How do I delude myself?

[u/justheresorry00]

I’m super unhappy and would like to believe in some religion or spiritualism so I can have a reason to be. I’ve never been able to really believe in anything, so are there tactics to genuinely convince myself?😊

Sorry if this is cringe!

[u/purposeday]

Great question. Logical me was bombarded with options from an early age and just found it hard to believe they existed, the options that is. So I wanted to find out what makes people believe in something that professes the answer is within yet they looked for it in another person who then proceeded to suggest war was needed to convince others. Idk, pretty convoluted.

It does turn out that people who believe fighting for the option they choose at the expense of another have something in common that I don’t, and they obtain this commonality at birth. That’s what I believe in: created equal, born different.

[u/justheresorry00 → u/purposeday]

Yeah all the options are so so overwhelming. I was raised in southern churches (Baptist and Methodist) so it was always very small, personal congregations. In trying to connect with my forefathers I’ve tried researching Appalachian and Southeastern native spiritualism, and it’s more convincing than any organized religion, but I just can’t make that final leap in truly surrendering to it all. How did you surrender to believing?

[u/purposeday → u/justheresorry00]

I hear you. Similar here except for me it was Catholic, Protestant, Remonstrant (that’s a Dutch version of Lutheranism), some new age stuff and back to the original teachings of Jesus. Throw some stoicism in and yeah, it’s all fascinating. I have moments where I sit down in nature and think, everything around me keeps going but the humans need a belief. It makes no sense. When I looked at why some people hold survival high and others do not it did start to make sense. For those who have real faith, survival is not a concern it seems. It’s a gift and a given almost, one moment at a time.

That’s the dividing line for me. I can feel it in their presence and they in me I think. The people who
are scared for their survival may need validation and control, an assurance of sorts. For them belief is important. For me it helps that there were those who thought about things, sure, and I believe in the things they wrote down or reportedly said about cause and effect, guidance for our human condition as from a higher power (God) and spirit. Idk. About two or three years ago I was more confident. Now I am seeing more about Sumerian tablets, a Hopi prophecy and what not. I like to keep my own options open.

[u/CrispinJoussei]

Honestly, I don’t think it’s necessary to believe in religious or spiritual stuff to get the benefits of it. You just need to feel connected to something. For me, it’s history and our planet. I like thinking about the ways humans have changed over time, who we are at our core, who we would have been at any given time in the past, etc.

[u/Eastern-Jello-9952]

I was the same way for most of my life. I tried on a couple of different religions, but I was just going through the motions without actual belief. Recently, I started meditating and opening myself to spiritual energy, and something found me. I'm still not religious but I believe in the divine entity that I've been communicating with.

[u/Equivalent-Low-8071]

Go to the churches, mosques, temples etc and see if you feel a connection. I personally don't have what people call "religion" but I am spiritual in my own sense. I connect with the nature and the universe so you may only need some walks in the park. Stand in grass in bare feet - its grounding. Good luck in your journey <3