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Re:Alcoholics Anonymous vs. other approaches: the evidence i... by agumonkey on Wednesday March 11, 2020 @12:07PM (#22546935)
> Anecdotally, I've known someone who used to be stressed out and controlling. Last time I saw him he was not so stressed. He said his life changed once he surrendered and accepted his destiny. He didn't go religious or anything, just 'accepted' his fate.

That's something I think about slightly. A lot of adult life is anxiety based on seeking optimal something. After years it feels like fear of death causing over analysis and cramping. Then you just go back into average life and maybe (at least my belief) realize it's ~peak. The anxiety is maybe even a nature trick to make us learn adult life complexity and maybe improve the status quo a bit.

Re:Alcoholics Anonymous vs. other approaches: the evidence i... by crdrost on Wednesday March 11, 2020 @12:50PM (#22547300)
Yeah, I mean, this is a core Christian belief. Hitchens even described it as objectively immoral. :) Jesus tells us that we don't really know the future so it's kind of pointless to be planning to hard, speculating and being anxious over it. You might just have a heart attack tomorrow: so much for your plans. Jesus says instead to trust that God takes care of the birds so surely he will take care of you too, his Beloved children—to just trust that if you try to bring Order to this world’s Chaos and be authentically There, then everything will turn out OK.

My uncle Guus plays viola in an orchestra and once noted to me that there is something similar that happens in attitudes towards other people who are dissatisfied with us. When we are young we ask “what is wrong with me, how can I change myself?” and as we grow older we start to ask instead “What's wrong with them?” but without trying to change anybody. They will find their way—or not; and we may be able to help them—or not.