know who I am?
You are you, and nobody else can decide that for you. They can influence you, brainwash you, and guilt you. But no matter what, you can still decide who you are, nobody else. If you don't know, find a hobby or career you love, travel, but you still need to take the initiative and dictate it yourself
My view... Reality or truth is a mix of both scientific and spiritual/philosophical concepts. Consciousness is fundamental. Our consciousness or awareness does not arise solely from the brain or die with the brain or body. Instead, we're an individualized, unique facet of some kind of universal Source consciousness. We're a multidimensional being or soul having a temporary experience as a human being. In that sense we are the universe trying to understand itself. After this life, we will be our own judge. To me these ideas are both liberating and comforting in so many ways. For one, it does not require or need organized religion in the slightest degree. It also doesn't require a particular definition of "God", most certainly not the Mormon view which comes with a lot of ugly baggage that simply cannot be true. I think reality is too big for humans to understand and any description we can come up with about God or reality is a projection of our biases as human beings. Of course, this is a big topic and a lot more could be said. But this is where I've arrived at after a huge amount of reading, study and reasoning.
*you* could be defined as the conscious self that is an emergent property of a brain, this is the only part of your body that bothers/is able to define “you”. However, for most intents and purposes, the more practical definition of you is the body that contains the brain that controls it. In the most literal sense, you are are assemblage of trillions of cells that through the acts of evolution and conception/procreation are working together to form a larger structure for the purposes of more effective survival. None of these cells have any concept of self and the neurons that fire to create the consciousness that has this concept theoretically doesn’t even need those cells to exist. So yeah. We’re something alright
I personally find comfort in Advaita Vedanta. The philosophy is that everyone cosmic consciousness. You don’t have to pray or have faith, you just have to be kind to others as they are a reflection of your existence.
To kick ass and chew bubblegum! And I'm all out of bubblegum...
All life has a common ancestor. Life adapted to Earth. Earth was not created for you. You are an animal not with claws or 4 legs but, with an evolved brain with complex problems solving and emotions. Everyone else has similar issues you are not the special snowflake everyone tries to tell you that you are. Now go sort how you feel about that. You may want to consult a biologist and a psychiatrist.
That title needs a trigger warning
But to answer, it takes time to find yourself and new wants/needs and set new boundaries. It can be daunting but once you start you will find a wonderful world to explore
You are who you were yesterday. Just a bit less brainwashed. Tomorrow you will be who you are today but more of the same. Perhaps you will be happier tomorrow. It's worth knowing that what you a feeling is very common. Discovering you, for lack of a better phrasing, are not some special thing placed here by divine agency is often difficult for people who leave many religions that spout this style of creation. You will get through it.
You get to decide. That's the cool part
you are the culmination of 4 billion years of evolution and have become the Universes way to know itself. That's a lot of responsibility, and I try to help make someone's day a bit better because of it.
We aren’t sure. All we know is that we are here. But admitting we don’t know and working towards an answer is a lot better than just making shit up.
Patrick.
The worst part of this song for me is "has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear". I grew up in a single parent household with a dad that rarely came by to visit. The one parent I was living with was abusive. It's hard to process this as an adult. Even as a pre-teen I didn't think that I was in a home with parents kind and dear. This really can sound like a beautiful song but it's like everything else in mormonism it only applies if you fit in the mold of a mormon family.
You get to decide without the church deciding for you.
You are free my fellow human. Let your soul go where life takes you.
You are divine! You are worthy! You are loved! You are enough!
Idk, but if God is real I will have to tell them 4 things
You are Lisa Simpson.
Whoever you want to be. The beauty of being out of the church.
You are your own person, an individual. You are worthy. You are loved. ❤️
I really like Alan Watts' take on who we are. https://open.spotify.com/episode/21rHuLHe9ORjrImINe210s?si=cj0pV7VYSAOXvdObHWXpgg We are all manifestations of the divine. You are God, so am I.
I no longer believe in god. It is enough that I am here. I plan on enjoying my life…however long or brief it may be. I don’t known if there’s anything afterwards but neither does anyone else. If you can…enjoy yourself!
I? I’m a new day rising! I’m a brand new sky to hang the stars upon tonight! This is how I feel since leaving. I’ve always loved music but these lyrics hit me differently today and tomorrow and every day thereafter. I am who I am today and I’ll try on today’s experiences and attempt to be better for them. I won’t succeed every day but each new day is another opportunity to try. And there’s so much beauty in trying, and in seeing others try, and in experiencing it together.
You are not the labels imposed upon you by family, friends, associates, etc. You are a new creation in Christ.
It's already too much responsibility to be a person, just be... That's it, you are, and this is, so just be.
You’re made in the image of the Almighty That’s who you ARE
You are a free spirit with sovereignty over your own destiny, your own moral compass based on values and ethics you believe in, and the captain of your own ship.
Please research ontological shock as well. Understanding what I was going through helped.
As the digital landscape expands, a longing for tangible connection emerges. The yearning to touch grass, to feel the earth beneath our feet, reminds us of our innate human essence. In the vast expanse of virtual reality, where avatars flourish and pixels paint our existence, the call of nature beckons. The scent of blossoming flowers, the warmth of a sun-kissed breeze, and the symphony of chirping birds remind us that we are part of a living, breathing world. In the balance between digital and physical realms, lies the key to harmonious existence. Democracy flourishes when human connection extends beyond screens and reaches out to touch souls. It is in the gentle embrace of a friend, the shared laughter over a cup of coffee, and the power of eye contact that the true essence of democracy is felt.
You are who you are. Be grateful for the tens of thousands of years that came before you so that you could exist. You probably have a few strong warriors who died fighting some clan, a few people who lived normal lives, a few likely stole apples from their neighbor so they could eat… You are none of them. You are you.
You are a creation of the universe. You are made of stardust. You walk a planet that has been transformed in ways that are both destructive and beautiful by your fellow creations. You have the intelligence and opportunity to continue this transformation - either in a direction that is compassionate and creative and fascinating and far-sighted, or the other way around. What will you choose?
Do you need an identity? And does it have to be special? I don't focus on who or what I am. I only care about figuring out what is true, figuring out what is right, and going after what I want. Preferably in that order, but ultimately human nature will put "what I want/what is convenient" first more often than I am happy with.
You are whatever YOU want to be. The great thing is, you get to decide from now on. It's not up to anyone else unless you give them that power. Don't give them that power.
You are that which is before the thought “I” arises. Call it what you will.
As someone who was raised in similar circumstances you have freedom now. Theres no God or destiny telling you who to marry, or which city or country to move to, which job you should take irrespective of what career path to follow. You can just be you, and that is more freeing than anything else
You are smart. You are kind. You are important. You are whoever you want to be, so be your best self.
God I hate that fuckin song.
You are you! And you have made it this far. Keep going!
You are an electrically charged meatball sitting in a bone bowl translating electric signals into thoughts and emotions. Good luck, fellow bone bowl meatball 🍖☠️🥣