Neale Donald Walsch
Neale Donald Walsch, author of the Conversations with God series, devoted a post on his blog this week to a comment from a man who was considering suicide. I have lost a number of friends and loved ones to suicide. I share Neale’s post with you now in the hope that his words may provide comfort to anyone who is in a dark place.
SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER
Yesterday a person who posted in the Comments Section here without a name indicated that he was close to suicide. I need to respond to that post, and I invite you to do the same. Here is the comment as originally entered…
No Name
November 12, 2008 8:31 AM
I am as close to suicide as I have ever been. It terrifies me. Im 32, i have my health, I have 2 beautiful young children whom I adore, a wife who has wisdom and kindness that blows me away. I have read your books several times, they changed my outlook, I love your books and I believe the message. But believing is not the same as experiencing. I am unable to experience it…..Reading so much of what you wrote was more like being reminded of things I already new instinctively, it wasn’t like I was learning new stuff.
But here I am, now, in the moment. And I just want it to end. I loathe this world, I feel like I was supposed to be something, to do something to make it better, but that I’ll never know what it is.
Words fail me, confusion imprisons me here, I wish I could type more through the buzzing behind my eyes. Its the tears that wont come and they sting like hell.
My dear friend…I want to invite you to read Home with God in a Life That Never Ends. In it you will find a remarkable commentary on ending one’s life, on what is accomplished by doing that, and on what occurs as a result of such a decision.
As I read your post the first thing that struck me is your age. I am 65, my friend, and I can tell you that you have many more years to go in which to “do something” to make life better for yourself and for everyone whose life you touch. My present work in the world did not begin until I was 53 years old. All the rest was preparation. Do not mistake “preparation” for failure. Something immensely important is gained during the years we are preparing to make our major contribution. Do not confuse gain with loss. There is nothing lost in learning, and all the experience of all the years will serve you dramatically one day.
There are several important questions to look at during this time in your life — and you could do well to spend years exploring them. The Four Profound Questions of Life are:
1. Who am I?
2. Where am I?
3. Why am I where I am?
4. What am I doing here?
Take a year each for every question. Look into these inquiries deeply. You are a young man. You have already, by your own accounting, been gifted with so much. Now gift yourself with the treasure of Time. Have patience with yourself. Allow life to bring you the right and perfect opportunities to express and experience your highest self.
I want to encourage you to read an extraordinary book by Byron Katie titled Loving What Is. And then to go to Byron Katie’s website and learn all you can about The Work. What is “The Work”? Check it out. It is too much to go into here.
Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. The winter holy days are coming. Get in touch with gratitude, and with God, during these days. Read Happier Than God. It gives you some very practical tools in achieving inner peace. Then order an advance copy of When Everything Changes, Change Everything: In a Time of Turmoil, a Doorway to Peace. This is my latest book, and it will be published in April. Advance orders may be placed at Hampton Roads Publishing Company. Look them up on the Internet.
Write me again when you’ve finished with Happier Than God. I want to know what you think of it and whether it provided you with any tools you found useful.
HERE ARE MY POSTS FEATURING NEALE DONALD WALSCH:
NEALE ON THE MYTH OF BETTERNESS
ABOUT PHIL BOLSTA
Phil is the author of Sixty Seconds: One Moment Changes Everything, a collection of 45 inspiring, life-changing stories from prominent people he interviewed, including Joan Borysenko, Deepak Chopra, geneticist Dr. Francis Collins, acclaimed sportswriter Frank Deford, Dr. Larry Dossey, Wayne Dyer, Dan Millman, Caroline Myss, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, Dr. Bernie Siegel, James Van Praagh, singer Billy Vera, Doreen Virtue, Neale Donald Walsch, and bassist Victor Wooten.
Here is a three-minute video that introduces you to Phil and his book. Click here to buy Sixty Seconds. Click here to ask Phil to add you to his e-mail list for updates on his blog and books.
Reading this book is like spending a few minutes face to face with each of the contributors and listening to their personal stories. Click here to read unsolicited testimonials from readers. Learn more by visiting the official Sixty Seconds website.
Sixty Seconds was one of three finalists in the General Interest/How-To category at the 12th annual Visionary Awards presented by COVR (Coalition of Visionary Resources) in Denver on June 27, 2009.
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Tags: Byron Katie, Conversations with God, Happier Than God, Home with God in a Life That Never Ends, Neale Donald Walsch, suicide, When Everything Changes Change Everything
December 12, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Neale’s words on suicide are extremely encouraging, good post.
December 12, 2009 at 10:11 PM
I’m glad you found it meaningful, Tony.
June 9, 2010 at 6:37 PM
No book is going to help No Name. He will have to look inside himself. It is very easy to deal with one who is hurting by recommending a book. It is another thing entirely to create a personal relationship with one who is hurting and to tell them the truth.
Our author says “I can tell you that you have many more years to go in which to ‘do something’ to make life better for yourself and for everyone whose life you touch.”
Is this coming from the man who says “There is nothing that must be done’” and “there is no such thing as ‘better’”
Inconsistancy is really glaring here.
June 9, 2010 at 6:46 PM
Stella, a book may be just the thing that will trigger a person to begin an inner journey. That is indeed where the answers lie but we never know what will cause someone to begin that quest.
No inconsistencies whatsoever. You’re talking about two different perspectives here that dovetail perfectly: the human view and the big-picture divine view. They may sound paradoxical but they work together seamlessly.
October 17, 2011 at 8:41 PM
I’m in a similar spot as No Name. At least he has a family who is supportive and cares. I have no one to comfort me and no one I fully trust— not even myself. It sucks. I believe the message but can’t seem to experience it either. No matter how much NDW I read, it just can’t change my thoughts longer than a day. :(
October 17, 2011 at 9:37 PM
I’m sorry you are in such a dark place, Samantha. As far as changing your thoughts, I can recommend something that absolutely works—affirmations. So many people, myself included, scoffed at affirmations. Then we tried them. And I can assure you that they can be tremendously effective in changing the way you look at the world and yourself. Check out my post on affirmations:
http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2008/07/27/affirmations/
Best of luck to you, Samantha.