worthyoflove

I was spending time with someone whom I used to work with years ago. He was always very nice and I have never seen him drink to excess. We were having a nice time kayaking, cooking out, swimming, etc. Something just didn't seem right, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I started feeling like he was hiding something. We spent some more time together and he wanted to show me something on his computer that he has in another room. As I turned to walk out of the room, there it was......a long shelf of porn magazines. He had also made a sexual comment later on which I ignored. After an hour, I got up and left. It is really a shame. I am so glad I listened to that voice inside that told me something wasn't right instead of ignoring it. I don't ignore anymore.

Live

I am glad that you honored your self in this situation also!

worthyoflove

Thanks liveweyerd. I was taught not to trust it, but now I do. A couple weeks ago I attended a cookout and there was a man there that scared me. I didn't want to be near him, so I made sure I was not around him. After the cookout I found out he is schizophrenic. In no way am I putting this man down because of his disorder, but this time I am taking care of myself by listening to that voice.

Crazy4Him

I think ignoring our gut even as it was taking a battering ram to our hard heads is what got most of us here. So good for you for listening and acting on what YOU felt.

Live

I also learned to disown my own feelings and etc.
Then to re-learn them!
Well, I am still working on that...
But if we can't stand up for ourselves, we are very vulnerable to many things.
Hurray for you!

MeHandle

I believe that innervoice is God's Spirit working with mine, the common sense he has given each human and/or his Spirit convicting me to stop me/protect me. I question my inner voice when the voice is outside of God's revealed will or it comes off confusing. In this case i know it is not my inner voice and/or God's Spirit really speaking. When in question of something, I go with wait or can't right now.

For me, i listened and got it wrong! I was not taught to ignore it. :-) I am done struggling as to fighting with the inner voice and when i start to struggle I just become still and know he is God and wait for the struggle to be answered. I will be ignoring the misplaced 'fight' .

I totally understand worthyoflove. I think it is the same insight learned but we had to be taught from different perspectives.

Good for you. Sad and a victory all at the same time? There are better fish in the sea girl.:-) And the thing is you will know it.:-)

love tammy

Freedom1990

Good for you! It does take time to trust that voice again when we ignored it for so long. Your recovery is shining through! :ghug2

Learn2Live

I understand what you are saying, Tammy, because I have finally been working Steps 2 and 3 in earnest, after 12 years in Recovery. I have learned also that what everyone is referring to is also called "discernment."

Some people are turned off when others talk about God or the Bible but by doing so, they may miss the message. They can just insert "Higher Power" and it will be more palatable. That's how 12-Steps works.

I do still have problems with applying this but I am learning by experience. There are many, many times in my past when I should have seen red flags but I accepted other people's behaviors, no matter how foul, as "normal." This allowed me to progressively ignore every single red flag that I encountered. Instead of running from it, I would actually welcome it into my life and chase after it!

Right now, I am learning it at work. There is a guy who just creeps me out and comes by my work area and stares at me and my body when I am not looking (I can see him out of the corner of my eye), then he quickly turns away when I look up. It freaks me out! But my co-workers were like, "Oh, he just likes you but he is shy." or, "He's just weird." Normally, I would have been flattered because of how OTHER people interpreted that guy's behavior.

But my intuition/discernment knows better now!! I am learning not to ask other people to interpret things for me. I avoid that guy like the plague! I personally don't care anymore how my avoiding him makes HIM feel. MY feelings, safety, and well-being are more important to me than anyone else's anymore (except my Mom and children of course). I am learning to take responsibility for myself and trust MY feelings and MY intution.

Thanks for this post!!!

worthyoflove

This IS exactly why I have gotten into trouble in the past. I would call people and ask their opinion and this was the answer I got. I never thought maybe they were wrong!