I love listening to stories of recovery. This one is share #40 from the unofficial Underearners Anonymous Dropbox.
“Before this program, I was spiritually dead. I had no relationships that were not based on what can I get out of you? Even with men, even with my parents. I had deep self-loathing. I woke up in fear and anger and I went to bed in fear and anger. I cried every day. My feelings would overwhelm me. My lack of emotional sobriety led me to underearn over and over again. These were symptoms of my real problem — a hole inside of me I could not fill. I would pour money and other things into that hole, because I didn’t think I was enough. I based my self-image on what the world said.” (UA)
Darren Melamed Do you go to the meetings to improve yourself, or for the entertainment?
Miriam Lilian D Or I personally feel like it’s for entertainment. I see Luke as someone with enough resilience to overcome life obstacles. But, there is just something about watching others who don’t have that resilience, who have poor coping skills (both emotionally or mental) and try to get themselves out of their bad habits. To see them struggle to get out of a familiar place (a dark hole) and know that “I was once that person”. Certainly, it must be a curious sight- a sort of looking at a mirror, yet rejecting the reflection. Perhaps a personal victory to see “I am not like that any more”. Yet, a feeling of compassion too. Plus, he said there was something soothing about hearing other people cry. Or a nice way to meet ladies, who knows.
Before Luke’s posts, I was socially dead. Now I go on dates with his readers.
